Time Fixers: Nicktoons of the Future
Episode 01: Time of Change
Plot: With the Cadets finally graduated to full-fledged Nicktoons, things seem to be going great in the future- except for SpongeTron who notices changes in his friends and fears what other changes may be coming around him. Things are also turning strange for Jimmy as a shape-shifting robot wants to assassinate him and a hooded figure wants to protect him. Jimmy must now task the Nicktoons with solving this mystery by investigating an old nemesis of his.
Part 1
About one year has passed since the defeat of Dark Dan Phantom. On the other hand some things never change. The residents of Retroville ran off in panic as Poultra wreaks havoc (likely sent by the Yolkians as revenge against Earth). "Buck-caw!" It bellowed when it grabbed an unlucky civilian with its beak. She throws him in the air and opens her month to fulfill a snack.
The man screams, falling, and was about to be eaten when a yellow blur rescues him right as Poultra bites down. "Phew!" SpongeTron said in relief and told the civilian, "You must be glad you didn't get eaten for lunch."
Then, Darry's voice spoke through SpongeTron's communicator, "SpongeTron, how much time do we have?"
SpongeTron checked his watch, "About seven minutes left. We better finish that monster off!"
"We only need two minutes." Darry said confidently.
Tammy then appears, riding on Tommy's shoulders. "Hey, you big turkey! It's time to play Chicken!" Tommy made clucking noises while waving a handful of gummy worms. Tommy runs away while carrying his sister on his shoulders as Poultra clucks and chases after them.
Darry was flying around two light posts that were across the street from each other and wrapping a thick wire around both of them. After he finished, he spoke into his Recaller again, "Tammy and Tommy are almost here. The rest is up to you, ST."
"On it!" SpongeTron responded as he puts the male civilian to safety and zoomed toward Poultra.
Tommy and Tammy ran toward the trap and disappear in a POOF! Poultra ran toward them to find its meals missing. She stomped around when she got tangled in the wires between the two posts. Poultra screeches trying to get outta the wires when SpongeTron came. He activates his Robo Chargers and zaps the wires. Electricity conducts through the wires and electrocutes Poultra, causing her to collapse. The Nicktoons meet each other near its head as SpongeTron lands. "Great job, team!" Darry congratulated.
"Thanks," SpongeTron said, glancing at his watch, "And we only have five minutes to spAAAAREEE!" the robot screamed as Poultra wakes up and grabbed SpongeTron around his torso.
"SpongeTron!" The three humans cried as Poultra shakes him and keeps biting the robot like a chew toy.
Darry flew toward Poultra and tried to pry SpongeTron off its grip. "Let go of him, you overgrown chicken!"
"What if we don't make it in time?" Tommy asked his sister in worry.
"How much do we have left?!" Tammy called off.
"Four minutes and counting!" SpongeTron said and shouted, "You guys have to go without me..."
"No way! We're not leaving you behind!" Darry yelled, trying to open Poultra's mouth.
"You have to!" SpongeTron pleaded, "You only have less than four minutes before we-" but Poultra throws him up in the air as SpongeTron shouts and Poulta eats him in one gulp.
Poultra slurped her tongue with the twins saying, "Ewww..."
Darry had enough. "Oh, forget this!" He said and activates his Ghost Rage. He flies backwards and forward, punching Poultra's stomach. Poultra gags and regurgitates SpongeTron as the robot falls in the concrete, covered in saliva. Next, Darry flies up and grabs the monster's neck, using his enhanced strength to lift Poultra in the air, swing her round and round, and finally throws her out of Retroville.
Tammy uses her Recaller to summon a portal into space where Poultra flies inside and is heading towards the sun. The three watch and block their eyes from the flare with the portal closing. "Hope the aliens like fried chicken," Tommy chuckled.
Outside of HQ, Jimmy was standing outside, wearing a fancy tuxedo as he looked at his watch. Looking bored as if he were waiting for something. Suddenly, a poof of pink smoke appeared in front of him and the Nicktoons appeared. "Sorry, how late are we?" Darry asked in worried tone.
Jimmy checked his watch and replied, "Actually, you're a minute early. Everyone is already here and ready."
"Gnarly." Darry grinned as he changed into human form, revealing he was wearing a tuxedo. "Let's get this party started." Poof waves his rattle and changes him and Tommy to wear tuxedos and Tammy into a pink dress. SpongeTron pushes a button on his watch and a glow appears around him until he too is dressed in formal.
Soon everyone was inside a large room that had a large stage inside. On the stage, Jimmy was standing at a podium with the Nicktoon Cadets standing behind him, all dressed up in nice formal attire. Sitting in the audience were the Fentons, Turners, SquarePants family, Kida's family, Cindy, Max, and Goddard; all of whom are dressed up as well.
"Thank you all attending for what is a grand moment for our next generation of future Nicktoons," Jimmy announced into a microphone, "Today we induct five young but strong heroes." he turned to the five and asked them, "Do you all promise to use your abilities for the benefit of others, to work together as a team, and to protect your worlds whenever there is a threat of evil?"
"We promise!" Yuki, Crash, Twitchy, Junior and Kida saluted.
"As Commander and founder of this organization, I hereby make Yuki Fenton, Crash SquarePants, Twitchy SquarePants, Kida of the Pupununu, and SpongeBob SquarePants Jr. official agents of Nicktoons HQ," Jimmy said, taking out a briefcase and opens up five Recallers each for the five. Amazed, the Cadets take out their new Recallers and the audience roars with applause. Unknown to them, a dark hooded figure watched them backstage from above the high beams.
Eventually after the ceremony, there was a party in HQ. Most of the adults gathered and talked while drinking as they celebrated, which is the same for the Nicktoons, old and newly promoted. SpongeTron caterers and waiters served as one offered 001 a drink. "Thanks 029," SpongeTron said as he sips a fresh serving of motor oil. He walks over to a table where the Cadets are. "Great party, guys! Congrats again!"
"Thanks SpongeTron," Kida said with a smile.
Once SpongeTron finished his drink, he throws it aside and announced; "Now how about we get this party going with a game of..." SpongeTron stood still for a moment when most of his parts fell apart, "'Pin the parts on the robot!'"
The Cadets glance at the disembodied head when Yuki states, "Um, no thanks, SpongeTron. We're discussing battle strategies for a new mission the Commander will assign us to."
SpongeTron looked surprised, "Are you sure? I thought you guys enjoyed playing that game."
"Sorry, maybe next time," Twitchy apologized and shrugs before shoving a large slice of cake in his mouth.
SpongeTron frowned, but said, "That's okay. I'm pretty sure my teammates wanna join. Congrats again!" He hops to his friends' table followed by his disembodied arms and legs.
"Hey guys," SpongeTron's head greeted while sitting below his friends' table. "You up for a little game?" He noticed something different about the three: Darry is reading some paperwork and books, Tammy is on her phone, and Tommy is on his laptop with a headset. "Uh guys?" SpongeTron asked when he got Darry's attention.
"Huh?" Darry looks up and answered, "Oh, maybe later, ST. I'm looking up good schools to attend after I graduate from Casper High."
"Already?" SpongeTron asked, disappointed. "But you still have a few years ahead of you."
"I'm a sophomore now. That means I have two years to decide on a good college," Darry explained, "There's many out there like Harvard, Berkley, maybe find a school abroad in London or Germany. Guess anything's fine as long as I become a diplomat."
"'A diplomat'?"
"Yep, or a congressman. I wanna fight for the rights of both humans and ghosts everywhere," Darry said proudly until he pondered, "Then again; I can benefit humanity if I become a scientist. A doctor maybe," He continued reading while thinking about his career with SpongeTron staring.
He then looks at the twins and asks, "How about you guys? You're still kids in elementary school, wanna have fun?"
"Sorry, but no." Tammy answered, tapping the screen of her phone. "I'm busy chatting with my club members. We're planning to bring new members into our Jimmy Club."
"I'm busy playing this new MMORPG I discovered." Tommy explained. "I'm meeting a ton of other kids on here from all over the world."
"But guys, this is a party." SpongeTron complained, "Don't you wanna hang out and have fun?"
"We always have parties like this and there'll be more to come," Tammy answered.
"Yeah, how about tomorrow we go to one of your favorite places, okay bud?" Darry suggested.
SpongeTron looked down as he automatically resembles himself, "Uh, sure, I guess." SpongeTron sadly leaves his friends as they go back to their business.
Darry then reaches into his pocket and pulled out something. "Whoops, almost forgot." he stood up and ran over to Yuki. "Hey Yuks. I got you a little something to congratulate you. Jimmy helped me out and we got you this."
Yuki took the present and noticed it was a ticket. "The Retroville Tech Con. You're taking me to a technology convention?"
"Jimmy says it's really gnarly. And while we're there, I'll get you something cool like a new phone."
Yuki grinned in joy at the wonderful present and hugged Darry in gratitude, "You're the best brother ever!"
SpongeTron was leaning on a windowsill, watching the scene, though he's not too happy about it. Outside, something slithered on the wall and looked through the window with a gleaming orange and yellow eye. SpongeTron sensed something and turns to the window, only to find it disappeared. SpongeTron rubbed his chin, "Is it just me or is something weird going on?"
Then SpongeTron 911 slowly rose from behind just as SpongeTron turned in surprise. "It's…CHANGE!" He said in a dark ominous tone. SpongeTron squealed when 911 coughed and cleared his throat. "Ahem! Sorry, was using my scary Bad Cop voice." He said in his normal tone, "But be warned! Change is in the air!"
"C-Change?" SpongeTron repeated, "What is this 'change'?"
911 laughed, "Oh, it's a sign of them growing up. Just look at them: Darry making career-decisions, Tammy and Tommy contacting friends their own age, the Cadets now fully trained members of our corps... And look at lil' Maxie." SpongeTron looked at Cindy, holding Max as he giggled, showing his first and so far only tooth. "Pretty soon, Max will take care of himself and won't need you anymore," 911 continued.
"Won't...need me?" SpongeTron said meekly, eyes widened.
"Yep, once the change is completed, your friends will go on their own paths and go their separate ways. You can say goodbye to the Nicktoons forever."
SpongeTron could feel his lip quivering, "F-f-forever?"
911 wraps an arm around SpongeTron, "Ah, too bad us bots won't ever grow up. We'll always stay the same. Serve and protect until we outlive humanity... Possibly become prime overlords for centuries until eventually... We'll become NOTHING but scrap metal and rust!" he said those last words in his scary voice. He laughed as he slapped SpongeTron 001 on the shoulder and leaves while waving, "Okay, see ya, 001!"
SpongeTron gulped in fear and quickly ran towards the adults while calling, "Commander!" He reached Jimmy while he was talking to his friends and grabbed a hold of his leg, "Commander, why did you guys stop being the Nicktoons?"
"Why did we stop being the Nicktoons?" SpongeBob repeated after hearing the robot. "Hmm...Why did we stop being the Nicktoons?"
"The answer is simple." Jimmy answered. "We got older, we started taking different directions, and we just felt it was time to stop coming to each other's worlds and stop saving the worlds."
"It was actually your idea." Timmy reminded.
"Yeah, but it couldn't be helped," Danny added, "We were all changing, growing up. It happened to us and will happen to them." He explained, pointing to the Nicktoons.
"NO!" SpongeTron yelled, pulling Danny by the shirt, "They're not growing up! They're not changing, I FORBID this change! Why can't we all be ageless and never grow up like they do on cartoons?!"
"But ST, sometimes change can be a good thing." Tak assured. "You don't have to look at it in a bad way."
"Well, it won't happen in a bad way, and I'll make sure of that." SpongeTron said in determination. "By not letting it happen at all."
"SpongeTron, you can't stop change," Jimmy informed him, "It's a phenomenon that's bound to happen. You can't predict the future and expect the possible outcome by current events happening around us."
"Except that invention you said will change the world." SpongeBob said, elbowing him playfully.
"Don't I know it?" Jimmy said with a sly grin.
"Working on another world-changing invention?" Danny guessed.
"Oh yes," Jimmy nodded, "Come to the lab and I'll show you." He gestured the adults and SpongeTron in the lab, not noticing the strange being watching from the window. It seeps through the window and inside HQ like a black puddle as it slithers upward on the ceiling and towards the main lab.
In the lab, Jimmy opened a drawer and took out a large folded paper. He put it on a table and unfolded it, revealing it was a schematic. "It's still in the developing stages, but I have all the basics planned out." Jimmy explained.
"So what does it do?" Tak wondered until Jimmy folded it back in place.
"That's top secret," Jimmy explained, "Sadly; I don't yet have the materials or funds needed to complete it."
"But if anyone can build a life-changing invention, that'll be you, Jimbo," Timmy encouraged.
"Positive," Jimmy nodded, putting the schematic back in the drawer, "Guys, I'm telling you. Once I create this gadget, the world as you know it will never be the same." As he talked, the black liquid entered the lab as it eyed Jimmy. "I mean, almost anything can happen in the present that leads to paths of potential outcomes," Jimmy continued, "With my invention... Almost anything can happen, even things unexpected."
Suddenly, the ooze shot a black spear at Jimmy when SpongeTron instantly spotted it. "Look out!" SpongeTron shouted and tackled Jimmy to the ground as the spear pierced the wall where the genius could have been.
"What was that?" Danny asked in shock. They all look near the door to see the black ooze form up from the ground. It retracts its spear back to its liquid-like body until it morphs into a large humanoid, a large glowing yellowish orange eye in front of its face. It screeches as its arms form into razor sharp blades. Danny quickly changes into ghost form and creates a ghost shield that the blades clash on.
SpongeBob runs pass the shield and jumps forward with his leg stretched out toward the robot. But while he lands the karate kick, his leg gets stuck in its liquid body. SpongeBob screeched in horror as he tried to pull his leg out, but he couldn't budge free. The thing's chest expanded and morphed into a third arm that holds SpongeBob upside down.
Tak charged after it and used his staff to hit it until blocked by a newly formed fourth arm that seeps onto Tak's arms. The blades seep through Danny's ghost shield and grab him around the neck with its tentacles. The creature hummed as it threw Danny, SpongeBob, and Tak aside, its arms merging into two again.
Jimmy, Timmy, and SpongeTron were shocked that the strange being was able to take out three of their allies. But Timmy frowned and called, "Cosmo, Wanda." With a POOF, the two appear as Timmy's Star Flinger. He fired dozens of stars at the creature and landed direct hits all over its body. But the creature seemed unfazed by this and the stars absorbed into its body. Its body changed to the color pink and its arms morphed into a weapon that fired magical gold stars at Timmy. All the stars hit Timmy and knock him back into a corner of the wall. The creature then turned its eye to look directly at the agape Jimmy Neutron.
From the creature's POV, its vision resembles a yellow computer screen that had Jimmy in its sight. A targeting scope moved directly over Jimmy's face and the words "Target located: ANNIHILATE" appeared in front of the screen.
The creature's arm turned into a large hammer that almost resembled the one Timmy used Cosmo as sometimes and pounded it on the ground as it approached Jimmy with what seemed like the intent to kill. It raised its hammer arm and hurled it towards Jimmy until SpongeTron blocked it with his electric sword. SpongeTron swung its sword at the being and shifted his arms into his Robo-Chargers. He plugs them into the ground, sending a shockwave that blasts the pink creature away.
"Thanks SpongeTron." Jimmy said with relief, but then stared at where the creature went. "What in Ptolemy's name is that thing?"
"I don't know." SpongeTron replied. "But it sure is strong."
The rest of the adults recovered and walked over to the two. "Whatever it is, I think we got it." Danny assumed.
However, a blast of lightning shot out and the creature re-emerged from a pile of debris, only it was now the color yellow and its hands resembled a pair of Robo-Chargers like SpongeTron.
SpongeTron's eyes widen in surprised, knowing he is the only robot what that special weapon. "How did it..." but the creature attacked SpongeTron with the very same method he used against it.
The shockwave went through the ground and sent the whole group back flying in different directions. While everyone was lying on the ground knocked out, it walked only toward Jimmy, who was trapped under a desk.
Jimmy attempted to struggle out from under the large object, but was unable to. But once the creature stopped in front of him, the genius glared up and demanded, "Identify yourself."
The creature said nothing as it morphed its right arm into a bright blue beamsword. It winds the sword back, intending to stab Jimmy with it. Danny was the first to wake up and see the scene. He looks up and notices a pipe above them and he aims and shoots a green ecto-ray from his finger and blasts the pipe away, releasing steam. The pipe shoots out hot steam at the creature's arm, making it screech loudly as if in pain. It backs away, noticing its arm had returned to its original black color. SpongeTron quickly got up and used his strength to lift the desk off of Jimmy.
The creature almost backed down as steam continued blasting its shoulder until it stretches an arm to punch through the window. The creature morphs back into its liquid form and hops through the window, making its escape.
"We can't let it escape!" Jimmy shouted as he was about to run after it, but a strange force hit him as he approached the window and knocked him across the ground. Jimmy sat up and held his head, opening his eyes to see the air vent pop off the ceiling and a small person in brown shorts and a blue hoodie that was covering their face dropped down onto the floor.
Jimmy was surprised when the hooded stranger turned to him. He points at him and points back at the direction the creature went, then "slices" his neck with his finger as if giving him a silent warning of the danger if finding it. "Wait, who are-" but the hooded stranger leaps out the window, without a word, to chase after the thing. Jimmy was baffled when Timmy and Danny ran over to help him stand up. "Well, this has been a really weird night," Timmy commented, "Who was that guy?"
"More importantly, what was that thing?" Jimmy answered, "If he hadn't interfered, we would have gotten evidence of what that creature really was."
"Found your evidence," Tak called out. The three adults turned when Tak pointed down at a small black ooze, possibly the remains of the creature before it ran off. Unlike the thing, it moved at a slower pace as if trying to get away.
A glass jar suddenly dropped on top of it. The ooze suddenly went crazy, sliding around the jar as if trying to escape, but was unable to break out. Standing above it was SpongeBob, who had trapped it. "I think you have something new you can research, Jimmy." SpongeBob stated. SpongeBob hands over the jar to Jimmy as he glanced curiously at the thing that tried to kill him.
The next morning went as usual; SpongeTron was eating some metal bits in a cereal bowl while reading a newspaper and Cindy was feeding Max some carrots. Max has outgrown the green jammies and is now wearing an orange shirt with blue trimmings on the sleeves and an atom symbol in the middle. He still wears a diaper, but no longer needs the bonnet as his blonde hair has grown and sticks out of his head.
Cindy feeds Max a small piece of carrot which Max willingly eats, chews, and swallows. Cindy gasped, almost squealing in delight. "Did you see that?" she asked Goddard excitedly, "Max ate his first hard food! That's my big boy!" she said, pinching Max's cheek cutely. She sighed, "It seems like almost yesterday when we first fed you puree. You're growing up so fast..."
Goddard responded by licking Max's feet, tickling the baby as he giggled.
Her last words startled SpongeTron as he puts the newspaper down. He chuckled nervously, "Hee hee, yeah. That's great."
Cindy nearly sheds a tear, "My Maxie, now a one-year-old. Pretty soon, he'll start walking, speak his first word, and get potty training. My little boy is gonna be big man someday, won't you, Maxie?" Cindy said, raising Max in the air as he giggled happily.
SpongeTron gulped as 911's voice echoed in his head. "Change is coming... Change is coming... Change is coming..." He noticed the voice was almost TOO real and turned to see 911 beside him, chanting on a megaphone, "Change is coming!"
SpongeTron puts down 911's megaphone and hissed at him, "You better have a GOOD reason to be here, 911."
"I do actually!" 911 saluted, "After I received word about Jimmy being nearly clocked by the mysterious assassin, I thought it'd be best if me and my best officers be bodyguards for the time being."
"Thanks for the offer, 911, but that won't be necessary." SpongeTron replied. "My team and I are already tasked with the job since he's taking us to Tech Con today."
"But I had everything planned out already." SpongeTron 911 said in a disappointed tone. "I have these x-ray specs so I can notice if people are in disguise, this taser if someone gets too close, these glow wands to direct people away from Jimmy, and these handcuffs for when I catch the perp." When he puts on the x-ray glasses to test them, he stares at Cindy for a brief moment, only for her to immediately whack him on the head with a newspaper, knocking off the glasses.
"You can keep all that stuff. I'm sure you can trust the Nicktoons to handle the job." SpongeTron assured.
"Are you sure?" 911 asked, skeptically. "I'm sure you recall my previous warning about...change."
SpongeTron was about to retort when- "SpongeTron!" Jimmy called out after a night's work of research. He noticed 911, "Oh, you're here, 911. Why don't you two come to the lab so I can tell you about my latest discovery?"
911 and 001 glance at each other and follow Jimmy to the lab. When they came inside, Jimmy was looking at the black ooze contained in a petri dish and looking at it through a microscope. "So you found out what the mysterious assassin was?" 911 asked, "Was it an alien, a phantom, a human affected by radiation who mutated and melted into a puddle of abomination?"
"It's neither of those things," Jimmy answered, "It's a robot!"
The two robots gasped in shock by this discovery. "It can't be a robot." SpongeTron pointed out. "Not when it can do all those 'changing-things'. I can't even do that."
"Well, see for yourself..." Jimmy said as he allows SpongeTron to look through the microscope. SpongeTron peeks and is surprised that within the black ooze are tiny insect-like bots.
"Nanobots?" he asked.
"Exactly," Jimmy said eagerly, "It's incredible. That robot is actually made up of millions...no...BILLIONS...of nanobots the size of molecules. At that size, these bots can move like liquid or even solidify as a hardened object."
"Guess that explains its liquidy state."
"I know!" Jimmy said, impressed, "I think within the robot, one of the nanobots must be the brain that commands and controls all the nanobots, almost like a hive mind." His eyes begin to gleam as he continues explaining, "What's more amazing is each of these nanobots are self-changing, allowing it the ability to adapt. Whatever the nanobots touch, they scan and emit a signal, enabling the brain to signal the nanobots to adapt and mimic a power to use against the enemy."
SpongeTrons 001 and 911 are a bit weird out. "Wow Neutron, you seem TOO happy to discover this thing, despite the fact that it tried to kill you," 001 stated.
"Well, yeah," Jimmy admitted, "I am a scientist after all, always intrigued by a new discovery. What surprised me is that this... morphing robot is so advanced...TOO advanced, it's nearly impossible for today's technology to create this thing. It's almost like...it's from the FUTURE."
"That's absurd." 911 said in disbelief. "Nobody can come from the future. You're the only one who has a time machine, and who would wanna send a robot to kill you?"
"It's a theory, but can't say for sure," Jimmy stated as he looked at the nanobots through the microscope, "We need to catch this...Morph... Bring it alive if possible. Who knows what things it can benefit for the future? The robots and inventions that can be formed from its nanotech? Heck, this thing makes all robots of today look obsolete!"
SpongeTron frowned even more after hearing how Jimmy was amazed by the robot, especially naming it. Then, Jimmy's watch beeps and he glanced at the time, "Oh, it's time for the Tech Con. Better get ready." He leaves the two robots alone as he prepares.
SpongeTron looked a bit anxious when 911, arms behind his back, says slyly, "Change..."
SpongeTron, agitated, formed his right arm into a sonic cannon as it whirs with power, "You know, I'm obligated to use weaponry against anyone or anything I deem a threat."
911 chuckled nervously and quickly said, "As you were." and rushed out of the room to resume his police officer duties.
SpongeTron looked at the nanobot robot through the microscope again and stated, "Nothing is gonna change us," he looked at the robot, "Not even you."
Meanwhile out in Retroville, a large cardboard box in an alley way tumbled down and from out of it fell a bunch of newspapers and the small hooded figure from the previous day. He stood up, having apparently spent the night in the box.
The figure shook his head until a hovercar drove pass the alley and the figure turned around to see he was next to a large convention building that crowds of people were going into. A large neon sign was hung outside that read "Retroville Tech Con".
Inside, there were many booths that sold many different kinds of technology from cell phones, laptops, music players, ect. Walking around the conventions was Jimmy Neutron pushing Max in a stroller, and was accompanied by Darry, Yuki, Tammy, Tommy, SpongeTron, and Goddard. "Wow, this is amazing!" Tommy shouted excitedly, "Look! They're selling GPSs over there!"
Tammy gasped as she rushed over to another booth. "Oh my gosh! These won't even be released until the next six months!"
"So enjoying your day, Yuki?" Darry asked.
"Yeah, thanks again," Yuki smiled, "Isn't technology grand?"
"Tell me about it," Tommy agreed, "Who knows what new tech will come to replace old machines and make things better."
SpongeTron, feeling irked, scoffed loudly. Darry noticed his behavior, "Are you alright, ST?"
The robot dourly replied, "Oh nothing. Just thrilled to be around all this life-changing technology that will replace good functioning robots and change all our lives forever."
Darry positively replied, "Of course. All this electronic stuff is useful and handy. It makes me wanna go into business like this, maybe I can create a gadget that can do anything like Tucker is trying to do."
SpongeTron rolled his eyes and asked, "So you wanna check out where they're displaying the new V-Cube 6?"
Before Darry could answer, Yuki ran over to him and shouted in excitement, "Darry! I found the phone I want! Come see!"
"Sure thing!" Darry called out and said to SpongeTron, "Um...we can check out the V-Cube later." then ran over to his sister.
Goddard walked over to a disappointed SpongeTron and he sarcastically asked the dog, "You're not growing older, are you?"
The two Fenton kids ran over to an unsupervised display table that had a bunch of handheld devices. Yuki grabbed a cellphone and showed it to her brother excitedly, "Check it out. It's the latest smartphone device and I heard everybody over there talking about it."
Tammy then walked over. "Check out this tappad." then she spotted the same kind of device on the table. "Check out THAT tappad!"
Tommy then showed up and picked up a laptop. "Oh yeah? Look at this. It comes with a free wi-fi chip."
While the kids were ogling at the devices, Jimmy and SpongeTron walked over and the robot warned, "You guys shouldn't really trust just any technology. Especially if you don't know who manufactures it."
"It says so here on the back," Yuki pointed out as she looked at the back of the phone, "'Strych Enterprises'."
"'Strych?'" Jimmy asked, nearly alarmed, "Wait, as in... Eustace Strych?"
"Yeah," Darry nodded as he holds up a flyer, "It says here in the brochure that he was the one who helped invent Tech Con."
Jimmy stared at the flyer, feeling dumbfounded, "Gas planet, how did I miss that?" he groaned in annoyance.
Tammy noticed his expression. "Are you feeling okay, Jimmy?"
Jimmy didn't answer, but Yuki excitedly announces, "This phone is so cool; I think I'll take it."
"You know, SpongeTron has a point," Jimmy mentioned, "You don't even know if Strych Enterprises is the best company to buy a phone from."
"What are you talking about?" Tommy asked as a magazine appeared in his hand, "Strych Enterprises is one of the top 10 most successful corporations here. It even owns about 75 percent of tech companies that apply its software and tech to Strych products."
"Which is all the more reason for me to get it." Yuki said with a nod and waved the phone to her brother. "Darry, I've decided to get this one."
"Excellent choice, little girl." a British voice said that Jimmy immediately recognized. "You'll certainly have the best phone money can buy."
The kids see a handsome-looking man with slicked back brown hair, green eyes, and wearing a gray business suit. Jimmy kept his back turned to everyone, hoping to remain inconspicuous. "Are you the one who owns all this stuff?" Tammy asked.
"Indeed," the man answered. "My name's Eustace Strych, owner and founder of Strych Enterprises and the richest man in all of Retroville."
"OOOOOHHH..." the kids said impressed.
Eustace then looked up to see a familiar person standing next to Max's stroller with his back turned to everyone and his arms crossed. But Eustace immediately recognized him. "Neutron? Could that possibly be you?" he asked in amusement.
Jimmy almost winced until he hesitantly turns to him, "Eustace, what a nice surprise." He greeted, nearly grimacing.
"I recognize your unflattering follicles anywhere, James." Eustace said to an unamused Jimmy. "So what brings you here? Trying to sell your juvenile inventions?"
"No, not today." Jimmy answered bitterly. "Just browsing."
"You guys know each other?" Darry wondered.
"Of course." Eustace pleasantly answered, "Neutron and I go way back. We used to spend a lot of time together, almost like good chums." when he pats Jimmy on the shoulder, the genius immediately pulled himself away.
"That's quite the opposite, Strych." Jimmy angrily reminded. "You practically made it your mission in life to show me up and ruin everything I did. Not to mention, cause trouble for me and my Nicktoon team."
Eustace just slyly smiled and replied, "Well, I did say 'almost'."
"So..." Tommy said as he watched the two adults. "You guys are more like rivals."
Tammy took a picture of Jimmy and Eustace with her phone. "I can't wait to show this to my club."
Eustace turned to the kids and said, "Well, if I'm correct, you must be Neutron's new Nicktoon team that I've heard so much about."
"That's right." Darry answered as he stood together with Tammy, Tommy, and SpongeTron. "We're the Nicktoons."
"Indeed," Eustace said impressed. "I was thinking of forming my own team of dimensional individuals myself. Shame though that it was Jimmy who thought of it first, along with that so-called Portal Machine of his." Jimmy just pouted when Eustace hands each of them passes. "How about you and your friends get free passes to view my company's latest invention? I guarantee you won't wanna miss."
"Thanks for the offer, but I think we'll be busy looking at OTHER inventions," Jimmy excuses until the kids grab the passes.
"All right! Front seats!" Tommy said, looking at his pass.
"This is gonna be gnarly!" Darry exclaimed.
"Can't wait!" Tammy squealed in delight.
"Better hurry. Demonstration starts in five minutes," Eustace informed. The kids instantly rush to the stage, leaving Jimmy, the baby, and the two bots behind. Eustace puts on a smug face and walked away, making Jimmy growl in anger.
In less than three minutes until the show starts, everyone is in front. Jimmy crossed his arms when SpongeTron asked, "So what's the deal between you and Strych?"
"A lot of things." Jimmy answered angrily. "Eustace is a deceptive creep. He's always tried to beat me at everything and take away everything I had. He may be a rich entrepreneur, but I still don't trust anything he says."
"Aren't you being too judgmental?" SpongeTron asked. "I mean, you were just kids back then. Kids who...grew up and...changed." as he spoke, he became more depressed.
"Believe me," Jimmy said with a frown. "Some people don't change."
Then, the lights dim and everyone applauded as Eustace appeared on stage. "Welcome ladies and gents! First off, I'd like to thank everyone who came to Tech Con today. If it weren't for you, this wouldn't have been a huge success!" The audience roared in applause as Jimmy scoffed once more. "As you all know, Strych Enterprises is still a success in making products for your well-being; Phones, gadgets, and tablets. Now it's time to take our company to the next level. I am proud to present our next project...the RA-Unit 10X!" The curtains rise, revealing a large tank-like robot as everyone cheered.
Jimmy was not so impressed, "Oh, a robot." He said sarcastically, "So original..."
"I dunno, Neutron," Yuki said, looking impressed by the machine, "That thing looks kinda menacing."
"Looks and size don't matter in robotics, it's mainly the tools and weaponry it's designed for," Jimmy retorted when he wondered, "RA...where have I heard that before?"
"This is a robot made strictly for military use," Eustace explained, "It has what you expect: thermal scans, machine guns, missiles...but that's not what makes it special... Now I need a volunteer."
A round of hands rose up, but Eustace chose a nerdy man with a large particle beam device. "You there! Step forward."
The man grinned as he pushed his particle accelerator ray to the stage. "This thing? It's original, isn't it? Something you made with your own hands?" Eustace asked him.
The man nodded. Eustace smiled casually and announced, "RA-Unit 10X, activate." The RA-Unit rose up when it examines the crowd. Then, it spots the scientist's device. It quickly scanned it when a weapon identical to the man's weapon emerged from its back. Jimmy widened his eyes in surprise as does SpongeTron, both recognizing that ability.
Suddenly, the RA-Unit's particle accelerator charges up and fires a ray at the man's weapon, completely destroying it with a large 'boom'. Despite the large damage, the audience just cheered wildly. The man began weeping at the loss of his invention as he ran off stage, but Eustace remained oblivious with pride. Yuki then raised her hand and shouted, "That was amazing! How did it do that?"
"I'm glad you asked that, young lady." Eustace answered. "You see, my RA-Unit is a..."
"Robot Adaptoid." Jimmy spoke up. "Capable of copying anything it comes in contact with. Sound familiar?"
"Why, yes. Of course," Eustace stated, "While the RA can adapt the weapon, its power also increases tenfold."
"Then let me ask you something," Jimmy said, hopping onstage.
"Uh, Jimmy?" Darry asked, uncertain, but the genius ignored him.
"Is this your latest model? Or do you have a newer one? An upgraded model perhaps?" Jimmy asked suspiciously, "Something that copies more than just weapons, right?"
"Hmmm...An interesting theory," Eustace pondered, "However, this is the latest model."
"Really, then you don't mind if I check for any new features?" Jimmy asked, approaching the RA-Unit. The Nicktoons had an uneasy feeling when Jimmy shouted to the ghost boy, "Darry, fire a ghost ray at it!"
"Uh, I don't know if I want to..." Darry meekly said, turning his head away.
Jimmy frowned when he pulled SpongeTron onstage. "SpongeTron, Robo-Chargers." He commanded.
"Wait, Neutron," SpongeTron warned, "I think you should think this ov-"
"I said, Robo-Chargers!" Jimmy yelled. SpongeTron was nearly scared by his sudden behavior. Having had enough, Jimmy walked backstage and comes back with a crowbar. "Copy this!" He shouted and starting banging on the robot. The audience gasped as does Eustace, but Jimmy just kept hitting it when he said, "Come on! You don't wanna kill me now in front of witnesses?"
Eustace cleared his throat and says to the audience, "Seems we have a little dispute in our presentation. SECURITY!"
Two large men in security officer uniforms walk across the stage and grab Jimmy by his arms, dragging him away. "No!" Jimmy protested. "You should be apprehending Eustace Strych! He's behind an assassination attempt on my life!"
Goddard groaned and pushed Max away in his stroller. The Nicktoons were staring in agape at their commander being escorted from the building. Tommy turned to Tammy, "You recorded that, right?" he asked.
"Definitely." Tammy answered, holding up her phone.
"Local resident and renowned scientist, Jimmy Neutron, was arrested last night after disrupting the peace and vandalizing billion-dollar property. He was later released when business tycoon, Eustace Strych, decided not to press charges. What will become of the inventor now?"
The morning news report is turned off by Cindy as she glared at Jimmy in disappointment. The Nicktoons and Yuki were with him when Jimmy chuckled nervously, "Are you mad at me, honey?"
"Me? Noooo," Cindy answered in a sarcastic manner. "Why would I be mad after you humiliated yourself in front of the entire town and set a bad example for our son?" she signaled to Max who was banging a plastic wrench on Goddard.
"But Cindy, you remember I told you about that Morph robot that attacked me the other day." Jimmy tried to explain. "I have reason to believe that Eustace is behind that thing."
"And I believe you," Cindy assured, "But you can't destroy billions of dollars' worth of property damage because of it. Trust me, I'm a reporter. If you accuse Strych of a crime without any proof, you'll be giving yourself bad publicity."
Jimmy sighed sadly, "You're right. I should have thought about this thoroughly. I don't know what came over me."
"What you need to do is find solid evidence," Cindy advised, "You have to find the connection between that thing and Eustace."
Hearing her, Jimmy smiled as he kissed her, "This is why I married you." He turned to the Nicktoons, "Team, new mission. I need you to sneak into Strych Enterprises and investigate." Darry, Tommy, and Tammy look at each other uncertain. "What's wrong?" Jimmy asked.
"I don't know if I wanna break into a major cooperation," Darry explained, "If I get caught, that'll put a bad rep on my record and I might not be able to get into a good school."
"Besides, Eustace knows about us," Tammy added, "He'll know you sent us and give him a good excuse to throw you in jail."
Jimmy rubbed his temples, realizing they're right, until he remembered and smiled at Yuki, "But he doesn't know about another Nicktoon team that's been newly promoted."
"You want me and my team to break into a big industry with possibly high surveillance just to find evidence at the risk of being caught by security?" Yuki asked him. She smiled in amusement, "This has been a good week for me."
"But what about us?" SpongeTron asked. "What are we, the original Nicktoons team, supposed to do if we can't investigate what's going on with Eustace Strych?"
"You can hang around HQ," Cindy suggested, "Make sure nothing happens to Jimmy with Morph still on the move." SpongeTron thought about it and nodded as his team agreed with the plan.
Soon, the rest of the Cadets are called in by Yuki as they stand tall for their leader. "This is for you, Crash," Jimmy said, taking out a new helmet almost similar to his. Crash replaces his helmet with Jimmy's as the genius explained, "Inside is a camera that allows us to see live feed from Goddard's screen. There's also a communications set on the right side so we can talk to you."
Crash turned to Junior as Goddard turns on his screen to show an image of Junior, who smiled and waved at the camera. Crash smiled in excitement, "Boy howdy, that is so cool!"
"And Twitchy, this is a heat signature radar." Jimmy explained as he handed the squirrel a handheld device. "It will detect any human presence within the area. It should tell you just how many personal are inside Eustace's corporation building."
He then handed Kida a bag of computer chips. "Kida, attach these computer chips to any security camera that may locate you. It'll shut them down just long enough for you to sneak by undetected."
"What about me?" Junior asked, jumping up and down excitedly. "Do I get a cool gadget?"
"Uhh..." Jimmy stammered since he obviously did not have anything to give the younger sponge. So he dug around in his pocket and pulled out a dollar. "Here's a dollar. If you see a vending machine, buy a snack."
Junior just smiled and took the money. "You can count on me!" he said with a large grin and salute.
"So, are you sure this Eustace is the one who sent that Morph thing to kill you?" Yuki asked Jimmy.
"Well, we gotta make sure," Jimmy said, "Let me ask you something... How can you tell a company's gadget apart from the other?"
The Cadets look at each other and shrug. "That's the thing," Jimmy explained as he held out Yuki's new phone, showing the Strych Enterprises logo on the back, "See? You can tell that this gadget is made by that company. It can be a logo, a similar feature from previous models; it can even be a flaw within the invention."
The others hear interestedly as Jimmy continued, "Assuming Morph is an RA-Unit, it could have the same traits as its precursors. So if we find a weakness in the RA's, then possibly, we find Morph's weakness as well."
"Don't worry, Commander." Yuki assured with a smile. "We won't let you down."
"Can we stop for ice-cream first?" Twitchy asked.
"No!" Yuki yelled.
Eventually, the new Nicktoons team rush out of HQ and they run past a bench with the hooded figure sitting on the bench, holding something in his hands. It appeared to be a medallion that was around his neck, but it had tinfoil covering it. He then stuffed it under his jacket and stared at HQ.
Suddenly, he spots a black puddle slide across the ground and speed through the door that the Nicktoons exited through just before it slides closed. Recognizing it as Morph, he jumps off the bench and tries to find a way into HQ to follow it.
Hope you enjoyed the first story of the new season so far. So many changes are going to occur, are they good or bad? Please review what you think.