Time Fixers: Nicktoons of the Future
Episode 4: SpongeTron PI
Plot: SpongeTron loves watching detective films and his luck comes around when Java returns asking for help to find her mother. While the Nicktoons are suspicious about her, SpongeTron puts his private eye skills to the test to find the missing monitor as if he were in a film noir. Can Detective SpongeTron solve this case?
Part 1
It was a rainy day in Nicktoon HQ. Lightning flashed as rain continued pouring and SpongeTron looked out the window in a dull gray room (quite literally, as it was strangely in monochrome).
"It was a dark and stormy night," SpongeTron's voice rang in narration, "Not like it ever happened in HQ. There were always dark nights, stormy days even. But not usually dark and stormy at a time like this. A night like this tells me something is bound to happen..." We zoom to SpongeTron as he dully looked out the window bored, "That handsome squarebot over there is me. They call me ST-Unit 001, though most of my friends call me SpongeTron for short. I'm a robot, built to be good by my creators, James Neutron and SpongeBob SquarePants. Both of them are good men."
SpongeTron turned around to see four kids hanging in his room. Darry Fenton was looking for any criminal activity on the monitor. "I'm part of the Nicktoons, a team bent on fighting evil, cuz that's what good guys do if they wanna save their hometowns from certain destruction. That's our leader, Darry Fenton. He's a good kid, quite ghostly and super, but a good kid."
Tammy was typing a schedule of plans for her fan-club while Tommy and Poof watch. "Those are the twins, Tommy and Tammy Turner. They're good kids too. They have a fairy named Poof, a ball of wonder who grants them any wish they want, as long as it's for good."
A blonde kid in a blue and black jacket laid his elbow on the desktop computer and was reading a comic book, "And over there is our newest recruit, Maxwell. He's stubborn kid, a loud mouth sometimes, but a good kid as well. They all are actually. Maxwell, on the other hand, is quite the straight man, always making witty comments and keeps asking questions like..."
Maxwell glanced around, noticing something off and asked, "Dude, why is everything black and white?"
"Maybe cuz your elbow is on the monochrome button," Tommy pointed out. Maxwell looked down to see he was right, his elbow leaning on a bottom. Maxwell chuckled loudly and removes his elbow as the room returns in color.
"And speaking of black and white, ST, why are you talking like we're in a film noir," Darry asked, noting that SpongeTron was narrating loudly this whole time.
"Oh, no reason." SpongeTron answered without moving his lips, but pushed a small button on his chest, making speaker noises screech from the sides of his head. "No reason at all." he spoke out loud. "I just have a feeling, you know," SpongeTron continued, "That something dark and mysterious is about to come through the door. That a big mystery is gonna unfold..."
"Okay, I think you should stop watching those black and white movies with Tammy," Tommy noted and asked Tammy, "Why do you still even watch them?"
Tammy sighed dreamily, "Those PIs are such smooth talkers..."
Maxwell rolled his eyes, "Guys, I think after fighting an evil plant monster, we deserve a day-off at least. And maybe your Creator should fix that CPU of yours."
"Oh, Jimmy always does that," SpongeTron waved up, "Every night; Neutron instantly backs up all my data in case something was to happen."
"Yeah, whatever," Maxwell said dully, "I mean, it's not like what you said will be true. That a cute but shady damsel is gonna come through the door and plead for a strange case we all have to solve."
After his words, thunder booms and the doors slide open. A mysterious woman in a trench coat and fedora hat approached them. Everyone jumps up in alarm when they see her. "Who are you?" Tammy asked.
"And how did you get in without setting off the alarm?" Darry asked as well.
"Oh, it happens to be on the fritz." she speaks in a low voice as she holds up a pair of pliers and slides them down her sleeve.
But SpongeTron notices her shady appearance and pushes his way past his friends. "How can I help you, miss?"
She sits on a stool and speaks in a familiar but sad voice, "Oh, I'm in so much trouble. Someone I care about has gone missing and I don't know what to do."
"Have you tried going to the police?" Maxwell asked her.
The woman answered, "They can't locate who I'm looking for. If I'm ever gonna find results, I knew only the Nicktoons could help me out." she then gets strangely close to SpongeTron, almost stroking his chin, "Especially since you have Spongy-Poo as a member. With his technology, I know this will work out."
SpongeTron just giggled in flattery, "Oh, thank you. My technology is impressive."
But Darry's eyes widen once he realizes what the woman had said- particularly what she had called SpongeTron. "Wait a second..."
He ran over to the woman and grabbed her hat and coat, phasing it off, revealing who was inside. Tammy and Tommy gasp at who it was, "JAVA!" they cried in alarm.
"Nicktoons Go!" Darry shouted for his team to attack the criminal.
Tammy, Tommy, and Maxwell take out their weapons and charge at Java. The latter backflips to avoid the magic blasts that Tommy was firing. SpongeTron, however, was standing still, agape by what was going on. "Hey, guys?" SpongeTron tried calling out, "Wait!"
But Darry Phantom kept firing ghost rays at Java, who deflected them with her tail. "Wait!" SpongeTron called again as he followed them to the living room, but Tammy swung her jump rope, grabbing Java's wrist, but she bites it off her with buckteeth. Then Maxwell uses his powers to throw her against the wall. Maxwell concentrates as Java cannot move due to the psychic energy.
"WAAAAIT!" SpongeTron finally screamed loudly, breaking Maxwell's concentration on Java, setting her down.
They finally stop fighting as SpongeTron rushed past his friends and grabbed the robot squirrel's hands. "Oh, Spongy-Poo. I knew you'd listen to me. Though I had a feeling your friends wouldn't be so...welcoming."
"Why would we?!" Tommy yelled, glaring at her.
"You're a criminal!" Tammy continued for her brother, "You tried to steal the Pearl of the Ocean!"
"You teamed up with ST's crazed doppelgänger and tried to smolder us into metal!"
"You even kidnapped Baby Max to teach him how to be a criminal!"
"And you ran illegal robot fights with Professor Calamitous with the intent of brainwashing SpongeTron!" Darry added.
"I'm confused." Maxwell said blankly.
But Java sighed and slumped over. "I knew this would happen. I'm sorry, SpongeTron, it was mistake to come here. I thought you could help me, but I can understand why your friends would have trouble trusting me." she began to walk away. "Oh well...I guess I'll try to take care of this myself."
When Java got closer to the door, SpongeTron called out, "Wait!" Java stopped as SpongeTron added, "Can you excuse us for a minute?" he led his friends away to talk in private while Java stood there, secretly smirking to herself.
Once they were alone in the hallway, the Nicktoons all shot SpongeTron disapproving glares. "SpongeTron, you gotta be joking." Darry told the robot, "You can't be serious about helping Java."
"Yeah, after what she did to us!" Tammy scolded.
"She could be leading all of us into a trap." Tommy added.
"Or a family member is in trouble." SpongeTron retorted, "Java needs our help, and it's nothing a little detective work can't solve."
The Nicktoons ponder this, still suspicious of Java's motives. "Come on, guys," SpongeTron pleaded, "If something happened to your parents or siblings, wouldn't you do anything to help them?"
The four remained silent until Maxwell spoke up, "You're gonna do this because you wanna be a private investigator, aren't you?"
"That and to help my true love, Java." SpongeTron admitted, "But I'm doing this with or without your help."
SpongeTron walked away, leaving his friends behind. But Darry turned to the others and said, "Well, we can't let him go with her by himself."
"Why can't we?" Tommy dully asked.
"Besides, SpongeTron's our family too," Darry pointed out, "And if something happens, we'll be there for him. He would do the same for us too."
Tommy and Tammy still look uncertain when Maxwell stepped forward, "For once, Scottie is right. We can't leave a man...or robot... behind."
"Right!" Darry agreed with a smile, but frowned when he realized, "Well, about the SpongeTron thing. My name is Darry."
"So are you guys in or out?" Maxwell asked, ignoring Darry's last quote as the ghost teen huffs.
Tammy shrugs. "Well, if Max is in, then I'm in."
Tommy sighed, knowing he'll regret this, "And if my sis is in, so am I."
"Poof!" Poof appeared as he followed up, agreeing with the twins.
"I guess that settles it." Darry said, shrugging his shoulders. "Let's go help SpongeTron and his crazy girlfriend."
In the living room, Java was sitting on the couch, buffering her fingertips as she waited for an answer. She then stopped when she sees SpongeTron and his friends. "Well, Java, it's all agreed that we're gonna help you." SpongeTron told her as he tapped his watch and a trench coat appears on him and his hat was replaced with a detective hat. "Just call me SpongeTron PI...and the Nicktoons."
Java squealed in joy. "Oh, Spongy-Poo! I knew you wouldn't let me down!" and hugged him.
As SpongeTron hugged her, his voice narration began again, "And so my mission began, my friends knew I was crazy, but I say they're crazy for not believing that deep down my Java was an angel. If I was ever gonna find her mama, I had to start in the one place anyone would find her: The Chum Bucket."
But Java stared at him, "Why are you talking without moving your mouth?"
"It's called a 'narration'." SpongeTron answered for her.
"Whatever," Maxwell said, uncaring, "Let's just check out the Chum Bucket."
Soon, the group heads to Bikini Bottom and made their way to Plankton's restaurant, the Chum Bucket. "I was on my way to investigate the home of Java's creator." SpongeTron narrates again, "The Chum Bucket was known as the lowest restaurant in the food industry and the place for criminal activity. But if I was ever gonna solve the mystery of Java's missing mother; it would be something a man like me would have to do. I wonder if Java will notice how manly I am."
Once they approach the Chum Bucket, SpongeTron suddenly kicked the front doors off its hinges. He jumps in, performing karate moves while screaming in battle cry, unknowingly embarrassing himself in front of the Nicktoons and Java.
"Alright! Nobody move!" SpongeTron yelled, striking poses.
Plankton turned in surprise to see the Nicktoons, "What the barnacle is this? Do you know how much it'll cost to get that door fixed?"
SpongeTron flashed a piece of paper at Plankton and shouted, "Nicktoon Private Eye! And I am here to place you under arrest for droid knapping."
But Java ran past him with her arms spread out, "Father!" she cried in a happy tone.
"Java, my dear!" Plankton raised his arms out to give his "daughter" a hug.
"What?" SpongeTron asked in surprise, since the last time he saw them together, she had abandoned her creator.
"But I thought you couldn't stand each other." Tammy mentioned.
"You Nickfools are so pessimistic." Plankton replied, standing in Java's palms. "After you monsters threw my princess in jail last year, I paid her bail. And after a few sessions with the family therapist, we managed to work things out."
"Congratulations." Darry said sarcastically, "I had to fight a murderous ghost to get past the issues with my own dad."
"You see? Now that Java and her parents are a family again, it must mean she's changed!" SpongeTron pointed out.
But then, Tommy asked, "Well, if you're all one big happy family again, where's your wife?"
Plankton thought it over. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen Karen in while now. I sent her to the Krusty Krab to talk to SpongeBob's kids to see if she can get the secret formula out of them and she never returned."
"She probably got caught." Maxwell assumed. "Serves her right."
"We don't know that for sure." Tammy mentioned. "The next clues to search for should be at-"
She was interrupted by a loud bullhorn that came out of SpongeTron. "I wanna say where our next clue will be!" the robot shouted harshly.
Tammy narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "Right, sorry."
SpongeTron turned away and got a serious look as he narrated, "As my associate had foolishly thought, the next place to look for the missing monitor had to be the place she was sent to commit a crime. How tragic would it be if I had to place my lovely client's mother under arrest if that was true. Would a beautiful dame like her ever think I was a man after that?"
"Hey!" Plankton shouted from across the room. "Keep your dirty thoughts about my daughter to yourself!"
SpongeTron turned back towards his comrades and Java. Java blushed a bit as Maxwell rolled his eyes. SpongeTron chuckled and exclaimed, "Right! To the Krusty Krab!"
He and the Nicktoons left the Chum Bucket while Java lagged behind. "Gotta go, Father. Don't worry. SpongeTron will find Mother for us."
"Take it from me, you can do better." Plankton simply said.
As Java and the Nicktoons enter the Krusty Krab, SpongeTron narrated, "The Krusty Krab, the finest restaurant in Bikini Bottom and home to the delicious krabby patty. It makes me sad that I don't have digestive system. Based on the last clue I received from Plankton, I knew there were only three lifeforms who could give me the information I need."
Soon, a bright light shone over Junior, Crash, and Twitchy as SpongeTron interrogates them across the table while inside the dark freezer. "SO! What were you doing at the Krusty Krab at 12:45 pm this afternoon!?"
However, Crash was wearing a white cone over his neck and could only mutter incoherently. "Giving the silent treatment, huh?" SpongeTron shouted, glaring straight at Crash, "Spit it out!"
But Junior meekly spoke up, "Um...actually, Crash ate fifty hot peppers at once yesterday and burned his throat so badly that he can't talk." he chuckled nervously, "By the way, can I have a sweater?"
But SpongeTron's fist suddenly grew larger and he pounded it on the table, startling the three. "A likely coincidence! Since the rest of you have functioning pharynxes, one of you better answer the question before I resort to 'other' tactics!"
Junior quickly grabbed Twitchy arm and shook it in fear, "Tell him, Twitchy! Tell the scary robot what he wants to know!"
"Uh...Wewereatthefront! WehadarrivedattheKrustyKrab." Twitchy yelled at fast speed in panic, "Wewould'vecomesoonerbuteveryoneatschoolkeptmakingfunofCrashandhissillyconethingy!" Crash glared and muttered something in response, but no one could understand him.
Junior shivered and added, "It's cold. Can we leave now?"
"Not until you tell me where Karen the computer wife is!" SpongeTron said sternly, "We can do this all night if you want."
"Isn't there supposed to be a good cop and a bad cop?" Twitchy asked.
"Tammy was supposed to be in here too." SpongeTron noted. "Where is she?"
Suddenly, they heard the sound of teeth chattering and SpongeTron turns to see Tammy shivering, nearly frozen. "I can't feel my legs." she said in a strained voice.
Suddenly, the freezer door opens and Darry stood there with Tommy, Maxwell, and Java. "What are you doing in here?" the ghost boy asked.
Junior ran over to Darry and hugged him for warmth. "SpongeTron said he wanted to 'interror-gate' us," he cried in fright, "but he brought us in here and is being scary."
"Well, if it helps...we just found out those three dorks didn't kidnap Karen," Maxwell stated and holds up a security tape, "And we have proof."
The group went into SpongeBob's office and played the video. The screen shows the front doors where Crash, Twitchy, and Junior were talking to Karen. Though the conversation was inaudible, they saw Karen suddenly leave and the three boys go inside the restaurant.
"Ah-ha!" SpongeTron shouted, pointing at the three boys. "You sent Karen somewhere and led her into a trap, didn't you?"
Tammy narrowed her eyes and asked Twitchy, "Did Karen tell you anything about where she was going?"
"She was off somewhere to buy some technology in secret." Twitchy explained.
"That doesn't tell us anything." Darry said, looking frustrated. "She could be anywhere."
SpongeTron pondered over this, "Technology in secret...black market!" he realized, snapping his fingers, "And there's only one place for that!"
Pretty soon, the Nicktoons and Java travel underground in a large sewer. The four humans pinched their noses from the stench, though the robots don't seem to be affected (since they can't smell). "Ugh, where are we?" Maxwell asked in a nasally voice.
They come across a large vault when SpongeTron knocks on the door. A slot opens up as electronic eyes peered through and asked, "Password?"
"Good times with weapons." SpongeTron answered. After which, the door beeped and slowly began to open. After going inside, they saw a bunch of shelves and boxes with different kinds of technology, new and used. "Welcome, welcome," a voice identical to SpongeTron's spoke. "Looking for something powerful?"
They see another ST-Unit, wearing a hat and a large trench coat with pockets full of money. "SpongeTron 666." SpongeTron said, narrowing his eyes. "I thought we'd find you here."
"You're selling technology on the black market?" Tommy asked.
666 answered, "Well, after you guys caught me putting the parking meters upside-down, stashing cans of oil in your yards, and pouring hot sauce in all the ice-cream. I thought I'd make a few bucks down here selling useful devices for fellow robots. I even have some of Neutron's stuff for half the price."
"You're a bad seed." SpongeTron told him with a frown before he started narrating, "Bad seed or not, he was still family. But even a hardboiled detective like me knew that even family could be convicted of a crime."
"Was that supposed to be private?" 666 asked. "Cuz I heard everything. What are you convicting me of?"
SpongeTron flashed the small piece of paper again and stated in a stern voice, "I happen to be a private detective, and I will take you in if I find evidence of you kidnapping."
"Anyway, have you seen Karen?" Darry asked SpongeTron 666, "You know...Plankton's wife...large monitor...sometimes travel on wheels...talks usually in sarcasm..."
"As a matter of fact, I have." SpongeTron 666 answered. "Was interested in inter-dimensional travel." he reached inside a box and took out an old-fashioned Recaller. "So I showed her this: the first model of the Commander's Recaller, with some tuning, I made it work like brand new and sold it to her for a solid 80 dollars."
"You're selling Jimmy's own inventions for money?" Tammy asked in disapproval.
"A LOT of money." Maxwell added in satisfaction.
Once he sees Java, 666 gets close and asks in a flirty tone, "And will the lovely robot care for a double-A++ battery for only half the price?"
Java giggled in flattery, but SpongeTron got between them and angrily told 666, "Give her space, she's distressed. If you know where Karen is, you better tell us."
"I can't tell you where she is, but I can tell you where she went. After purchasing the Recaller, she input the location to Retroville. She went through the portal and that's my story."
"Retroville?" Tammy questioned. "Why there?"
666 shrugs, "Who knows? Must be something pretty important. She explained she had something urgent to deal with."
Java gasped in shock as if trying to hold back tears. "Oh no. What if Mother is in trouble?"
SpongeTron held her hand and warmly smiled, patting her hand as he said, "Don't you worry, Java. I'll solve this case no matter what."
This made Java smile. "I know you will." she replied, kissing his head.
"Ahem," Darry coughed into his fist. "I think we're supposed to go to Retroville."
"My teenage ghost friend was right." SpongeTron narrated. "We finally had a lead to finding my true love's maternal figure. I knew our next stop would finally solve this case."
However, when the group finally reached Retroville, rather than continue to solve the case, they stopped at a burger place for lunch since, unlike the robots, the others were hungry and wanted to eat lunch. Maxwell dipped a fry in ketchup and stuck it in his mouth, chewing it in pleasure. "This has been the best part of this lame mission." he said with his mouth full.
"Come on, guys." SpongeTron urged while his friends still eat. "We have to get back to finding Java's mom."
"Hey!" Tommy shouted, "We did your stupid thing, now it's your turn to do ours."
"We even bought you a shake." Darry cheerfully said, sliding a strawberry shake across the table over to SpongeTron.
SpongeTron took the lid off and stared at the shake. "I can't eat this." he said in defeat, pushing it away.
"Don't worry, SpongeTron." Tammy assured. "Once we're done, we'll go back to the case." SpongeTron groaned as he slouched in his seat.
"So Java...it's been a year now..." Tammy said to the squirrel bot, "So how have you been doing besides family therapy?"
"You still don't trust me? Did you think I would have been stealing under your noses?" Java teased.
Tammy, Tommy, and Darry glared at her. Java sighed, "If you must know, I have a job now."
Darry scoffed, "What job? Testing the bank's security?"
"Maybe she's working as a cappuccino machine." Tommy guessed with a laugh.
Java ignored their jokes and answered, "If you must know, I'm working at a successful business, doing odd jobs for the company president. I get paid well, but I'm still waiting for a real payment."
"Well, as long as you're not stealing from hard-working businesses." Darry said, rolling his eyes.
"You see?" SpongeTron asked, holding Java's shoulder. "Java's earning money the honest way, so it's proof that she has changed."
"My mother's proud of me." Java mentioned, but sighed in sadness. "If only I can see her again."
But when Darry, Tammy, and Tommy still stared at her skeptically, Java became even more saddened. "Excuse me, Spongy-Poo." she said, standing up, "I'm gonna go outside to be alone for a while."
Once Java was gone, SpongeTron glared at his friends furiously, "Why do you guys have to be so mean to Java?!"
"SpongeTron, how can you be so oblivious?" Darry asked, looking disappointed, "Even if Java really said she turned over a new leaf, it doesn't excuse everything she's done to us in the past."
"We're only saying this because we're your friends." Tammy explained.
"Come on, guys, why don't you give her a chance?" SpongeTron pleaded, "I mean...look how I turned out? Remember when I reactivated? I wanted revenge against Neutron for shutting me and the ST-Units down and tried to obliterate you guys for it?"
Maxwell giggled from hearing this. "Wow, really? I'd like to see that."
"Trust me, you don't," Tammy whispered.
"And afterwards when I teamed up with you guys, I realized humans are not as bad as they seem," SpongeTron confessed, "And learned to love and care for them as if they were my own brethren. Don't you feel the same way about me?"
"Of course we do, SpongeTron." Darry responded, "Which is why we don't want you hanging around that Java robot."
"Oh yeah?" SpongeTron asked, feeling offended, "Well, if you knew Java like I do-"
"Spongy-Poo! Spongy-Poo!" Java cried out, running toward him in distress. "I found a piece of this keyboard that I recognize from Mother. It dropped out of a hovercar."
"Did you see what the driver looked like?" Tammy asked.
"I believe my hyper scanner caught glimpse of who it was." Java answered. "It was a human, male, bald, had a robot body..."
"Professor Calamitous!" The Nicktoons all realize at once.
SpongeTron narrowed his eyes and narrated, "Thanks to my spectacular lady, we have finally caught the culprit. Now the only thing we had to do was get him to confess the deed."
Will this crime be solved? Please review what you think and stick around for Part 2.