Time Fixers: Nicktoons of the Future
Episode 12: Hunt for the Future
Plot: Maxwell begins acting more irritable and destructive than usual, and his friends soon realize that he is feeling homesick and they all try to ease Maxwell in their own ways before he fully loses control of his psychic powers. But Eustace is working with Skulker to try and capture Maxwell for him, while using Darry Phantom as payment.
Part 2
Soon, Maxwell arrived at Nicktoon HQ. He went inside when he heard a soft voice. Recognizing it, he walked down the hallway and glanced from the doorframe to see Cindy singing a lullaby to Baby Max.
"Rock a bye Max, on the tree top. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock…" she sang to him as Baby Max yawned.
Maxwell recalled a memory of when he was much younger. He was at the age where he would be visibly upset about something and would cry in his bedroom. His mother was always there to comfort him. She would go to his room, tell him that everything will be alright, and even sing him to sleep just to calm him. Maxwell took a deep breath and relaxed at that moment when-
"Hiya Max!" Maxwell turned to see SpongeTron from behind.
"SpongeTron?" Maxwell asked in surprised.
"Just wondering, if you have nothing else to do…wanna take a tour of HQ?" SpongeTron suggested.
"Really? Why not?" Maxwell smiled, "Now I can know all the inventions that Dad already showed me ten years ahead," he scowled with his arms crossed.
"And it's never too late to renew your knowledge," SpongeTron said, grabbing Maxwell's arm to take him to the lab.
SpongeTron took Maxwell to the main lab. He opened up a storage closet to dig out one of Jimmy's inventions, "Remember this?" SpongeTron asked, holding a familiar device.
"The Hypno-Ray?" Maxwell dully guessed.
"That's right! Jimmy originally used it to help his best friend, Carl, overcome his fear of spiders, which didn't work, but was successful in convincing his parents that his birthday was tomorrow…and the next day…and the next day…and the next…"
"Okay! I get it," Maxwell said impatiently.
"Oh! And you know what this is?" SpongeTron asked, pulling a sheet to reveal…
"The Robo-Walker, I know. It was used to defeat the pants that tried to take over the world, right?" Maxwell reminded.
"Yep, guess you do know your gadgets," SpongeTron winked and took out another device, "And what is this?" he holds up a helmet with lightbulbs on it.
"That's easy," Maxwell rolled his eyes, "That's…" he paused for a moment, "Actually…what is that?"
"Really? You don't know?" SpongeTron asked, surprised, but cleared his throat and explained, "Why this…is the Brain Drain 8000. It was used on Jimmy himself to be a normal boy instead of a genius, but instead turned him into a drool monkey. He reverted back to normal just in time to save Retroville from a meteor. Then, he used it on Sheen Estevez to…"
Hearing about this intelligence device made Maxwell wonder if it was one of the inventions that inspired Jimmy to create the neural implant on his brain. This took him back to when his father in the future had excitedly explained his invention to him…when he was eager to build it once he had the technology…how happy he was when the device was a success…until…
"NOOO!" Maxwell screamed in horror, recalling an unfortunate event. His scream caused the bulbs on the Brain Drain Helmet to burst and the helmet to catch fire. SpongeTron gasped as he dropped the helmet and quickly doused it with a fire extinguisher.
Maxwell opened his eyes in surprise when he saw a look of both concern and horror on his friend. "Maxwell…are…are you okay?" SpongeTron asked.
Maxwell was silent for a moment when he turned away. "I'm fine."
"But Max…"
"I SAID I'M FINE!" Maxwell shouted again, causing several beakers nearby to shatter. Maxwell shook his fists and stomped away in anger with SpongeTron standing there, looking at the destruction Maxwell unintentionally caused.
Cindy was able to put Baby Max to sleep. She places a warm blanket on him, the baby smiled and snuggled in it. She smiled back when she heard a large groan from outside the room. She turned to see Maxwell stomping down the hallway to exit HQ "Wait Max! I know it was just an accide-" SpongeTron cried out until Maxwell harshly turned to him.
"Just SHUT UP!" Maxwell screamed at him, a spark igniting in his eyes. SpongeTron backed away in fear when he shouted. "Look, I know you guys are trying to help me, but don't! I don't want your help!"
"Max…"
"Okay, fine," Maxwell said, holding his hands up, "Why don't you just help by leaving me ALONE!" he turned away and exited HQ, unwittingly letting loose his telepathy which Cindy hears, 'I'm sure no one will think to look for me in Amity Park.'
This time, SpongeTron let him go and sighed in disappointment, seeing his plan didn't work. "What's wrong with Maxwell?" Cindy asked as she walked to him.
"I don't know," SpongeTron answered sadly, "I think he's homesick… He's been acting this way for a while now."
"Can't you do something about it?"
"We're trying to, but he won't let us," SpongeTron explained when he raised a chin, "But I have a feeling there's something else going on. Something he's not telling us."
Cindy looked at SpongeTron and looked at the direction where Maxwell left. "Maybe, I'll talk to him."
"I dunno, Mrs. Neutron," SpongeTron said, uncertain, "Maxwell said he really wants to be left alone."
Cindy knew that since she heard his and Maxwell's conversation. Still, she decided to walk toward the exit to find Maxwell. "Mrs. Neutron, wait!" SpongeTron called out, but Cindy already left the door.
SpongeTron sighed, but remembered the recent events and went back to the main lab.
Darry Fenton has just opened his eyes, feeling weak for some reason. He sat up and looked around, realizing he was trapped in a large electronic cube. He glanced around, wondering where he was. All he can tell is that he is in a room, possibly a lab. It was too dark for him to see.
"Did you retrieve the boy yet?" a deep voice unknown to him asked.
"Not yet," another voice rang. "I already have the ghost hunter tracking him, and the ghost boy for payment."
The voice was familiar to Darry and he turned to the side to see a door where the voices are coming from. Darry leaned his head so he can see what was going on. It seems like the person is talking to a hologram, but the person in the hologram is hard to see.
"How are you sure the ghost boy won't escape?" the deep voice asked.
"Don't worry. I made sure that the ghost boy won't escape from my grasp. That trap is fully ghost-proof thanks to the Guys in White."
"We'll see about that," Darry said and cried out, "Going Ghost!"
Nothing happened however. "I said, Going Ghost!" once again nothing. "Huh, guess it is ghost-proof."
"Once Skulker brings that telepath to me and I bring him his prize, your plan will go smoothly I presume."
"It better," the other voice said before adding, "For your sake."
The hologram ended, bringing Darry to wonder who the mysterious figures are and who they were talking about. "Telepath?" Darry asked when he realized, "Max!"
Meanwhile at the park, Maxwell was sitting on a bench all by himself. He sighed sadly when he glanced up to see a mother and father holding a boy his age, hand in hand. Looking at that happy family made him even more miserable. As he looked at that family, he noticed a shadow looming over him. He groaned and turned, "I told you guys to leave me-"
He froze, seeing it was Cindy. "M-Mrs. Neutron?" he asked, surprised to see her, "What are you doing here?"
"Seeing you of course," Cindy cheerfully replied, sitting next to Maxwell, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. I really am," Maxwell answered, not looking at her in the eye.
Cindy shook her head, "Maxwell…do you feel homesick?"
Maxwell frowned, "Maybe a little."
"If you are, why won't you go back home?" Cindy asked, "Obviously, you don't like being here at all."
Maxwell took a deep breath to hold back his tears, "I…I can't. Not yet." Maxwell said.
Cindy sighed and stated, "I don't know why you're here or what you are doing… I know being away from home is hard and it feels like you can be out of place…but, you don't have to carry the whole world on your shoulders."
"What are you saying?"
"It doesn't have to be always you," Cindy continued, "You can always ask for help."
"Are you talking about Tommy, Tammy, SpongeTron, and Scottie?" Maxwell asked, rolling his eyes.
"Yes," Cindy nodded, "Yes, I admit I find it hard to believe Jimmy made them Nicktoons or why he added you to their team… but they just want to help."
"Why would they help me?" Maxwell asked, "I don't even know them."
"You know them, Maxwell," Cindy said, "I don't know how close you are to them in the future, but…if you've known them for that long, no matter what age, there's a relationship going on between all of you and it's strong." Maxwell looked up to Cindy, "They can help you, Maxwell, as long as you ask them to. You just have to trust them. I don't want to admit it, but they are a pretty dependable team."
Maxwell smiled, somehow feeling better from Cindy, his mother's advice. It makes him feel right at home. "And you don't have to just depend on them. You can depend on Danny, Timmy, SpongeBob, Tak…everyone here. Even Jimmy and me." Cindy added, putting her hands on his shoulders. "If there's anything you'd like to say, you can tell me."
Maxwell was still uncertain, but feeling Cindy's touch made him relax a little. He sighed and smiled again at her. "The truth is… back in the future, I-"
Suddenly, a net shoots out and captures Maxwell, pushing him into the ground. Cindy gasped and turned to whoever shot the net. Skulker hovered down, his arm attached to a cable to the net holding Maxwell, "I've got you, psychic child," he smirked.
"Get away from him!" Cindy growled in a fighting stance.
"Mo-Mrs. Neutron!" Maxwell cried out while trying to hide his secret.
"Pfft," Skulker was unamused by Cindy, "What can a mere human like you do to the Ghost Zone's Greatest Hunter?"
Cindy quivered her lip. "Yes, what would a mere weakling like me do?" She held both arms behind her back. Unknown to Skulker, she pushed a button on her watch while grabbing another advice, "Fight!" she growled and activated the Ghost Peeler, encasing her in armor.
Back in Nicktoon HQ, Tommy and Tammy were with SpongeTron. "Has anyone seen Dar lately?" Tommy asked.
"Not sure," SpongeTron shrugged, "Maybe helping Max? I hope he does a better job than any of us before it gets worse."
"Worse?" Tammy repeated.
"Don't you guys notice when Max gets really mad or upset, his powers go out of control?" SpongeTron explained, "And whatever is bothering him is making things worse. We have to do something about it!"
"But how?" Tommy asked, "Max refuses to let us help him."
"Yeah, how are we gonna help him if he won't let us?" Tammy questioned.
Just then, SpongeTron beeped. He pulled his tie as a monitor comes out of his head. "SpongeTron speaking?" he asked. The twins glanced at the monitor which seems to be a POV of someone fighting Skulker, likely a camera that is installed in the Ghost Peeler."
"SpongeTron!" the voice from the monitor yelled.
"Mrs. Neutron?" SpongeTron asked.
"You have to help me!" she cried out as the camera moves to see the netted Maxwell. "Maxwell is in trouble!"
"Trouble?!" the three Nicktoons repeated.
Cindy continued to fight Skulker, blasting him with ghost rays. Skulker managed to avoid them all while keeping a distance near his prey. Skulker launched his ghost missiles and fired. Cindy activated the ghost shield that protected her. "You fight very well," Skulker said, impressed, "Perhaps after I capture both the ghost boy and his father, you can be my next prize and mount your head as a trophy."
Maxwell's eyes widen in surprise, wondering why the ghost hunter mentioned Darry. "Ugh…I heard from Sam about how gross you can get," Cindy mentioned, "But that is just wrong."
Skulker raised his remaining arm and shot a grappling hook at Cindy's chest, shocking her.
"Cindy!" Maxwell shouted in horror. Seeing her in pain overwhelmed Maxwell with a mixture of horror and anger. The benches, trash cans, and objects around Maxwell began to rumble and levitate.
Cindy groaned as the Ghost Peeler deactivated. Skulker moved toward her and charged a ray, pointing at her head, "Any last words?" Skulker grinned evilly.
"Get away from my co-creator's angry wife!" SpongeTron rang out as he shot an electro ball from his Robot Chargers. Skulker was blasted away from Cindy and SpongeTron quickly shot another ray to break the cable connected to Maxwell.
Tommy and Tammy ran toward Maxwell. Poof appears as a chainsaw for Tommy to cut out the net. "Max!" Tammy smiled and hugged him, "I'm so glad you're okay!" Maxwell blushed a bit; almost thankful they were here to save him and his mother.
SpongeTron flew toward Skulker, firing a barrage of lasers to prevent him from reaching the others. Skulker held his ground and shot another electric cable at SpongeTron, shocking him. SpongeTron screamed in pain as Skulker smirked. Skulker's smile dropped however when SpongeTron grabbed hold of the cable and began to swing him around and around until he released Skulker, and threw him hundreds of feet away. Tommy, Tammy, and Maxwell grab Cindy and took her behind a nearby bush as SpongeTron followed. Tommy took out his medicine box and sprinkled fairy dust onto Cindy as she instantly recovered.
"Are you alright, Mrs. Neutron?" Tammy asked.
"I'm fine, thanks," Cindy said gratefully.
Taking out the Fenton Thermos, SpongeTron says, "You guys take them to HQ while I get rid of Skulker."
"No, wait!" Maxwell pleaded, "Have…have you guys seen Scottie and Mr. Fenton?"
"We saw Mr. Fenton having coffee with our dad earlier," Tommy explained, "But we didn't see Darry. We thought he was with you."
Realizing what has happened, Maxwell muttered in horror, "Oh no,"
"What is it?" Tammy asked.
"I think Scottie's in trouble. The reason Skulker wants me is so he can trade me for him." this made all of them gasp.
"What do we do?" Tommy questioned.
Maxwell thought about this and stood up, "I'll go."
The three and Cindy gasped more. "Max, you can't turn yourself in!" Tammy cried.
"I have to," Maxwell said and bowed his head, "I can't help but feel it's my fault Scottie was captured. And if I'm the only way to save him, then that's what I have to do."
"Maxwell, we don't even know what they will do with you," Cindy said, concerned, "Or whoever is behind it all."
Maxwell said nothing, his decision final. He was about to go out of hiding when someone grabbed his arm. "Max, Darry is our friend and we'll do anything to keep him from harm," SpongeTron said seriously, "But you're our friend too." Maxwell glanced at SpongeTron and looked at Tommy, Tammy, and Poof looking determined and agreeing with the robot. "Whether you like it or not, you are our friend and comrade. I think there's a way to save both of you, but in order to do that, you have to trust us."
Maxwell looked uncertain until he glanced at Cindy. She smiled and nodded in response. Maxwell smiled and nodded back, turning to SpongeTron, "What's your plan?"
Skulker rocketed back into the park, using his scanners to find whoever's interfering with his hunt. Through his scanners, he was about to detect something in the bushes. He lands on the ground and holds up a cannon. "Come out now, psychic child!" Skulker threatened, "My contractor told me to keep you alive, but that doesn't go the same for the rest of your friends. If you surrender yourself, I will spare their lives."
Maxwell peeked from behind the bushes. He sighed and came out of hiding, "Alright, fine." He took a step toward Skulker, but Tammy grabbed his ankles.
"Max, no!" Tammy pleaded, but Maxwell pulled his leg away from her and walked toward Skulker. He holds his hands out so Skulker can cuff them. Skulker grinned, grabbed Maxwell, and carried him downtown.
Somewhere in the docks of Downtown Amity Park, a black van drove in front with Eustace walking out, wearing his trench coat and hat. Darry was inside the van, still trapped in the large cube. He glanced through the back window to see a man in a trench coat, unable to recognize him as Eustace. He did recognize Skulker as he arrived with Maxwell in custody.
"No…" Darry muttered, nearly shocked to see Maxwell was actually captured.
"So you have him," Eustace said, delighted to see Maxwell.
"And you have him?" Skulker asked.
Eustace takes out a device and pushes a button. The back doors open and the cube hovers forward with Darry in it. Skulker smirked, "Hello ghost child."
"Skulker, long time no see." Darry greeted dully.
"Let's make the trade then," Eustace said politely. He pushed the button again as the cube moves Darry closer. Skulker pointed his weapon at Maxwell, encouraging him to move forward. Maxwell walked forward until he and Darry were at the center. Maxwell was about to approach Eustace when he stopped.
"Wait…" Maxwell said and took a few steps back. Skulker growled and charged at weapon. Maxwell was unafraid, "I'm not going anywhere until I have answers."
"That's not part of the deal, child," Skulker threatened.
"And how am I sure you will hold your end of the bargain?" Maxwell questioned, "Or even that guy?" he glanced over at Eustace, also unable to recognize him through his disguise.
"Do you want your friends to be destroyed?" Skulker asked.
Maxwell shrugged, "I'm asking questions, that's all. I understand what you wanna do with Darry, but what will you do with me?" he asked, facing Eustace.
Darry raised a brow, noticing something off about Maxwell. "That information is classified," Eustace said and yelled out, "Commence the trade already!" Skulker cocked his weapon, urging Maxwell to move forward so he can collect his prize until…
"Hold up," Darry interrupted when he asked Maxwell, "Why…did you call me 'Darry' instead of 'Scottie'?"
Maxwell glanced at Darry and smiled, "That's because…" suddenly, his eyes glowed blue and his arms turned into Robo-Chargers. He charged an electro ball and blasted it at Skulker once more. "Maxwell" faded as SpongeTron reverted to his true form, "I'm not Maxwell." he proclaimed, shocking everyone.
"You!" Eustace exclaimed, realizing his target was not present, "Where is he? Where is that child?!"
"Right here!" a voice called. Eustace looked up to see Maxwell on top of the van. He waved his arm forward and created an electrical psychic blast, hitting Eustace. Seeing the new power he just unleashed, he looked at his hands in puzzlement, but smiled in satisfaction.
SpongeTron used his Robot-Chargers to plug into the cube, electrocuting it until it fizzled and hovered down, releasing Darry. "You okay, bud?" SpongeTron asked.
"A bit," Darry answered, feeling bummed, "I was hoping he actually called me 'Darry'…" He glanced toward the side to see Skulker charging toward him. "Going Ghost!" Darry yelled and turned to his ghost form. Darry smirked to see his powers are working and charged his fists with ecto-energy, "Now that's more like it!" He flew toward Skulker with SpongeTron following.
Eustace groaned as he got up, but was held at gunpoint by Tommy and Tammy with their Star Baton and Chain Hammer, Cindy wearing the Ghost Peeler armor once again, and Maxwell generating psychic electricity. "You better tell us who you are and why you want Maxwell," Cindy gritted her teeth. Eustace pulled his hat down, hoping they don't see through to him.
Meanwhile, Skulker aimed and fired electro cables toward Darry. "Not this time!" SpongeTron shouted and used an electro sword to cut them.
Darry charged a ghost ray and fired at Skulker. Skulker blocked and fired more missiles. SpongeTron stopped the missiles by shooting them down with plasma cannons. "How did you know where to find me?" Darry asked.
"You can thank Max," SpongeTron said.
"Max?" Darry seemed surprised.
"Yeah, he was the one who told us you were in trouble."
Darry smiled, knowing that Maxwell may be a brat, but actually cared for him.
Cindy, Maxwell, Tommy, and Tammy pinned Eustace down, still demanding answers. "Well?" Maxwell asked, generating small electricity on his fingertips.
Eustace somehow was able to predict this may happen. He held something from under his trench coat and pushed a button. Maxwell sensed a disturbance and glanced at the van which started to beep rapidly. Maxwell's eyes widen in shock, "Guys, look out!" he screamed, pushing Cindy, Tommy, and Tammy away just as Eustace ran off. The van exploded, the force pushing Maxwell away and toward the end of the dock, hitting the back of his head on one of the support beams.
"Max!" Tommy and Tammy cried as they and Cindy ran towards him.
Eustace hid his face; his mission has failed, as he sneaks away by using his Recaller to create a portal to Retroville.
The three humans were about to follow him when they stop, somehow sensing a dangerous presence. Maxwell uneasily got up, holding his head, and groaning in pain. "Max?" Tammy asked.
All of the sudden, Maxwell screamed, releasing a psychic blast that pushed them a feet few. Maxwell's eyes glowed bright as he began to levitate, his psychic powers going out of control. All the objects around the docks began to be sucked into a vortex that surrounded Maxwell. The water below began to arise, the clouds darkening and creating thunderstorms.
Darry and SpongeTron froze in place, spotting the dark clouds and turned around to see Maxwell causing this. "Oh no," SpongeTron said in worry, not noticing a net capturing Darry and reeling him toward Skulker. "I have you now!" Skulker smirked. Unfortunately, the vortex was sucking Darry in, preventing the ghost boy from getting close to him. Soon, Skulker was caught up in the vortex as well, sucking him and Darry toward it. SpongeTron held his head in worry until he noticed a metal pole nearby. He shoots out and extends his arm to grab the pole and extends the other to grab Darry. Luckily, the vortex was strong enough to suck the net from Darry, just as he grabbed ahold of SpongeTron's arm. Skulker wasn't so lucky.
Skulker turned to see a boat flying toward the vortex. Once touched by the psychic force, surrounding Maxwell, it disintegrated into particles. Skulker gasped in fear and cried to Darry, "Save me, ghost child!"
"Okay, you asked for it." Darry said, taking out the Thermos and uses it on Skulker. Skulker sighed in relief as he lets himself get captured and sucked into the Thermos. Darry clutched the Thermos tight while holding onto SpongeTron. Both of them were unsure how long they will last however.
Tammy, Tommy, and Cindy held onto the wooden pole to prevent themselves from Maxwell's wrath. Poof tries to fly away, but is sucked in by the psychic force. Tommy quickly grabs ahold of his goduncle's hair to save him. "If this keeps up, he's gonna suck up and destroy all of Amity Park!" Tammy shouted at them.
"What are we gonna do?" Tommy asked.
Cindy thought about this when she took a deep breath, purposely letting go. "Cindy!" Tommy and Tammy cried as Cindy was slowly being sucked into Maxwell's vortex.
Darry and SpongeTron watch in horror, wondering what is happening.
Cindy was floating slowly towards the vortex. "Maxwell! Maxwell, can you hear me?"
Inside the psychic force was Maxwell. He held his head in pain, feeling all of his energy being drained from all this power. His eyes watered in tears, his mind filled with hopelessness when he hears a voice.
"Maxwell!"
Maxwell opened his eyes. "Mrs. Neutron?" his eyes widen in horror.
"No! Get outta here! Before it's too late!"
"Maxwell, I want to help you! Everyone does."
"You can't!" Maxwell pleaded, "I can't control it. I can never control it! Please stay away!"
Tommy, Tammy, and Poof held tightly, though the vortex was getting stronger by the minute. They watch as Cindy was a few feet away from the vortex.
"You can control it, Maxwell," Cindy encouraged him; "You have to believe you can."
"I can't! I'm afraid to!" Maxwell cried, tears welling in his eyes, "I was always afraid. Afraid of being close to people who want to be my friends. Afraid of failing everyone! I'm afraid of disappointing my whole family. Afraid of losing everyone I care about."
"Maxwell, it's okay to be afraid. Everyone is afraid of something. But I know you can overcome it. You can do it, Max!" Cindy was a few inches away, about to be disintegrated.
"What makes you think that?"
"Because you're my son."
Through some kind of miracle, the vortex didn't harm Cindy. Instead, it sucked her inside where Maxwell is. Maxwell looked up at Cindy, realizing she, his mother, knew his true identity. "It's okay, Max. I'm here," she floated toward Maxwell and gave him a warm embrace. "Mommy's here. It's okay."
Maxwell feels something wet on his shoulder. Was Cindy crying as well? Maxwell let out a sigh of both pain and relief as he returned his mother's embrace.
Outside, the vortex faded, the ocean returned to normal, and the skies became clear. Tommy, Tammy, and Poof dropped on the ground as Darry and SpongeTron flew towards them. They watch in amazement as Cindy was alive and well, hugging Maxwell as they gently float back to the ground. They walked toward Cindy and glanced at Maxwell. He was asleep, likely tired from releasing all that psychic energy. Somehow though, he seemed to be sleeping peacefully.
"Is he alright?" Tammy asked.
"He'll be fine," Cindy assured, "He just needs a bit of rest. That's all."
Back at Nicktoon HQ, Maxwell was asleep on the coach. The Nicktoons watch as Cindy places a blanket over him. Maxwell smiles, snuggling into the blanket. "Still the same kid," Cindy giggled.
"Only louder and angrier," Darry mentioned, "Maybe scarier."
Cindy rolled her eyes, unamused. "H-How long have you known?" Tammy asked.
"From the start," Cindy smirked, "You could say it was maternal instinct."
"Huh. Well, that explains a lot," Tommy said, noticing the special treatment she gave him from the start.
"Cindy!" a voice shouted. They turn to see Jimmy running toward his wife and hugs her tightly. "911 told me about what happened at the docks in Amity Park. Are you okay? Were you hurt?"
"I'm fine, dear," Cindy reassured, "Everyone is."
"Oh, thank goodness," Jimmy said with relief as he caresses her cheek, "I…I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you."
Cindy smiled warmly. No matter how careless or annoying her husband was, she knew how much he loved her and how much she loved him. She responded with a kiss, making the genius blush a little. Suddenly, they hear a loud crying from Baby Max. Cindy was about to move when Jimmy stopped her, "No, I'll take care of it. You should get some rest, all of you." He turned to the Nicktoons. He turned to the resting Maxwell and smiled to see him okay. He went upstairs to check on his infant son.
"Think we should tell Neutron?" SpongeTron asked Cindy.
"Maybe not yet. I'm sure he'll figure it out," Cindy said, but raised a brow, "Though I'm surprised he hasn't yet."
Turning to the ghost boy, Tommy asked him, "Hey Dar, do you know who captured you?"
"I don't know," Darry answered, still unable to identify his captor, "But I know this…someone hired him to capture Max. The reason…I'm not sure."
"It seems like whenever we're around Max, there's always danger," Tammy noticed.
Tommy shrugged and mentioned, "Hasn't it always even without him?"
"Doesn't matter," SpongeTron objected, "Max may not be open to us yet. Maybe we don't know what he is hiding. But whatever happens…"
Raising a fist, Tammy added, "We're always here to protect him!"
"And each other," Tommy nodded.
"Poof, poof!" Poof flailed his arms in agreement.
"Because we're friends…to the end," Darry said, holding a fist. Tommy placed his hand on his, then Tammy, then SpongeTron, and Poof. Unknown to them, Maxwell was awake and had listened to their conversation. He seemed a bit worried, wondering what will happen next, but smiled, knowing his friends have got his back, whether he likes to admit it or not. He pushed those thoughts aside, letting himself sleep peacefully.
The End
Who else knows the secret- not Jimmy that's for sure. Hope you enjoy it and review, and stick around for the next story, "Spongekira".