Time Fixers: Nicktoons of the Future
Episode 17: Future Tensed
Plot: The time has come for the Nicktoons to travel through time to help Maxwell save the future and his father. However, the Future Eustace has a sinister plan in his enhanced brain and it's gonna take the effort of both Nicktoon groups, the adults, and an unlikely ally to protect the present and ensure a bright future.
Part 1
It had been four hours since Jimmy and the twins had traveled through time to stop Eustace Strych from tampering with it. Gathered in the lab of HQ were Jimmy, Cindy, SpongeTron, Darry, Yuki, Danny, Tammy, Tommy, Timmy, Tak, Kida, SpongeBob, Crash, Twitchy, and Junior. Jimmy held up the medallion that fell off of Maxwell before he disappeared after explaining to them about everything that happened.
"Clockwork." Danny said, reading the 'CW' inscription on the medallion. "He has something to do with this. It must be how Max got here."
Darry then said to Jimmy and the twins, "I can't believe you guys went on a gnarly adventure through alternate timelines." He slumped in disappointment, "And I can't believe I missed it."
"For your sake, trust me," Tommy said dully, "You really don't."
"I don't get it!" Tammy yelled in frustration, "We fixed the timeline! Everything should be back to the way it was! How is it that Max isn't here?"
"Because Max isn't from this timeline," Danny explained, "This medallion is what was keeping him here. Without it, he got sent back to his own time period."
"I just don't understand," Jimmy said aloud.
"I do," Tommy proclaimed, looking at the medallion, "Because this belongs to Clockwork, the ghost of time and space. It's cuz of this; we were able to remember the events Max saw in this time period."
"No, I understand that," Jimmy mentioned, "It's Maxwell. He tried to steal my schematic, has a neural implant of my design that grants him telepathic abilities, goes as far to stay with us and join our team to stop whatever Eustace and his partner are up to..."
"Not to mention anger issues," Darry murmured.
"As mysterious as this boy is and how much I know about him and his true motives," Jimmy continued, "For some reason, I can't help but feel a deep connection to him somehow. How and, more importantly, why?" He looks up and notices the dumbfounded faces of everyone. Cindy groaned, rubbing her temples, Danny shook his head, and SpongeBob merely glanced away awkwardly.
"You really really REALLY can't figure it out?" Cindy asked in frustration.
But Jimmy was not paying attention to anyone. "In any case, we gotta help him. We gotta go to the future and find him." Everyone was amazed by the thought of seeing the future, especially Darry and his Nicktoon team. Jimmy added, "My portal machine is still malfunctioning, so it could take a while. I only hope Maxwell is safe. Maybe he found his family." It was now that he acknowledged everyone staring at him again, "What?"
Everyone shifts awkwardly, not sure how to break the big news to Jimmy. Darry nervously stammered, "Uhhhh..."
Tammy couldn't even find the right words. "We really should've told you this before, but..."
SpongeTron blurted out, "Maxwell is biologically related to you!"
But not even Jimmy understood what they were trying to say. "Come again?"
An uncomfortable Timmy stated, "What we're trying to say, Jimmy, is that... Maxwell is really your son."
Jimmy's eyes widen in shock as he exclaimed, "What?!" But he then got an amused smile, thinking they were all joking with him. "Come on, guys. I already have a son."
"That's because Maxwell IS your son." Tommy explained, "From the future."
"And..." Jimmy asked, looking like he could throw up at any minute. "And you four knew about this?" He asked the Nicktoons, displeased with them, while they look guilty for keeping it secret. But Jimmy then looked at the rest of the Nicktoons old and new, equally displeased. "And the rest of you knew his identity too?" He demanded to know.
"Of course." Timmy answered as he held a sheet of business papers with Maxwell's signature on it. "He signed the lease papers with his full name."
"Darry told Dad and me." Yuki informed while Danny nodded in agreement.
Kida explained, "He's as smart as you."
"But he's got the same temper as Cindy." Tak added.
Junior pointed at his head and cheerfully stated, "I found out when I read his mind that one time."
SpongeBob gave a small smile and pointed out, "He's got your looks."
"Not to mention your big head." Crash added, causing his dad to glare at him.
Twitchy just shrugged and bluntly stated, "Eh, kindaobvious."
Jimmy was flabbergasted when he glanced at Cindy, who had her arms crossed, "Even you, Cindy?"
"I instantly knew once I saw him," Cindy said calmly, "I'm surprised though that out of all of us, it's you who couldn't figure it out."
"And you're supposed to be the genius," Timmy teased.
Jimmy grabbed Cindy by her arms and furiously asked, "How could you not tell me?"
Cindy swatted his hands away and answered, "I wanted him to tell us when he was ready."
Jimmy could not believe what he was hearing and felt even sicker than before. Noticing his breakdown, Tammy asked in concern, "Jimmy? Are you okay?"
Instead of answering, Jimmy shut his eyes tightly and ran out of the room. "Jimmy, wait!" Cindy called, but he did not return. Everyone falls silent from the emotional moment as the adult Nicktoons stare at each other, Timmy even feeling sorry for what he had said.
Cosmo, Wanda, and Poof appear next to the Turner family, holding a bag of groceries. "Hey, what did we miss?" Cosmo asked.
"We lost Maxwell and just broke Jimmy Neutron," Tommy answered woefully.
"What, did he finally figure out that Maxwell is his future son?"
"Wow," Wanda said, looking at her husband in surprise, "Even you knew before Jimmy."
Hours later, night had fallen in Retroville. At a futuristic bar, Jimmy was sitting by himself at a counter with no one but a lone ST-Unit bartender for company. The genius was laying his head down while holding an empty shot glass with ten empty ones already near him. SpongeTron 008 approached him and cheerfully asked, "Can I get you another drink, Commander?"
Jimmy lifted his head to show his droopy eyes and depressed frown. "Affirmative." He dourly answered, "And keep it coming."
Jimmy continued to sulk until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Danny smile at him. "Don't you think you've had enough?"
Jimmy didn't answer and laid his head back on the counter until he was joined by Danny, Timmy, SpongeBob, and Tak. "We were worried, so we came after you." SpongeBob explained.
"How'd you know where to find me?" Jimmy asked.
Timmy answered, "We had your bachelor party here, remember?"
"Honestly, I don't." Jimmy sarcastically replied. He took another shot and slammed the glass down with a bitter frown on his face. "You gentlemen have any other major secrets you've been keeping from me?"
Everyone was silent until Tak sheepishly mentioned, "Does me borrowing your toothbrush count as a major secret?"
Timmy, Danny, and SpongeBob reacted with disgust, but Jimmy seemed too intoxicated to care. "Ugh, you don't get it, do you?" Jimmy snapped. "I failed to recognize my own son! What kind of father does that make me?!"
SpongeBob held his shoulder and said in a positive tone, "Oh, come on, Jimmy. I'm sure deep down; you knew who Max really was."
"That's the thing," Jimmy spoke sadly, "I think I did. My gut could feel the fatherly connection with him, but my brain was telling me otherwise. Instead of going with my gut, I chose scientific facts. Now it's too late." He took another shot until the glass was emptied and signaled 008 for another drink.
The timid ST-Unit brought the drink and walked away. But when Jimmy was about to drink it, Danny put his hand on it to stop him. Danny looked at him sternly, "Jimmy, you made a mistake. But beating yourself up about it isn't gonna solve anything."
Jimmy groaned sickly as he clung to Danny's shirt. "What can I do? He's somewhere in the future, lost, afraid, and thinking his father doesn't love him!" he began to get hysterical, "The Nicktoons said Eustace's maniacal business partner is residing the future. What if he located Maxwell already?"
But Timmy grabbed his shoulders and spun him around in the bar stool so Jimmy was facing him and gave the genius a stern look. "What are you talking about, Neutron? You already have a plan. The Nicktoons are going into the future. They'll be sure to find Max."
"And they need someone to lead them," SpongeBob added, "And that someone is you, Jimmy Neutron. In order to save Max and the future, we need you to lead them, to lead us!"
Jimmy thought about this, remembering his plan, and got a determined look on his face. "You're right... you're right!" He shakily rose from his chair to stand up with fist in his hand, "I shouldn't care if I wasn't smart enough to recognize my own son!"
"That's more like it!" Tak cheered.
"What matters now is his future, our future," Jimmy declared, pounding his fist on the table. "We are going all out! Send our team to his timeline, stop Eustace and his boss, and defeat whoever's in our way and save Maxwell! Who's with me?"
"Yeah!" The rest of the men raise their fists in the air. Jimmy raised his fist too, until he slowly leaned down and collapsed in front of them.
The four men looked down at their fallen out cold leader. "Huh, guess he couldn't handle those drinks like last time. Am I right?" Timmy chuckled, nudging Danny by the shoulder.
Danny seemed unamused however, "Yes, which I'm guessing he won't remember all the things he said just now."
"Well, guess we leave it up to you, leader," SpongeBob said, lightly slapping Danny on the back.
"I dunno. I may be the second-in-command, but I think we need someone else in charge of this mission," Danny explained, "Who's not Tak."
"Oh, come on." Tak complained as he hung his shoulders. "I'm older and wiser now."
"We need someone almost as smart as him." Timmy noted.
"Someone who knows how to operate all his gadgets and toys." SpongeBob added.
"Someone who's not afraid to take charge." Danny also added.
"Someone who can look after Jimmy until he gets back on his feet." Tak lamented.
Back at Nicktoon HQ, SpongeTron was in his room, holding Baby Max as he played with him. Even though Max was enjoying the attention, SpongeTron was preoccupied with other matters. As Max took his teddy bear from the robot, SpongeTron sighed. "Oh, Max, I'm worried about you and your father. Well, the older you anyway. I'll be going into the future tomorrow to help him and whatever trouble he has."
"Goo," Max said as he pointed.
"That's right. I bet I'll see me and my team in the future. If we're such great Nicktoons now, think about how much better we are in the future."
"Are you boys crazy?!" Cindy's voice yelled through the halls.
SpongeTron lets Max walk around the room while he tiptoes near a corner and sees her talking to the adult Nicktoons. "You expect me to take charge of a mission for Jimmy?" Cindy repeated in dismay. "Don't you know I have news to report, a house to clean, and a baby to feed?"
"Come on," Tak pleaded. "It'll just be until Jimmy is feeling better."
"So I'm supposed to clean up my husband's mess after he lost our son after failing to recognize him, ran away so he can drown his sorrows, and be carried home by you stooges?"
But Timmy slid close to her and said with a friendly voice, "Don't you get it, Cindy? We chose you because we thought you were perfect for the job. Who else can lead a team of interdimensional heroes in Neutron's place?" He shot her a flirty look, "You may even be better than him."
Cindy returned with a giggle and shy smile until she responded, "Okay. I am worried about Maxwell, so I'll do it." The four adults all smile with joy and thanks.
SpongeTron was still listening in and reacts with surprise. "Mrs. Neutron leading our mission? Boy, this is quite a change." Once he realized the last word he said, his eyes widen a bit until he laughs it off, "Ha ah ah, what am I worried about? This could be a good change. I'm sure the Commander's wife will do a fine job leading us."
Meanwhile, in Amity Park, Darry was in the living room, sitting by the window sill, also contemplating his mission. Yuki approached him, "Why the long face, Darry? You're going to the future tomorrow, you should be excited."
Darry put on a smile and replied, "Of course I'm excited. I just thought that when we went, Max would be taking us there." He then quickly added, "You know, so I can save the day and rub my victory in his face."
"Sure, Dar." Yuki said, rolling her eyes, obviously knowing the meaning behind Darry's excuse.
Meanwhile in Dimmsdale, Tammy and Tommy were in their bedroom preparing for tomorrow as well. Tommy was with Poof, looking over their magical weapons. But Tammy was sitting on her bed, staring at Maxwell's medallion. "Come on, Tammy." Tommy said with an annoyed voice, "You heard Neutron. We're going to the future tomorrow, you gotta be ready."
"I know." Tammy somberly replied as she put down the medallion and took out her phone to look at a picture of her and Maxwell. "I'm just worried about Max. What if he's in danger right now? You heard how bad it is where he's from."
Sitting on her bed, Tommy put his hand over the phone and looked her straight in the eyes, "He's not in danger. He's back in his own time period." He then gave a comforting smile, "And I'm sure he's being kept safe by our future selves right now."
This made Tammy smile with joy. "Really?"
"Definitely." Tommy agreed as he jumped off her bed. "I bet I'm a famous movie star with a motorcycle."
"Ooh, what about me?" Tammy asked excitedly.
"Eh, you probably have some office job or something." Tommy dismissed, making Tammy glare.
After a long night, morning arrived and all the Nicktoons, along with their fathers, met up in the basement of Fenton Works. The Nicktoons were saying their farewells to everyone before they left for the first stop on their journey to the future to meet the original owner of Maxwell's medallion.
"Take care of everyone, son." Danny told Darry Fenton, "I know I can be hard on you most of the time, but I just want you to know how proud I am of you."
Darry smiles, and the father and son embrace each other warmly. Until Yuki warned, "Just make sure you don't mess up history too much, Darry."
"Of course not." Darry replied, before smiling at Danny. "I know Dad would ground me if I did."
Danny tussled his hair affectionately, "You're growing up more responsible every day."
Junior was crying loudly as he clung on to SpongeTron's legs. "I don't want you to go!"
SpongeTron smiled and assured, "Oh, calm down, Junior, I'm just going to the future. I'll be back soon."
SpongeBob pries Junior off of him and pats him on the back to calm him down. Crash complains, "It stinks that you get to go to the future and we have to stay here."
Twitchy nodded and hummed in agreement until SpongeBob pushed them behind him and scolded, "Now, boys, don't be rude. We're here to say goodbye and wish them luck."
Crash and Twitchy glance away, feeling apologetic. But SpongeBob turns to the robot and states, "Listen, SpongeTron, you know that we're all rooting for you, right? And even though you're a robot clone of me, that still makes you a member of our family."
SpongeTron blushed and looked away, giggling. "Thanks Creator."
Timmy was hugging both his children as Tammy said, "Goodbye Daddy."
"We'll see you soon." Tommy said as well.
"We brought you a little something." He turned to his fairies, "Cosmo. Wanda." The fairies waved their wands and backpacks appear on Tammy and Tommy. Their father explained, "Your mom packed you both a lunch, some warm coats in case it gets cold, clean underwear, your tablets..."
"We get it, Dad." Tommy interrupted with an amused smile. "You love us."
"Just one more thing," Timmy added with a smile, "Tell Max I said hi." The two nodded and were prepared to leave, but their godparent was being hugged by his own parents as they cried hysterically, obviously gonna miss him. But Poof just floated in their arms staring blankly.
Suddenly, Cindy stood in the middle of the room and shouted, "Okay Nicktoons, wrap it up and gather round!" Darry, Tammy, Tommy, and SpongeTron line up in front of Cindy as she states, "Now listen up. Neutron is busy at the moment, so today I'll be monitoring your guys' mission." The boys exchange worried glances, but Tammy quietly squealed to herself with excitement. Cindy continued, "Any objections?" Darry was about to speak up, but Cindy shouted, "Well, too bad! I'm no softy like my husband, so while I'm here, this mission to find my preteen son is gonna succeed even if it takes all week!"
The kids and even adults cringe at Cindy's brutal authority. Tak whispers to Danny, "Should've picked me."
Cindy continued in a calmer voice, "SpongeTron will establish video activity with Goddard, and from there, I'll be reachable for contact and will monitor the situation via video frequency."
"Don't worry." SpongeTron assured as pointed to his head. "I got Goddard's frequency programmed right here."
"Alright, Nicktoons, dismiss!" Cindy commanded, "And immediately alert once you get there." Darry Phantom, Tammy, Tommy, and SpongeTron go inside the Specter Speeder. Nano scurries across the floor until Tammy bends down, holding her hand out, so the nanobot can come along with them. Once they were inside, Danny opens the Ghost Portal for Darry to drive through.
After the Nicktoons were gone, Timmy smiled and said, "Wow, Cindy, you were amazing."
Cindy smiled proudly and flipped her hair. "My husband's not the only one who can tell a band of dweebs what to do."
Out in the Ghost Zone, Darry was driving the Specter Speeder while his friends sat next to him. Tammy was looking at an old map. "Okay, so if we just go past Skulker's island and take a left at Ember's lair, we'll be at Clockwork's realm in no time."
"That'll take forever." Tommy complained. "I already input the directions in my GPS. It'll take us there faster."
"This map was made by Mr. Fenton when he was Darry's age." Tammy retorted.
"That means it's way out of date!"
"Not like your fancy tech can get a signal out here!"
Finally, Darry shouted, "Enough! Otherwise, I'll turn the Specter Speeder around!"
"You wouldn't." Tommy called him out on his bluff. "You wanna find Max just as much as the rest of us."
"Only to see how cool my future self is." Darry explained, "And show him how much of a jerk Max is to me."
Tammy and Tommy looked at each other excitedly. "I wonder what we look like in the future." They both said in unison.
Poof looked teary-eyed. "Poof with Tammy and Tommy?"
"Of course we are, Poof." Tommy assured.
They both hug their goduncle. "If Daddy can keep his fairies, we can keep you too." Tammy agreed.
SpongeTron sighs heavily and states, "I'm more worried about Max. If the future is really as bad as he says it is right now, what's gonna happen to us and him?"
Everyone fell silent, also feeling the same concern. But Darry spoke up, "Don't worry. Nothing will happen." He narrowed his eyes, "We'll make sure of that."
Soon, the Nicktoons reach the Realm of Time, and find Clockwork observing his portal. Darry Phantom then explains their reasons for being there and presents Clockwork with the time medallion. He took it back just as his appearance changes to an old man. "Yes," Clockwork immediately recognizes it. "This is the one I gave to Max Neutron."
"So you help us find him!" Tommy realized.
"So you can bring him back to our time period!" Tammy added hopefully.
Changing into a child, Clockwork explains, "I had already explained to Max before he left that if he ever removes his medallion, he would be returned to his time period, and there he shall remain."
Darry frowned. "There's something going on in Max's time period. As the Ghost of Time, you should know."
Clockwork silently frowned as he changed into an adult. "Of course. Someone has been meddling with time and has reduced the future to what it is now."
SpongeTron gasped in horror. "Eustace…"
"You have to send us to the future." Darry told Clockwork. "Max came to us for help. Now it's time for us keep our promise and help him."
Clockwork was silent for a moment as he thought about his decision. "Normally, I would say such things would not be permitted." The Nicktoons bow their heads in disappointment, but Clockwork continues, "However, your fathers always convinced me the same way." He morphs into an old man and smiles.
The Nicktoons smile and glance at each other while Clockwork opens up a time portal. "Take these." Clockwork instructed, summoning four more medallions for Darry, Tommy, SpongeTron, and Poof. "Like Max, these allow you to be present in the future. But without it, you will return back to your own time." The four take the medallions and place it around their necks. Clockwork hands Max's old medallion to Tammy, "Are you all up for the future that awaits you?"
Darry pumped his fists with a determined smile. "You know I am."
"We're ready!" Tammy and Tommy both shouted as the former places Max's medallion around her neck.
"Poof ready." Poof adds, waving his rattle.
SpongeTron salutes and declares, "I'm always prepared." Clockwork winds the clock on his staff and pushes the top button. Suddenly, a blue orb of energy surrounds the Nicktoons and they disappear.
In another area, the energy orb reappears and releases the Nicktoons. Noticing their surroundings, they gasped in shock, recognizing the city as Retroville, only darker and completely deserted, and almost in ruins as if something had tried to destroy it. "This is the future?" Tommy wondered.
"It looks terrible." Tammy cried in disbelief.
"I wasn't prepared for this." SpongeTron said in stun.
From atop of a tall building, someone was watching them quietly, crouched down as to not be seen. "We need to hurry and find Max." Darry declared. "It's the only way to get some answers."
Everyone immediately agreed and started running down the road. But they stop when they heard a scream and saw someone jump from the building. The figure slams their large fists on the ground, causing it to crumble and the Nicktoons to lose their footing. It was an ST-Unit, wearing a white shirt with a badge, camouflage pants, brown combat boots and fingerless gloves. Strangely, he had a red cloth covering his right eye and had his antenna sticking out of his head. "That's far enough!" He shouted menacingly at them.
"An ST-Unit?" Tammy questioned, "Here?"
The robot still looked violently at them. "He may have found a way to clone you, but your tricks won't fool me!" He held his fists up and charged toward Tammy, who shrieked and jumped out of the way.
The SpongeTron robot activated an electric beamsword and swung it at Darry, who quickly turned intangible, allowing the weapon to harmlessly phase through his body. But when the robot jumped in the air, about to dive his beamsword into Tommy, SpongeTron quickly leapt forward with his own electric beamsword and blocked him. SpongeTron then pushed the opposing SpongeTron back. Still looking hostile, the other SpongeTron asked his doppelganger, "What's an ST-Unit doing with the enemy. Identify yourself and your purpose?"
SpongeTron immediately answered, "SpongeTron-Unit 001: Nicktoon agent."
"That's a lie!" The other SpongeTron shouted defiantly, "I'M SpongeTron-Unit 001!"
The other three Nicktoons watch in shock at the robots fighting. "How can there be two of the same SpongeTron?" Tommy asked.
Tammy quickly realized what this means. "You don't think..."
Darry smiled and agreed. "This is so gnarly."
They quickly run over to the robots and Darry orders "SpongeTron, stop! This is you from the future!"
"Who stop?" They ask in unison.
Tammy leans toward the SpongeTron with an eye patch and holds her time medallion towards him. "See this? We came here from the past."
Future SpongeTron stopped and stared at all the medallions the Nicktoons were wearing and his eye widens in shock before disengaging his weapon. "Darry. Tammy. Tommy." He uttered until he broke out in a happy smile. "Dear Neptune, it is you!" Future SpongeTron hugs them with joy. "Look at you all. You look so... young."
Darry awkwardly replied, "And you look...the same."
SpongeTron examines his future self up and down. "Wow, you're me in the future." He said, impressed. "You look so updated and rogue."
Future SpongeTron laughed in flattery, "Oh, I don't really look like this all the time. But I'm sorry about before. With what's been going on lately, you can't be too careful. Also I think my commanding officer's paranoia must've rubbed off on me."
"Hmm," SpongeTron questioned, holding his chin. "I don't recall Neutron ever being paranoid."
Suddenly, his antenna beeps and a screen pops up on his chest, showing Cindy. "Nicktoons, do you read me, over?"
"Mrs. Neutron?" Future SpongeTron asked, confused to see her. "How'd you get in there?"
"SpongeTron?" Cindy asked, confused as well since she was on his screen. "Aren't you supposed to be- and what's with the getup?"
Darry got into view and explained, "Mrs. Neutron, this is the Future SpongeTron. We're in the future."
Cindy smiled with joy. "You made it to the future? Where's Max? Is he with you?"
Tammy answered, "We haven't found him yet. We're sorry."
"You're looking for Max?" Future SpongeTron asked. "I know where he is."
They immediately turn to him in surprise. "You do?" Darry asked.
"Where is he?" Tommy asked. "Is he alright?"
Future SpongeTron assured, "Don't worry, he's safe. I'll take you to him."
Cindy smiled gratefully. "Thanks SpongeTron. Nicktoons, contact me once you find him." She then disconnected the signal.
"Follow me." Future SpongeTron said as he walked away. "I'll take you to HQ."
"Wow," Tommy said. "HQ is still here."
"At least one thing is still standing here." Darry said, glancing around curiously. "I wonder what happened to the buildings and the people."
"I have a feeling we'll find out soon enough." Tammy stated, looking uncomfortable.
"Let's hurry and follow the future me." SpongeTron insisted as he and his friends catch up to the robot, unaware that a small flying camera with a propeller landed on a street light, watching them and broadcasting an image of them to a room with screens showing all of Retroville.
"So the Nicktoons have emerged into the future," a deep voice said, just like the one Eustace's partner sounded like. "Searching for Neutron's diminutive descendant, are they?" He throws aside a voice modifier and speaks in Eustace's voice, "This will certainly simplify things from now on."
Now that the Nicktoons are in the future, what horrors and wonders will they stumble upon? Please review what you think and stick around for the second part.