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 3

In the present day Nicktoon HQ, the Nicktoon Cadets were standing in the hallway after completing their mission to bring Eustace in for questioning. "I wonder what our dads are gonna do to Eustace." Kida curiously said.

Crash then stated, "I hope they put him in a choke hold and stick a pair of jumper cables right on his-"

Before he could finish, Jimmy walked over with a tired Max in his arms and told them, "Nice work on your mission. I think I'm gonna get some real information out of that guy."

"Can we help?" Junior cheerfully asked, thinking they were just going to talk to Eustace.

"No," Jimmy answered in a friendly tone. "In fact, I need you all to watch Max." He handed the baby to Yuki before saying in a serious tone, "There's gonna be some words said that won't be appropriate for children at Max's age level to hear." He walked away and waved to them. "Thanks again."

In the interrogation room, Eustace was tied to a chair, struggling to get out while a Krusty Krab take out bag was covering his head. Suddenly, it was yanked off and he could see that, at the other end of a long table, Jimmy was sitting in a chair with his hands folded and his friends standing behind him. Jimmy narrowed his eyes, shooting him a deathly glare. But Eustace scowled and said, "Neutron, I should've known you were behind this. You'll have a big lawsuit on your hands, including charges of nearly suffocating me with the stench of fast food."

Jimmy slammed both his palms on to the table and retorted, "Enough is enough, Eustace. You're gonna tell us everything, and you're gonna tell us right now. First, divulge what you know about your partner."

Eustace answered, "I'll have you know that he is not my partner anymore. Our business together is finished."

Jimmy growled and stood up from his chair. "You expect me to believe that?"

"No, I don't expect your so-called genius mind to comprehend such a thing."

Jimmy grew mad and sprung towards Eustace, punching him in the face, hard enough to knock his chair back on to the floor. "Jimmy!" Danny called out in surprise as he and the others react in shock at their leader's behavior.

Eustace groaned in pain and angrily glared as he spoke, "My, when did you resort to such violent tendencies?"

Jimmy grabbed Eustace by his collar and pulled him back up, staring him hard in the face. "You don't know what I've been through that's made me this way. Oh, wait, you do! You and that partner of yours took away what I care about most!"

"What on Earth are you talking about?" Eustace demanded to know.

The furious genius raised his fist to deliver another punch. But it was suddenly grabbed by Danny. "Whoa there, Jack Bauer." He said, restraining him while Tak held on to him as well.

"What are you doing?" Jimmy asked his teammates.

"What are YOU doing?" Timmy asked in disapproval.

SpongeBob looked at him with equal disappointment. "I know you're worried about Maxwell, but this isn't the way to find answers."

"So you lost track of one of your kids?" Eustace teasingly asked. "Guess you do a better job of accusing people than you do at parenting." Hearing this made Jimmy growl in anger and lunge at him again, but he was restrained by Timmy, Danny, and Tak.

Timmy glared at Eustace, mentioning, "You're not exactly making this easy for yourself."

"Jimmy, are you in here?" Cindy asked as she barged into the interrogation room. "Something's wrong. I'm trying to call the Nicktoons, but SpongeTron isn't responding." She stops when she sees Jimmy being restrained by the other adults and Eustace tied to a chair.

With a look of disapproval, Cindy states, "Well, this explains why I got a call from work, asking me to do a report on the kidnapping of Eustace Strych."

"Hello Cindy." Eustace greeted with a charming smile. "My, aren't you looking lovely."

Placing her hands on her hips, she turned to the grown Nicktoons and asked, "What is going on in here?"

Junior suddenly peeks in from outside the door and answered her question, "Jimmy recruited us to kidnap Mr. Eustace so they can interro-grate him,"

Cindy looked back at Junior and glared at her nervous husband. "Oh, thank goodness you're here, Cynthia," Eustace said, relieved, "If you don't mind, I would love if you can ask your husband and his goons to un-" but he was interrupted when slapped across the face from Cindy. Everyone stared in surprise, including Jimmy. SpongeBob quickly backed Junior out of the room and shut the door to keep him or the other kids from viewing.

Eustace looked up with his face red from the beating and saw Cindy scowling. "What were you thinking?" Cindy scolded. "You terrorize our children, and then you tamper with time, causing our son to disappear!"

"Hmph!" Eustace scoffed. "Your son?"

Cindy growled in anger and raised her fist to punch his lights out until someone grabbed her wrist to stop her. To her surprise, it was Jimmy restraining her. "Nerdtron, what are you doing?" Cindy asked in dismay, pulling her arm out of his grip.

Jimmy responded, "Cindy, I know you're worried about Maxwell, but this isn't the way to go about it. It's... only made me realize how foolish I've been acting. Instead of doing my duty as an effective leader, I've just been feeling sorry for myself and taking my anger out on Eustace."

Cindy gained a sympathetic look as she held her husband's hands. "Oh, Nerdtron, I know how hard it's been for you. We should have told you the truth from the beginning."

"Bleh," Eustace groaned. "Somebody knock me unconscious now."

Everyone ignored him and Cindy continued, "But there's no use dwelling on the past. We have to work together to find Maxwell. You're our leader, so we'll do whatever you want."

Jimmy thought about this, and with a confident smile, commanded, "Danny, see if you can help Cindy get in contact with the Nicktoons. Tak and SpongeBob, assist me in getting the Portal Machine up and running again. Timmy, you stay here and watch Eustace."

Danny chuckled and slapped Jimmy on the back. "I wasn't sure if you'd ever snap back to your old self."

Eustace frowned and stated, "All this to rescue that psychic boy? You do know you're wrong about him? My former partner stated that the device on the back of his neck was stolen from him. He has you all fooled!"

Everyone stared oddly at Eustace's accusations. Timmy whispered to Jimmy, "I don't think we're the ones who are being fooled."

Jimmy then ordered him. "See if you can find out anything else from him. If you need help, just call." He opens the door to find the Cadets trying to eavesdrop on everything by listening through the door, only for them to immediately straighten up when Jimmy walks past.

In the future, SpongeTron had run back to his friends and just told them, along with Future SpongeTron and Future Cindy, about how he and Nano had witnessed Future Eustace kidnap Maxwell.

"Oh, Max…" Future Cindy cries in worry, "First my husband and now my baby!"

"What are we gonna do now?!" Tammy said frantically.

"Save him, that's what we'll do," Darry said determined, "We'll break into Eustace's place, force him to bring Max back and rip that neural device off him!"

"And how are you gonna do that?" Future Cindy asked in anger, "His fortress is almost impenetrable. No one has been able to break in!"

"Well, except one," Future SpongeTron sadly mentioned, turning over to the unconscious Future Jimmy.

"But the only one who can help him is kidnapped by the bad guy!" Tommy scowled, "Our mission is to help Max and save the future. How can we do that without him?"

The Nicktoons ponder, wondering what to do. "Actually, I have a solution," Future SpongeTron suggested, "But it's rather risky."

Tammy had a look of determination. "I'll do whatever it takes to save Max." Nano crawled on her shoulder and beeped in agreement.

"Yeah, what's the plan Future Me?" SpongeTron asked.

Future SpongeTron looked uncertain. "Okay...what if... Max never had the neural device?" The Nicktoons glance at him, wondering what he meant. "What if Jimmy was never in a coma? What if Eustace didn't have the neural implant and took over Retroville? What if... the schematic for the device never existed?"

Darry figured it out, "Of course! That's why Max must have taken Jimmy's schematic in the first place. If Jimmy never had the schematic to build it..."

"Then the device connected to Maxwell never existed," Tammy grinned.

"And the bad future will cease to exist!" Tommy finished.

"Poof, everything will be alright," Poof said in assurance.

Future Cindy added, "That has to be the dumbest idea to ever exist." With a pause, she continues, "But if it'll save my husband and my son, it will be the best plan to ever...not exist."

With everyone in agreement, they all cheer until a loud siren interrupted them. SpongeTron immediately recognizes it. "That sounds like..."

"The weapons vault has been opened!" Future SpongeTron concluded.

But Future Cindy wondered, "But how can that be? We're all here, and no one but Nicktoons or family can get in."

"Eustace probably found some way to get in with all the stuff he stole out of Jimmy's mind." Darry assumed. "But we'll stop him first before we put Plan: Time Change into action. Cindy, you stay here and protect Jimmy while we go to the weapons vault."

"Don't worry." Future Cindy assured. "I trust you guys will fix everything."

Afterwards, the Nicktoons, joined by Future SpongeTron, run to the weapons vault to see it wide open. Darry turns invisible for a second to see someone inside gathering various objects, making them levitate in the air. He turns back to his friends and whispers, "Someone's definitely inside. Has to be Eustace."

They all silently nod and rush into the vault, prepared to fight. "Alright!" Darry shouts, "That's as far as you-"

They immediately freeze in shock when they see the psychic stealing the weapons was none other than Maxwell, who strangely was now wearing a red robe that went down to his ankles, black slacks, brown shoes, and his blonde hair neatly combed back. He stared at the Nicktoons silently with a cold glare.

"Max!" Tammy shouted with joy as she ran up to him, but he still stood there stiffly. "I'm so glad you're back. When SpongeTron said you were captured by Eustace, we were so worried. But now that you're-"

She was silenced when Maxwell swiftly yanked her medallion off her neck. The rest of the Nicktoons gasp in shock at this, especially Tammy, who looks at Maxwell in disbelief that he would do this. "Max?" Tammy uttered in heartbreak. But before she could question him, a blue glow appears around her and she disappears.

Filled with anger, Tommy marches over to Maxwell. "Why the heck would you just-" but he was cut off by Maxwell levitating him and throwing him outside the vault.

"Tommy?" Poof asked after appearing over him in concern.

Darry and the two robots turn back to Maxwell, who suddenly sports a grin as he chuckles maliciously. "You Nicktoons are always so easily swayed."

Darry growled with anger as he took a step towards Maxwell. "Max, what's gotten into you?" But he was suddenly shocked by lightning and dropped to his knees.

"Don't call me that." Maxwell threatened as he raised his hand and telekinetically raises Darry in the air by his neck. "You know what? I never liked you." He starts slowly clenching his fist and this causes Darry to start choking. But while Darry struggles and gasps for breath, Maxwell smirks as he continues to clench his fist tighter.

But before he could finish the ghost boy off, he was suddenly blasted by a sonic ray from SpongeTron's cannon. Maxwell hit a shelf of weapons, and Darry fell to ground, heavily breathing, with both SpongeTrons surrounding him in concern. But Future SpongeTron turned around and looked at Maxwell in concern. "Max, are you feeling alright?" He asked.

Maxwell quickly got up and raised both his arms. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" He repeated, unleashing a psychic blast that pushed Darry and both SpongeTrons out of the vault where Tommy and Poof were.

Maxwell walked out of the vault himself just as Nano approached him, buzzing rapidly in alarm. "Nano?" he asked in disgust. "I don't need you anymore, you repugnant technological insect."

Nano appears to deflate as the Nicktoons weakly tried to sit up. "Why are you doing this, Max?" Tommy demanded to know. "And what's with the lame outfit?"

Maxwell angrily answered, "I despise the Nicktoons! I despise all of you and everyone who disregarded me!"

Darry weakly stood up and groaned, "I think you might've blasted him a little too hard, ST."

SpongeTron stood up and pleaded, "What are you talking about, Max? We're your friends, remember? Think about all the fun times we had."

Future SpongeTron added, "Think about your father!"

"Neutron never valued my intellect or showed me any care." Maxwell coldly replied, "He is no father of mine. Eustace is my true father."

Everyone gasped in shock as Future SpongeTron questioned, "Eustace? What has he done to you?"

Darry then assumed, "That's gotta be a robot or evil clone, right?"

SpongeTron pointed out, "That is Max. Did you scan him?" He asked, wondering why his future self didn't use his eyes to scan Maxwell. "There is something off about him."

"Poof, poof, Max's brain." Poof explained, pointing at the side of his head.

"Poof is right." Tommy said. "I think Max has been brainwashed."

"Brainwashed?" Darry repeated until he frowned with realization. "That means Eustace is controlling his mind."

A hysterical Future SpongeTron yelled out, "Snap out of it, Max! Remember that your dad loves you; that we love you!"

"ALL LIES!" Maxwell yelled loudly as he unleashed a powerful surge of electricity that blew the wall of HQ and the Nicktoons outside. As they lie in the debris, Maxwell approached and generated electricity in his hands. "Now to finish you ignoramuses off." He was about to blast them with his mind until his body suddenly froze in place. Behind him on a chunk of wall, Maxwell's shadow was being restrained by Darry's shadow.

Tommy got up and threw his phone across the floor over to Maxwell. "We're telling you the truth, Max! You're our friend! Remember all the time we spent together!" Maxwell picked up the phone and scrolled through all the pictures that were taken of him with the Nicktoons, including one of him sunbathing with Tammy, playing videogames with Tommy and SpongeTron, and sticking his tongue out at Darry. Seeing all these pictures made Maxwell's anger disappear.

"Are all these... real?" Maxwell asked in confusion.

"Yes, it is." Future SpongeTron answered as he stood up. SpongeTron looks down to see the red cloth he had been wearing on the ground, and then looks up at his future self's face, gasping to see that his right eye was missing its skin, leaving his robotic metal visible and his pupil was shaking downward with every movement as if it was dislocated from its socket. But this technical difficulty did not faze him and he continued to gently speak to Maxwell, "Remember all the wonderful times we've had together. Think about all we've done to try and save your father."

Maxwell dropped the phone and grunted as he held the sides of his head, feeling all his true memories coming back to him, including his father showing him the intelligence device and Future SpongeTron diving in front of him as an RA-Unit fires a blast towards him. After this, Maxwell smiles warmly. "It's true. I do have friends who care about me."

When it looks like Maxwell was back to normal, Darry gives a sigh of relief. "Phew...Glad that's over."

But suddenly, Future Eustace teleports behind Maxwell and speaks to him. "Oh please, Maxwell, you're not gonna believe a couple of doctored photos over your true memories are you?" He holds his hand out and Maxwell stares blankly as Future Eustace alters his mind again, "Those Nicktoons treated you like an outcast so harshly that you imagined all those happy times you had with them."

At this, Maxwell looked close to tears. "You mean... everything I just witnessed was a lie?"

"Eustace…" Tommy hissed in response.

"Don't listen to him, Max!" Darry hollered, "He's brainwashing you! What Eustace is saying is all a lie and you know it!"

"I... I..." Maxwell stammers as he tries to figure out which memories are real. But he tenses up when Future Eustace takes control of him again.

"Listen to me, Maxwell!" Future Eustace yelled as if on the verge of losing his temper. "I am your true caretaker and your true companion. You have always relied on me for help while those so-called heroes of yours dismissed you and belittled you."

Maxwell's eyes were tightly shut as another false memory of his friends turning their backs on him and his parents looking at him in disappointment fills his head. Maxwell then scowls and mutters, "You're right." He stands up and declares, "Eustace has always been my true father and with his help, I'll destroy you Nicktoons and every world with it!"

"Max, no!" Tommy cried out, "This isn't what you want!"

"Silence!" Maxwell shouted, "I'm no longer Max. Eustace has given me a new purpose and new power, and with it, I'll help him achieve his rightful place as ruler."

With a satisfied smirk, Future Eustace says, "Come, Maxwell, we have important business to take care of." Smirking as well, Maxwell moved next to Future Eustace, and they both teleport away.

After they were gone, Darry fell to his knees in despair and had a thousand yard stare. Tommy was equally saddened as he lowers his head with tears in his eyes while Poof cried as well. SpongeTron's hat beeped from Cindy trying to get in contact with him, but he pushed a button on his chest that sent it straight to voicemail.

Back in the present, Eustace was still being detained while Timmy and his fairies kept an eye on him. Timmy, however, was sitting next to Eustace, showing him pictures on his phone. "That's Tammy taking her first steps." He said, showing a baby picture of Tammy on his phone. "And that's Tommy on the football team...as the waterboy." He scrolls to the next picture to show him with the twins posing next to a guy in a kidney costume, "And that's our vacation at Adrenalland."

Eustace scowled as he looked away, but next to him was Wanda, showing her own pictures of her son on her phone. "That's Poof when he turned a year old." Wanda enthusiastically explained, "And that's Poof when he turned ten, and that's Poof as a teenager, and here's Poof when he turned eighteen."

But each photo she scrolled through was Poof looking exactly the same. Eustace muttered to himself, "Is this Neutron's idea of cold blooded torture?"

Suddenly a blue glow appeared above them and Tammy drops on to the table. "Tammy?" Timmy asked in surprise. "Where's your brother?"

"Oh, Daddy!" Tammy cried as she jumped into Timmy's arms. "It was horrible! Eustace did something terrible to Max!"

"What?" Eustace asked, feeling offended. "I did nothing of the sort."

Timmy ignored him and stood up as he carried Tammy while she cried. "Let's go find Jimmy and you can tell us what happened." He turned to his fairies, "Cosmo, Wanda, watch over Eustace."

Cosmo grinned and saluted, "You got it, Mr. T!"

Back in the future after losing the brainwashed Maxwell to the Future Eustace, the Nicktoons were sulking in defeat. Darry Phantom was sitting on a piece of concrete from part of HQ with his face buried in his hands and was accompanied by Tommy and Future SpongeTron. SpongeTron came over, carrying a red cloth that he handed to his future self. "Umm, Future Me, I think you dropped this." He shudders a bit when he sees his future self's busted eye.

Darry looks up to see the robotic metal on half of Future SpongeTron's face. The robot takes the cloth and ties it around his busted eye. "Thanks." He says gratefully.

"What happened to you anyway?" Darry asked curiously.

Future SpongeTron solemnly answered, "It was Eustace's evil robots. One was about to hurt Max, so I dived in front of him and I got hit in the face with a laser beam. The only one who can fix me is Jimmy Neutron, but as you saw, he can't right now."

Everyone fell silent for a bit until Tommy mentioned, "I'm sure even though Max doesn't remember it, he's still thankful for what you did."

Narrowing his eyes with determination, Darry added, "He can tell us that himself," he smiled as well, "Because we're gonna get him back no matter what it takes."

Tommy nodded in agreement, "And then, we'll put our plan into action."

Suddenly, the tip of SpongeTron's antenna beeps and he shrieks in alarm. "Eeeek! It's Mrs. Neutron! She's been calling us for hours! What do I tell her?"

Darry and Tommy both stammer nervously, unsure how to tell her that they lost Maxwell. Future SpongeTron was prepared to run away, but Nano crawled up SpongeTron's body and pushed a button on his chest that activated the screen.

"No!" SpongeTron yelled, but the screen turned on to show Cindy in the present day HQ.

"There you are!" Cindy yelled in anger. "Do you have any idea how long I've been trying to contact you?! Have you been deliberately ignoring my calls?! Don't you know I am your commanding officer on this mission?! And where's Maxwell?!"

Darry and Tommy stood there nervously as Cindy chews them out. But she suddenly stepped out of frame as Jimmy walked in. "It's okay, sweetie. I'll take it from here." He calmly assured.

"Commander!" Darry, Tommy, and SpongeTron both exclaimed, overjoyed to see him back to lead the mission.

Future SpongeTron almost teared up at seeing him. "Oh, Neutron, you're awake and young."

Suddenly, Tammy popped up in front of him and smiled to see her friends. "Tommy, Poof, guys!"

Poof smiled with joy. "Tammy okay!"

Jimmy looked at the Nicktoons firmly. "Tammy told me what happened to Maxwell. Do you have him there with you?"

Everyone deflated as Darry sadly explains, "No. Eustace brainwashed Maxwell with his psychic powers, and they both disappeared." He slumps over in grief, "This is all my fault."

"This isn't the time for blame." Jimmy assured them. "Tammy tells me you all came up with a plan to fix the future."

"That's right." Tommy enthusiastically replied. "We're gonna..."

"Stop!" Jimmy quickly said. "We can't discuss it now if Eustace's future self is lurking nearby. I need you all to come back to the present that way we can regroup and share what we know."

"Yes, Commander." Darry, Tommy, and SpongeTron all said while Poof saluted.

The screen shut off and Future SpongeTron said, "Looks like your Commander needs you. All you guys need to do is take off your medallions and you'll be sent home."

SpongeTron got teary eyed, and he held his future self's hand. "Oh, come with us, Future Me. You're a Nicktoon too. Your team might not be around anymore, but you can join us to save the future and save Max."

Future SpongeTron weakly smiled as he responded, "Thanks, but I can't. This time period still needs me to protect it, and so does Commander Neutron. I may not be with my friends that often, but I still remember all the good that we did for our worlds, which is why I know you can fix this and bring Max home."

SpongeTron looked saddened from being reminded of the change he will experience in the future, but Darry assured, "Don't worry, Future ST. We'll kick Eustace's butt into the stone age and kick Max's butt back here." Tommy and Poof dully frown at him, but Darry added, "...not literally of course."

Future SpongeTron sighed. "Okay, but you guys may have to reconsider my plan if there's no other way. That is only for a last resort."

"But why?" Tommy asked. "If we use your plan, we can stop all this from ever happening."

"Yeah, well, now things are different," Future SpongeTron admitted, "I noticed you guys have a tight bond with this timeline's Max."

"Duh, why do you think we wanna risk our lives to save him?" Darry stated, "It was your idea to send Max to us."

SpongeTron added blissfully, "We've been through so much together. Not only is he a Nicktoon, but he's also our friend."

"I was afraid of this," Future SpongeTron bowed his head, "The truth is my plan originally was to send Max to find the schematic and come back to the future. And knowing you guys, I told him specifically to avoid you guys if possible."

"What?" Tommy was confused, "Why did you want Max to avoid us?"

"Because all of this was my entire plan," Future SpongeTron confessed, "I wanted to make sure the neural device never existed from the very beginning. But now that you guys are involved..."

"Wait a sec," Darry said suspiciously, "I don't understand. Your plan is foolproof! If the neural device doesn't exist, that means the RA-Unit that tried to kill Jimmy would never exist, Eustace wouldn't be a mad man right now, Max wouldn't be brainwashed or have the neural device in his head at all, and he wouldn't have gone to the past to come to u-" he froze, realizing what Future SpongeTron meant.

Tommy also realized what this would mean. "So you're saying that if we change the future, Max will never come to the present and will never meet us."

SpongeTron concluded, "Which means, he'll forget everything that happened, and we'll forget everything that happened, because everything will... change."

Looking like he was about to blow his top, Tommy yelled at Future SpongeTron, "Why would you tell us that plan if you knew what would happen?!"

Future SpongeTron looked teary eyed as he answers, "I just wanted to keep Max safe and wake Jimmy up. But once I saw how happy he was with you and how much you cared about him, I just didn't want you all to save everyone and forget all that." He started sobbing like his past self (or anyone related to SpongeBob would), but a hand was placed on his shoulder and he opens his eye to see Darry.

The ghost boy smiles warmly at him. "We would never forget him, and I know he would never forget us. That's why I know that the real Max is still in there, and we won't change the timeline without getting him back first."

Future SpongeTron began to smile. "I know you won't." He then hugs all the Nicktoons.

They take a step back and Darry grips his medallion, asking his friends, "Okay, are you guys ready to go?"

"Ready!" Tommy and SpongeTron say as they and Poof grip their medallions. They wave goodbye to Future SpongeTron and grip their medallions off before being surrounded by a bright blue light.

At Nicktoon HQ in the present, Jimmy, Tammy, Danny, Cindy, SpongeBob, and Tak were in the lab, waiting around until a bright blue light flashes and Tommy, SpongeTron, and Poof appear. "Guys!" Tammy shouts in joy as she runs over and hugs Tommy and Poof. "You're back!"

Cindy walked over to them and sternly said, "You guys have a lot to tell us."

Tommy slyly smiled and said, "You mean starting with how cool our future's gonna be?"

"Cool for you maybe." SpongeTron mumbled, still upset over losing his friends in the future.

Jimmy smiled and tried to get them on track. "Okay, I'm sure your trip to the future was a life changing experience, but right now, let's compare notes such as..."

"Where's Darry?" Danny interrupted, being the only one who noticed that Darry did not return with the Nicktoons.

"What are you talking about?" Tommy asked, confused. "He's right..." But he looked around and did not see Darry anywhere.

Cindy also became concerned. "He was with you before you left the future, right?" She asked the Nicktoons.

Tommy answered, "Of course. We all pulled off our medallions at the same time."

SpongeTron started to panic. "Oh no! What if he's stuck at some point between the present and the future?" Jimmy and Danny looked at each other in worry, wondering why Darry didn't return to their time period.

However, in the future, Darry was still gripping his time medallion, and then let go, revealing that he never took it off. "What's wrong, Darry?" Future SpongeTron asked, wondering why he didn't return to his time period with the others. "Is your medallion stuck?"

Darry glanced at Future SpongeTron, then at HQ, which is holding Future Cindy and the unconscious Future Jimmy. Darry sighed before responding, "I'm sorry." And in the blink of an eye, he disappeared, or otherwise turned invisible so he wouldn't be seen.

"Darry!" Future SpongeTron shouted in dismay and he waved his arms out, swiping the air to feel for Darry. "I remember how reckless you used to be! You better not be doing anything crazy!" He called out to the sky, hoping Darry heard his warning.

In the sky, Darry turns visible and says to himself, "If a robot or a genius psychic can't get into Eustace's work building, then a ghost can; and he can only do it by himself." He smirks to himself, "Which is what Eustace won't be expecting."

Once he sees the Strych Enterprises building, he sees many RA-Units guarding the outside near the main entrance. Smirking again, Darry turns invisible and flies over the robots without being spotted and is able to phase into the top floor of the building. He briefly phases his head through the wall and sticks his tongue out at the oblivious RA-Units.

In the hallways of the business building, Darry floats around to see the lights out and the offices empty, with no worker in sight. "Man," Darry said to himself. "Did Eustace fire everyone when he became Overlord?"

Suddenly, he heard a faint voice from down the hall and saw a light coming from the president's office. He flew over and phased through the door, keeping himself invisible. Inside the president's office, he saw many gadgets that Future Eustace probably built and many scientific formulas that had been scribbled on the walls, most likely by Future Eustace. He also saw a Portal Machine that resembled the one Jimmy owned, only looking like it had been destroyed and rebuilt. Working on the machine was Maxwell, who had a cold expression as he used his genius to get it working.

Future Eustace was staring at the high view from the window as he spoke out loud. "I rule over Retroville, just like my genius mind intended." He said with a mad look in his bloodshot eyes. "But it's not enough. I am knowledgeable that I can have more. Maxwell, is it almost complete?"

Maxwell turned to Future Eustace and answered, "Yes, Father. I have nearly completed converting your Matter Time Machine into the Universe Portal Device. You should soon be able to travel to the past." Darry was surprised to hear that Future Eustace was planning to go to his own timeline, but he continued to listen on.

Future Eustace smiled in approval. "Excellent. It should be set to the time period where my past self should have displayed the Strych Cellular Tower. Using that and the ones we'll plant in each world, I won't be just ruling Retroville..." He grinned wildly as he pulled on his lower eyelids. "... I'll rule Retroville and every other world preceding the past 10 years!"

He laughed maniacally as Darry watched in shock. "That guy's totally nuts." He whispered. Maxwell then darts his eyes upwards, and Darry feels his body jerks downwards, slamming on to the ground, slamming upwards onto the ceiling, and then back onto the ground at the feet of Future Eustace and Maxwell.

A dazed Darry raises his head up to see Maxwell smirking at him. "You just don't know when to keep your big mouth shut, do you, Scottie?"

Darry scowled back at him and retorted, "How smart are you if you can't even get my name right while brainwashed?"

Suddenly, he was levitated into the air by Future Eustace, who stands there stiffly while smirking. "So where are the rest of your Nicktoons, huh?"

Darry tried to break free, but could not move his body. "None of your business, Brainiac!" he shouts defiantly.

"I see. You manipulated your comrades to take themselves back to the past while you lingered here, believing you could be the big hero by defeating me and bringing Maxwell back to your side."

Realizing what he was doing, Darry yelled, "Get out of my head!" Future Eustace then carelessly swiped his hand through the air and Darry promptly passes out.

Future Eustace then orders Maxwell, "Go into the past and get my office ready for my arrival."

"Yes, Father." Maxwell coldly responded.

Back in the present, Jimmy was working on his Universe Portal Machine, hoping they can use it to go to the future and find Darry. "Can't you work on that thing faster?" Danny asked impatiently, obviously worried about his son.

Jimmy replied in an annoyed tone, "There's more to fixing this than just turning a screwdriver. It got badly damaged when Eustace used it."

"Why don't you go see Clockwork to find out where Darry is?" Tak suggested.

Danny thought about it and realized it was the quickest way. "If I have to."

He was about to leave until Cosmo and Wanda appear in front of him. "Hey Danny." Cosmo greeted, holding out a takeout bag. "Want a taco?"

"Not now, guys."

"Wait." Timmy realized his fairies were supposed to be watching their enemy. "Where's Eustace?"

"That's what we came to tell you." Wanda said. "Eustace escaped."

"What?!" The adult Nicktoons asked in shock. Jimmy asked, "But how?"

Cosmo explained, "Eustace said he was hungry, so he gave me 20 bucks for tacos. When we got back with his order, he was gone."

They were all dumbfounded that Cosmo could fall for such a trick, but Jimmy realized, "He's probably still in HQ." He then announced to his computer, "Vox, initiate lockdown of HQ."

Out in the main room, the Cadets were watching TV, waiting for whenever their next mission will be. Tommy, Tammy, and SpongeTron tried to leave, but when Tommy tried to open the front door, he realized it was locked. "Oh great." Tommy said in dismay. "Locked. I wonder what deadly pathogen Jimmy released that he doesn't want to expose to the world this time."

"Now how are we supposed to get Clockwork's help to find Darry?" Tammy wondered

Suddenly, they hear the TV say, "We interrupted this program to give you an important news bulletin."

"Hey!" Junior complained. "What happened to My Happy Pretty Seahorse?"

"Shhh!" Yuki hushed so she and her friends could hear the news.

"This is Brock Rainer filling in for Cindy Neutron to report that on top of the mysterious kidnapping of Eustace Strych, billionaire and founder Strych Enterprises, it would seem that some strange force has taken over the company, forcing all its employees outside."

The Nicktoons and Cadets watch on TV to see everyone running away as Strych Enterprises had electricity around it from the dark clouds in the sky, forming a barrier. They watch in shock, but a voice shouted, "What in blazes?!"

They turn to see Eustace watching as well, seeing what was happening to his company. The Nicktoons were prepared to fight him until he angrily asked, "What have you brats done to my company?"

"It wasn't us, Eustace." Jimmy answered as he and the adults came into the room. "It was you."

"What?" Eustace asked, looking offended. "In case there's too much information in your brain to remember, I've been held captive here for hours. How do you think I ruined my own business?"

"That's not what I meant, Eustace. Our enemy and your business partner are one and the same: your future self."

Eustace seemed surprised at first, but laughed it off hysterically. "Ha ha ha! Aren't you supposed to be a genius? How did you come up with that?"

"It's the truth!" Tommy shouted.

SpongeTron shouted as well. "We were in the future! He took over Retroville, took away Maxwell, and turned him against us! He changed him! YOU changed him!" He added angrily, pointing at Eustace.

But Eustace did not look convinced. "Alright, I'm sorry, I promise I'll never do whatever it is you're talking about. There, the future is saved." He said insincerely. "Now will you let me out so I can save my company?"

The adults pause and look at each other before Jimmy answers, "Tell you what, Eustace; why don't I just have my Nicktoons team take back your company for you?"

"What?!" All operatives of both Nicktoons teams exclaimed, wondering why Jimmy would task them with helping Eustace.

Eustace just crossed his arms, suspicious of Jimmy's motives. "What would you gain by helping me?"

"I'm glad you asked." Jimmy smugly explained, "I'll send one of my teams to investigate the break in at Strych Enterprises while you stay here and answer our questions regarding your former business partner. If you cooperate, it can save the future and save your business."

Eustace smiled as well, seeing the opportunity. "Very well. I'll stay and let your Nicktoons save my business. And I'll answer any questions you want...on one condition."

Danny immediately spoke up, "You can't have the Nicktoons!"

Timmy added as well, "You can't have Goddard."

"I'm not asking for much." Eustace responded, "Just that...after this is over, Neutron will come to my company and work for me full time, building and inventing anything I want so I can sell it and make a profit."

Everyone was surprised that he would make such an offer. Jimmy was silent, but Tak immediately answered, "Absolutely not."

SpongeBob added, "No way is he gonna-"

"Wait." Jimmy stopped them. The last thing he wanted to do was accept a job working for Eustace for the rest of his life, but if it was the only way to save the future and, more importantly, save Maxwell, he knew he had no other choice. "I accept."

Everyone reacted in surprise, but Eustace smirked as he said, "I'll meet you in your interrogation room, minus the rope."

After he walked out of the room, Jimmy was surrounded by the Nicktoons and the Cadets, who shouted over each other at how bad a decision their leader made, until Jimmy silenced them with a "QUIET!"

Once the kids settled down, Jimmy instructed, "Now is not the time for objections. I have assignments for all of you. Yuki, you and your team will go to Strych Enterprises to investigate what's going on. Alert us if you see Eustace's future self or Maxwell. Timmy, SpongeBob, and Tak, follow Eustace to the interrogation room and make sure he doesn't try anything deceptive. SpongeTron, you and your team come with us and inform on what you learned in the future."

"But what about Darry?" Tommy asked.

Jimmy answered, "There's a ham radio for ghost frequencies in the lab. Jack gave it to me to radio ghosts in the Ghost Zone. Danny can try and get in contact with Clockwork for help locating Darry."

But Danny turned him aside and spoke to him seriously, "Jimmy, I know you're worried about Maxwell, but are you sure we can trust Eustace?"

"I'm Jimmy Neutron, remember?" Jimmy said with confidence. He decided to walk Danny to his station, but grimaced, showing that was unsure about the choices he was making, but did not want to upset anybody.

When everyone else left to perform their duties, SpongeTron whispered to the Turner twins, "What are we gonna do? Once Jimmy hears our plan, he's gonna wanna go through with it, and we promised future me that we wouldn't."

"Maybe we can think of something else." Tammy suggested, having heard from her team about the warning they received. She became worried, not able to think of another plan. "Oh, if only Darry were here, he'd know what to do."

However, back in the future Retroville; Darry Phantom was opening his eyes after being forcefully put to sleep by Future Eustace. "What happened?" Darry wondered until noticing his wrists and ankles were strapped to the wall. He tried turning intangible to phase out, but was unable to.

It was then that he heard Future Eustace say, "You'll find yourself unable to use your powers." Darry sees the mad genius sitting at his office desk, carving equations onto the surface with a scalpel as his maddened smirk illuminated in the darkness. "For you see, your binds are ghost proof. Neutron had knowledge of crafting those that he learned from your father."

"You stole that knowledge from him." Darry furiously stated. "You turned Neutron into a vegetable."

Future Eustace just tossed the scalpel aside and stood up from his desk, gleefully smirking, "When you have this kind of power, it helps you realize what you should do with it. Just like Maxwell realized his potential."

"No, he didn't!" Darry shouted in anger. "You're controlling him! He's a lonely kid who's been through so much, and you took advantage of that!"

"But you would know that, wouldn't you, Darrel?" Future Eustace held his hand out towards Darry, and the ghost boy grunted as he felt Future Eustace penetrating his mind.

Darry suddenly sees a flashback at a time in his life when he was much younger and was walking through Amity Park with his dad hand in hand and sees a few people whispering to each other as they stare at them. Curious, Darry asks, "Dad, what are all those people saying about you?"

"It's nothing, Darry, forget about it." Danny responded as he continues walking with him, leaving Darry feeling disappointed that his father never explains anything to him.

It then cuts to another memory of his mother holding a suitcase as she heads out the door, preparing to leave on her book tour. "No, Mom! You can't go!" an older Darry Fenton cried out. "We need you here!"

Sam held his cheek and gently told him, "I'm sorry, sweetie. But don't worry, I'll be back soon."

It cuts to a few years later as Darry Phantom lands on the ground after defeating a ghost and crowds of people surround him, muttering, "That's the son of Danny Phantom? Will he be as good as his father?"

Darry hears someone else say, "I doubt it. He's just a kid."

"I heard that he doesn't have all of Danny Phantom's powers." Hearing all the criticism made Darry feel self-conscious.

In the real world, Darry still struggled as Future Eustace pried into his mind. "Those thoughts are private!" He yelled in anger.

"I am not surprised to see why you never share those memories with anyone." Future Eustace sadistically says, "But let's what you've repressed deeper in your subconscious."

"No!" Darry pleaded in dread. "You can't!"

Future Eustace further penetrates Darry's mind and sees the many times Danny scolded him, "Darry, no. It's too dangerous. I told you to call me. Stay here. You could hurt yourself." He also sees memories of Dark Dan Phantom laughing sadistically and Darry's ghost half losing control of his Ghost Rage.

When Future Eustace sees how distressed Darry is becoming from reliving all these memories, he pretends to offer sympathy, "Oh, Darrel, how awful this must be for you. I'm sure you're already aware of how your friends and family really feel about you."

While sweating and panting heavily, Darry boldly remarks, "No, I don't."

"Then let me remind you." He holds his hand out to Darry and he feels Future Eustace entering his mind again, screaming in agony.

Darry suddenly recalls a false memory of his three teammates discussing something privately. "I can't believe Jimmy put us on the same team as Darry." Tammy complained.

"Tell me about it." Tommy agreed. "He's supposed to be like his dad and he can barely control his powers."

SpongeTron added, "As much as I hate to admit it, Darry isn't right to be leader. We need someone more responsible."

Tommy added, "Anyone is more responsible than Darry, even Junior."

They all laughed in amusement while Darry seemed shocked by what he was watching. "What?! That never happened!"

But he suddenly sees Danny speaking, "Darry doesn't deserve to take my place as protector of Amity Park. He will never be like me."

He also saw Sam agreeing, "Why couldn't Yuki be the one to have ghost powers instead?"

Darry couldn't believe what he was hearing. "That's... that's not true."

"But it is..." Darry froze and turned to the evil Maxwell, who has a cold glare towards him. "How can you, the son of the one and only Danny Phantom, be unable to fulfill everyone's expectations?" Maxwell stated, "Someone like you should control your powers so easily, lead your team with ease, and complete every mission with success. But you didn't." Darry backed away only to stop and face everyone surrounding him, eyes of disapproval staring. Darry fell on his knees, claws at the ground, his eyes tearing with despair. Maxwell shook his head, "It's your fault for not being there when I disappeared. Your fault I got taken and became this way. To think I would idolize the likes of you," Maxwell scolded, "Well, guess what, Darry... you're nothing."

"I...I..." Darry stammered at what to say when he noticed something off. "Maybe you're right..." He stood up, glaring at everyone, especially at Maxwell, with a defiant look.

"What?" Maxwell asks.

"I said... maybe you're...RIGHT!" He unleashes his Ghost Rage, breaking the illusion.

Future Eustace stumbles back a few steps, staring in shock to see the ghost boy had broken out of his restraints and his fiery aura simmering down. "How is it that you haven't been manipulated onto my side?" He demands to know.

"Because, Brainiac," Darry started explaining as he stormed towards him. "I'm reckless, I'm irresponsible, and I might be nowhere near as great as my dad is, but you know what?" He grabs Future Eustace by his collar and pulls him close. "I'm okay with that."

He swings a punch at Future Eustace, only to end up missing due to Future Eustace teleporting away. He reappears behind Darry with an enraged scowl on his face. The ghost boy turns to Eustace and adds, "Plus I know Maxwell would never call me 'Darry'."

"If I can't destroy you mentally, then I'll just have to destroy you physically." Future Eustace holds his right hand up and starts clenching his fist. Darry then feels himself psychically being choked and he struggles to breathe. "You should have joined me, Darrel." Future Eustace said as he chokes Darry. "With the device in my cranium, it gave me enough intelligence to realize my purpose. I could assist you and the rest of the Nicktoons in finding yours as well."

Struggling to stay on his feet, Darry gagged and opened one eye, looking at his time medallion. Then he grabbed a hold of it. With a hard yank, he pulled off the time medallion. A bright blue light surrounded Darry, nearly blinding Future Eustace, who looks up to see Darry gone and the medallion in his place on the floor. With a scowl, Future Eustace mentions, "We'll see each other again soon, Darrel. Very soon."

In the Nicktoon HQ of the present, Danny was working on a ham radio that he used to try and contact Clockwork. But he grew more and more frustrated since he had trouble getting it to work. With a groan, he said, "By the time I get this thing working, it'll already be the future."

He turned the knobs again, still hearing only static, until he heard a familiar voice, "Danny... I know you are trying to get in touch with me. But your son, Darry, should return to you in...five seconds."

"Five seconds?" Danny asked, confused. "What do you-" before he could finish, a blue light appeared and Darry dropped on the table, smashing the device.

Darry sits up, holding his throat as he realizes he can breathe again. Once Danny stands up and sees his son, he smiles and hugs him. "Darry, you're back." But then, he looks concerned. "What happened? Where have you been?"

"There's no time to explain, Dad." Darry said in a serious tone. "I know what Future Eustace is planning." Danny realized that Jimmy would want to hear this as soon as possible, so he narrowed his eyes and nodded, deciding to take his son to Jimmy and the others.

Is the present doomed to be just as bad as the future? Nothing is ever set in stone. Please review what you think so far and stick around for Part 4.