A Different World
(Chapter Seven)
Spongebob entered the treedome completely unaware of what went on after he left the prison. For the first time in his life he was not really worried about anything. Since he was a Plankguard he didn't have to worry about being followed anymore, and he was a member of the BBFF which meant he was fighting for the freedom of the city.
"How is it going lad?" Asks Eugene.
"Great sir. I've never felt better, I can go places without being followed and each day we get closer to getting our freedom." Says Spongebob.
Spongebob looked around the treedome, something was different; people were not wearing their water helmets.
"Hey what's going on?" Asks Spongebob.
"What do you mean?" Asks Patrick.
"Why aren't you guys wearing helmets?" Asks Spongebob.
"Oh well look around Spongebob." Says Patrick.
"I thought you guys needed to wear helmets to survive in here." Says Spongebob.
"Oh we did until Sandy installed a sprinkler system. You've been gone for a while so you wouldn't have known." Says Patrick.
Spongebob then spotted Sandy and wanted to get over to her.
"Yeah… I'll get back to you on that… excuse me Patrick." Says Spongebob.
Patrick laughs a little as he goes over to Eugene.
"Ha ha… he's got it bad." Says Patrick.
"Who?" Asks Eugene.
"Oh just Spongebob again crushin' on Sandy." Says Patrick.
"Oh." Says Eugene.
"He left while I was talking to him." Says Patrick.
Eugene was busy looking through important history files, but replied back.
"Interesting." Says Eugene.
"What are you doing?" Asks Patrick.
"Oh just looking through some old history files and photos." Says Eugene.
"History… I haven't learned much… I think Plankton is keeping something from us." Says Patrick.
"He is…" Says Eugene.
"He is?" Asks Patrick.
"Yeah… there is so much you don't know." Says Eugene.
"Tell me." Says Patrick as he has a look of interest on his face.
"Well I already told you that I was in a war once… the war I was fighting was to free Bikini Bottom." Says Eugene.
"Woah… Did you win?" Asks Patrick with a silly grin on his face.
"I wish I could have… My men… we were surrounded by Plankguards. They had some kind of weapon… I watched in terror as the events unfolded. One of my men was hit with some kind of immobile ray, and then it looked like some kind of electric shock took over his body. Plankton tried to get him to join his side, but his loyalty was to us. The rest of us were not sure what to do, we didn't know if there was any way to help him, we also were not sure what was going on, but the electric shock continued and he fell over to the ground. Plankton had killed him… with the touch of a button." Says Eugene.
"Oh my… I'm so sorry about that." Says Patrick.
"You know what Plankton said…? He said it was self defense… he said that he was being attacked. My men and I were there… we were witnesses. He was not attacking Plankton; Plankton killed him because he would not obey his rules, because he was fighting to free Bikini Bottom. Some of my men were furious at this, others were terrified. Some ran away from him while others ran towards him. They were hit with immobilizer rays and also suffered the same fate. Only about five of my men remained alive. I haven't seen three of them since that day, they could have been captured, or they could still be in hiding, I'll probably never know… two of them are members of the BBFF along with me. I'm the one that created this group, but we all have to meet in secret because otherwise we would surely be put to death. Even if we are captured and put to death, at least we'll go down fighting." Says Eugene.
"Oh man… that's the worst thing I've ever heard." Says Patrick.
"Oh… this may be even worse Patrick." Says Eugene.
"What?" Asks Patrick.
"Plankton and I… used to be best friends." Says Eugene.
Patrick's mouth opened wide in shock. He didn't know what else to say.
"How about we try to move on shall we…? I've never told anyone about this… and I would rather not tell anyone else again." Says Eugene.
"I get it…" Says Patrick.
"So anyway… how about we move on… See this?" Asks Eugene.
"What is it?" Asks Patrick.
"It's a camera. It takes pictures like this…" He takes a picture, the flash goes off freaking Patrick out.
"Ah! What was that, what did you do?" Asks Patrick.
"Relax… the sound you heard was me taking a picture of you," Says Eugene.
"What was that blinding light?" Asks Patrick.
"That was the camera flash, it helps the picture develop." Says Eugene.
"Oh so it's not something that will kill me?" Asks Patrick.
"Of course not. See look, I have picture of when my men and I were at sea. Before we lost the war… we could take pictures, and then Plankton made it illegal because it was a form of self expression, but remember we are free to do whatever we want to in here." Says Eugene.
"Right. Oh… can I see it?" Asks Patrick.
"Sure knock yourself out." Says Eugene.
Patrick takes the camera, and hides behind Sandy's tree. Spongebob and Sandy were talking and didn't even notice him.
"Hey Sandy." Says Spongebob smiling.
"Hey Spongebob." Says Sandy.
"What are you doing?" Asks Spongebob.
"Oh I just came out here to see how things were going with the BBFF. What are you doing?" Asks Sandy.
"Oh… I just thought I'd come see you…" Says Spongebob.
He was quiet for a moment and didn't realize what he just said. Sandy gave him a strange look.
"Wait I mean… I came to see how the group was doing." Says Spongebob blushing.
Sandy giggles a little bit. She loved at how he stumbled with words, she thought it was cute.
Spongebob thought to himself: Smooth Squarepants… really smooth he thinks sarcastically.
He tries to get out of the awkward situation.
"So anyway… how about those karate lessons?" Asks Spongebob.
"Sure thing." Says Sandy smiling.
After a few minutes of learning the basic moves, Sandy wants Spongebob to apply what he learned.
"Ok Spongebob ready?" Asks Sandy.
"Well I don't know…" Says Spongebob.
"Come on Spongebob you can do it." Says Sandy.
"It's just that… I don't feel comfortable fighting girl." Says Spongebob.
Sandy swings her leg and trips him up.
"Yeah… that's because girls kick butt." Says Sandy laughing a bit.
"Oh no fair… I wasn't ready." Says Spongebob.
"Well come on." Says Sandy.
"I don't want to fight you because… I'm afraid that I might hurt you." Says Spongebob.
"You hurt me…? That's really funny Spongebob, really… Hey!" Says Sandy.
Spongebob had learned quickly. He did just what Sandy did to him. He tripped her up with a leg kick.
"Fooled you." Says Spongebob with a sly smile.
"Ok… so you got me by surprise. That was just luck Squarepants. I bet you can't do it again." Says Sandy getting up. Now come on lets fight for real." Says Sandy.
So they fight for a few minutes until they were both tired, Spongebob had surprised Sandy a few times, but Sandy having more experience seemed to be doing a better job.
"Ok… I think we need to take a breather." Says Sandy.
"Good idea." Says Spongebob.
"You learn quick Spongebob." Says Sandy.
"Well I do have a great teacher." Says Spongebob smiling.
Sandy blushes a little and giggles.
"So how is your new "job" going?" Asks Sandy.
"Oh it's going great Sandy… since I've become a Plankguard I've never felt so free before. I can go where I want without being followed." Says Spongebob.
"I'm glad that is working out for you Spongebob." Says Sandy.
The mood in the room changes a bit.
"You're lucky Sandy…" Says Spongebob sadly.
"Lucky how?" Asks Sandy.
"You're from a country that's already free, you've been free your whole life." Says Spongebob.
"Yeah… I guess that true, but soon you'll be free too Spongebob." Says Sandy.
"You've been free… living a happy life, a life without fear… to come and go as you please. All of my life… I've always lived in fear of Plankton, never being able to do anything that I like, never being able to be with who I want to be with. Well I never really liked anyone… until now." Says Spongebob looking at Sandy.
Sandy blushed a little bit and says…
"You mean me?" Asks Sandy.
Spongebob nods his head, but looks away from her sadly.
"But I remembered something… I would be committing a crime here; well another crime plus I remembered what you said…" Says Spongebob.
"What did I say?" Asks Sandy.
"You said… that even when you liked someone… you moved on and left them behind. You said you tried not to get too attached." Says Spongebob.
"Yeah… I did say that…" Says Sandy.
"Well… I'm the one that got attached, which was foolish of me. Whenever you are done here… you'll leave… and forget all about me." Says Spongebob sadly.
"No I won't… I…" Sandy was cut off.
"You'll leave me behind just like everyone else… I can't bear the thought of that… I don't want to see you go… but I don't want to risk anything happening to you here either." Says Spongebob.
Sandy felt bad for him, but didn't know what to say. Spongebob felt bad but saw something that quickly changed his mood. It was a flower, Sandy wasn't looking at him at the moment, and Spongebob was amazed at the flower's beauty then looked back at Sandy. He picked the flower and gave it to her.
"Wow… your mood changes quick doesn't it Spongebob?" Asks Sandy.
"Yeah I guess." Says Spongebob smiling.
He handed her the flower.
"Here… I want you to have this Sandy… this flower… has amazing beauty… just like you." Says Spongebob.
Then it hit her… she suddenly realized what was going on. She gasps and says…
"You're in love with me!" Says Sandy.
"Huh what? What makes you say that?" Asks Spongebob nervously.
"All of these… compliments, and don't leave me stuff… you're in love with me aren't you Spongebob?" Asks Sandy.
Spongebob was shocked… he didn't think that she would find out, but there was no use in denying it any longer, but he hung his head down and replied…
"Yes Sandy… I'm in love with you, but I completely understand if you don't…" Spongebob was cut off because Sandy was so overwhelmed with happiness that she kissed him, right on his lips.
"I love you too Spongebob." Says Sandy.
"Woah… what was that?" Says Spongebob with a look of shock and love on his face blushing.
"Oh… sorry Spongebob, that was a kiss… it's what couples do when they love each other, but I might have made a mistake." Says Sandy blushing.
"No no… it's ok Sandy." Says Spongebob smiling.
There was a bit of an awkward silence between them until Spongebob said…
"So… we've rested for a good while… do you want to continue our karate again?" Asks Spongebob.
"Sure." Says Sandy.
So they start their karate again, a few minutes go by and everything was fine until they slipped on a patch of wet grass and fell on each other.
"Oh… sorry Sandy… are you ok?" Asks Spongebob.
He had fallen of top of her but she was ok.
"Yeah… I'm ok." Says Sandy.
A few moments of silence go by as they look into each other's eyes, and then Sandy breaks the silence.
"Well…?" Asks Sandy.
"Well what?" Asks Spongebob.
"Are you going to kiss me or not?" Asks Sandy smiling.
"Oh… yes of course." Says Spongebob blushing and laughing.
He leans down and kisses her on the lips, right as this happens Patrick takes the picture and laughs. Spongebob and Sandy were both so embarrassed, but their embarrassment quickly turned to fear as Patrick ran out the door.
"Oh no he just ran out the door." Says Sandy.
"Oh no… it's after curfew… the Plankguards will get him for sure…" Says Spongebob running after him.
"Be careful Spongebob." Yells Sandy.
It is a few blocks before Patrick is seen, but a Plankguard spots him and yells…
"Hey you! Freeze!" Says the Plankguard.
Patrick's laughter soon turned to fear. He does as he was told. Spongebob soon caught up with him. He soon starts his Plankguard act.
"Hey I got him… this guy… he's in violation of the curfew…" Says Spongebob.
"He got away from you… you are obviously failing at your capture duty so I will take him into custody…" Says the Plankguard.
"What you can't do that… I saw him first." Says Spongebob.
"Well as of right now he is in my hands…" Says the Plankguard.
Another Plankguard comes up and notices something fall from Patrick's hand.
"Hey what is this?" Asks the other Plankguard.
Spongebob realizes that it is the picture that Patrick took of him and Sandy. He panics and grabs it before the Plankguard could grab it.
"I'm sure it's nothing important." Says Spongebob as he tries to put the picture in his pocket.
"Oh come on… I'm kind of curious as to what it is." Says the Plankguard.
The first Plankguard had put Patrick into a prison truck and was about to pull away. The other Plankguard grabbed the picture from Spongebob, and was shocked.
"Me. Squarepants… I am surprised at you… You have violated Plankton's Love Law… one of the most sacred laws that there is… right behind Traitorism… I can't believe it… you… one of our own has turned to a life of crime… I'm going to have to turn you in." Says the Plankguard.
"What… this is a big misunderstanding… I'm sure that… the guy you just arrested somehow… made it look like me… this picture is fake…" Says Spongebob.
"I've always wanted to say this…Tell it to the judge… which in this case happens to be Plankton." Says the Plankguard.
The Plankguard starts to come at Spongebob; he is overwhelmed by fear, and does what Sandy taught him to do. He hit the Plankguard in the head and expected to knock him out, but he was still a beginner so it didn't work as he planned. Then he started to run, but something stopped him. He was unable to move, he was confused.
"What the… Yeeeooow!" He was cut off from his words by pain.
He was hit by the Immobilizer ray and a painful shock knocked him out.
The last thing he remembered seeing before he blacked out was the guard coming right for him, but his mind was on Sandy.
"Sandy…"Says Spongebob weakly before he blacked out.
The guard picked him up and put him in the prison truck along with Patrick and drove away.
(Ah… now it gets interesting, but still another cliffhanger. No one has really said if the chapters are too long or too short, but now this one is my longest chapter. I hope everyone is enjoying it so far. What's going to happen next?)