Back in Bikini Bottom, Plankton's plot was kicking into high gear, as a certain grumpy squid was about to find out.
"One more lap around town and it's a frosty beverage for you, Squiddy!" Squidward promised himself as he pedaled his bicycle.
He was daydreaming about that refreshing treat when he saw something odd: a fish with a chum bucket on its head. Not a real chum bucket, but a bucket-shaped helmet.
"Morning," said the bucket-headed fish.
"Some people have no taste in headgear," Squidward muttered to himself.
Then he saw another fish with a bucket on her head.
"Egads! Must be contagious," Squidward declared.
Soon he was seeing chum buckets everywhere! Squidward even saw a mother fish pushing a baby carriage full of baby fish wearing buckets on their heads!
Squidward was horrified. "Babies, too? Now that's just hideous for several reasons."
At the traffic light he stopped next to a woman's car. She was also wearing a Chum Bucket helmet.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Puff, but where is everyone getting that horrid headwear?"
"I got it at the Chum Bucket," Mrs. Puff replied. "Plankton's giving them away free with every Krabby Patty."
"Chum Bucket?" cried Squidward. "Free? Krabby Patty? Plankton? Giving? With?"
"That's right," called Mrs. Puff as she zoomed away.
Squidward scratched his bald squid head. "Something smells fishy around here, and for once it isn't my laundry."
Squidward pedaled right over to the Chum Bucket. The place was hopping. Squidward burst through the door.
"All right, Plankton. I want a word with you."
"Hello, Squidward," Plankton said, grinning smugly. "Did you stop by to get your free bucket helmet?"
"No," said Squidward. "You may have hoodwinked everyone else in this backwater town, but you can't fool me. I listen to public radio!"
Plankton made an innocent face. "And what is that supposed to mean?"
Squidward shook his finger under Plankton's nose.
"It means you set up Mr. Krabs," he cried. "You stole the crown so Neptune would freeze him and you could finally get your stubby little paws on the Krabby Patty formula. It was you all along!"
Plankton gave Squidward a wounded look. But the crusty old squid wasn't buying it.
"I haven't solved the whole bucket-helmet giveaway part yet, but maybe Neptune and I can get to the bottom of it together," said Squidward, turning to go. "I'm going to go talk to King Neptune right now!" he yelled. Then Squidward slammed the door and was gone.
"Tell him I said hello," Plankton called, "if you make it that far."
Plankton laughed like some kind of stubby-fingered madman.
"Now it's time to start the next phase of Plan Z. The really evil part."
He tapped a few keys on Karen the Computer.
"Helmet brain control activated," Karen said.
*S*S*
In every home, in every shop, all over Bikini Bottom, a strange thing was happening.
All those trendy Chum Bucket helmet hats sitting atop all those heads began to change. With a buzz and a click, they took control of everyone's mind.
"All hail Plankton! All hail Plankton!" chanted the people of Bikini Bottom.
Soon an army of bucket heads filled the streets.
"All hail Plankton! All hail Plankton!"
They poured out of houses and shops. From under rocks, from the reefs, and from the trenches, all the sea life marched together. And they all chanted together.
"All hail Plankton! All hail Plankton!"
Plankton ran to the window and peered through his telescope. There they were - his army of mind-controlled bucket heads.
Plankton hopped up and down with glee.
"Plan Z! Plan Z!"
Outside, the crowd spoke with one voice.
"All hail Plankton! All hail Plankton!"