#techyocmedusa2.0

[techycatartist]

“Okay Sandy,” they thought. “Wave’s almost ready to be caught”.

Sandy pushed themselves up onto their surfboard, their mind dead-set on a goal. Faintly, they could hear the others give some commentary;

“They’re getting ready to stand..”

“The wave is forming!”

“I believe in you, Sandy!”

Finally standing up on their surfboard, Sandy glared confidently at the wave.

The surging carried them upward….for all of two seconds, as it didn’t take long for Sandy to lose their balance.

Sandy tried reaching out for their surfboard as it quickly slipped away from their feet, only to be consumed by the waves crashing around them.

Tumbling through the water, Sandy’s feet dragged across the bottom of the pool as they tried to push themselves to the surface. Fortunately, the current was pushing them closer to the shallow end of the pool.

Sandy ducked under the diminishing wave, placing their feet firmly on the ground.

“Go!”

Like a dolphin, Sandy shot out of the water, taking a well-needed gasp of air. They crashed back down to the surface back-first, kicking their feet to propel themselves forward.

“There they are!”

“I’ll get Sandy’s board”.

“Yeah, they’re not gonna give up after one failed attempt!”

With the wave-controlling program close to resetting, the water had grown calm— and so did Sandy, who let it guide them to the entrance.

Slowly but surely, Sandy had come to a stop, lying there as the water receded.

Most people would get up at that point, but Sandy was content to remain there.

The tide is rolling in.

It only reaches up to my feet, at first.

But with every wave, it gets closer.

The water is cold, but not frigid.

It’s…Refreshing.

Slowly, the water begins to surround me.

It gets to the point where my head is just above the water.

The next wave is approaching.

It’ll definitely pull me underwater if I don’t get up.

But I’m still lying there.

Sandy closed their eyes, smiling as water washed over their face.

Bliss.

After a few seconds, Sandy sat up; “Woooo! I might’ve wiped out, but I had a ton of fun with it!”

Slime Streak quickly joined them in the pool, boogie-board in her hand; “You still were awesome!”

“I know, right?”

Shredder approached them, holding Sandy’s surfboard. “Ready for round two?”

“Of course!”

“Just make sure you have your board leash tightened this time, okay?”, Timmy reminded.

“Oh yeah…probably makes it easier to recover, heh!” Sandy grabbed the leash, tightening it around their ankle.

Sandy and Slime Streak excitedly dashed into the water, Shellraiser watching from a distance as he relaxed on a chair, “tanning” in the sunbeam.

“Ah…”, he mused. “Nothing can spoil this day!”

“…She wishes she could take them out of the water, so she could cuddle and sleep with them…”

Displayed on screen was “Sue Nahmee”, the main antagonist of “Saving Bikini Bottom”, the newest SpongeBob film. During this scene, viewers were offered a look into Sue’s childhood— except her adult head was slapped onto a child’s body in (probably) the worst chroma-key job in the history of cinema.

Not a single member of the group wasn’t completely dumbfounded by what they were witnessing.

“I can’t believe this was approved to air…”, Shellraiser muttered.

“I can believe it. You think those execs care about making a quality product! Nah, they just want people’s money…or in this case, their parent’s money”, Timmy countered.

“I’m surprised they left the robot horse behind. Y’know…the cute animal sidekick that they want kids to cling on to and beg their parents to buy the marketable plushie of”, Shredder added.

Sandy was furiously typing on her phone, Slime Streak drowning her “sorrows” with popcorn.

“I had to pause the movie and walk out of the room when this scene came on. Then I went to ITSUGAR, got myself some candy, and came back to my room. The candy wasn’t really necessary, I just needed something good to counteract the badness that was this movie”, she said in-between handfuls.

“Well, it’s a good thing I’ve completely cut her from my revision of the movie…and every other human, honestly. I actually think the Rattlesnake gang from earlier would make for a good antagonist— though the real conflict will be whether Sandy should stay in Texas or return to Bikini Bottom”, Sandy stated.

“Woah, that already sounds like a way better story!”

“Yep! It makes a world of difference when you have a writer who cares about the thing you’re making…and no execs to bow down to!”

Lights flashed around as a disco ball sparkled above their heads. Located in a nearby town, Shredder and Timmy had decided that their date-slash-“girl’s night out” should be at a Karaoke bar.

With a recently-updated machine and complimentary room service at hand, the pair were enjoying a wonderful night out with fellow Jerseyans Nitro, Medusa, Harley Quinn, and Green Lantern.

Of course, their song choice— or more accurately, album choice, was obvious.

♪Red Wine Supernova, fall right into me!♪

While some of the album’s setlist had been sung by the entire group, Timmy and Shredder wanted to keep this track for themselves. The song wasn’t a duet piece— but that didn’t matter to them.

Timmy started the second verse; ♪I like!♪

♪I like!♪, Shredder sang in response.

♪What you like!♪

♪What you like!♪

♪Long hair,♪

♪Thick curls!♪, Shredder putting her own spin on the lyrics.

♪That’s my type!♪

♪That’s right!♪

♪You just told me…♪

Shredder pulled Timmy in closer.

♪…”Want me to ride you?”♪

An “Ooh~!” erupted from the others, catching on to Shredder’s double entendre.

Timmy pulled Shredder in even closer, their foreheads touching.

♪Baby I will, ‘cause I really want to!♪

They would sing the last of the verse together, continuing their simultaneous duet to the end of the song.

Though their throats would be unquestionably sore the next day, the memories that Timmy and Shredder made that night was worth the pain.

“HALT!”

Lil’ Devil turned around, a plastic crown firmly clamped in-between his teeth.

“As the thief responsible for stealing the queen’s crown, you must be vanquished! Surrender now, or die by my blade!”, Joust declared.

Lil’ Devil wordlessly looked him up-and-down…and began to run right towards him.

Joust prepared himself, pointing his lance at the “devil-child”.

“You won’t get away with this!”

Lil’ Devil suddenly reared left, swiping at Joust with his tail.

“AUGH!” Joust fell to the floor in dramatic fashion. Even if he wasn’t actually hurt, he had to sell it like he was.

“Kozmo!”

The chipmunk-girl rushed onto the scene, complete with her own story-appropriate costume.

“Oh no, you’re wounded!”

“He got me where I least expected it! Quickly, look into your mage-tome for healing spells!”

Kozmo flipped through the pages of her tome— in reality, her wilderness book— until she found a page about treating an open wound.

Kozmo showed Joust the page; “Here! Spell of Gauze-ian Wrapped”.

“Perfect! Now, do your magic!”

Just as Kozmo was about to recite the incantation, her book was suddenly ripped from her fingers!

“No”!, she cried out.

Lil’ Devil scampered off, now with two valuable items in tow.

“Without my mage’s tome, I can’t perform any spells!”

“…and I am too weak to fight!”, Joust added.

“WHO CAN STOP THAT MENACE?”, the both of them yelled.

Lil Devil looked, back smiling “evilly”…and was completely unaware of the green puddle that appeared right in front of him. As soon as he stepped in it, Lil’ Devil was stuck in place.

Dropping the book and crown, Lil’ Devil began pulling at his leg, hoping to free himself from the trap. Suddenly, the puddle began to move— and a humanoid figure emerged!

“Sorry bud, your reign of terror is up!”

Slime Streak threw the book and crown away from Lil’ Devil, who fruitlessly tried to go after it.

“It’s an eternity of chores for you!”.

Lil’ Devil sighed sadly, crossing his arms as he was pulled back to the “castle”— really, the birthday pavilion.

Kozmo spotted the valuables flying towards her and Joust; “My book, and the crown!” She reached out as far as she could, catching her “tome” in her arms.

The crown…would land right on the concrete, splitting in two.

“I was hoping to catch both of them. W-we can fix it, right?”

The crown— now covered in sparkly duck tape— rested on the head of it’s rightful owner.

“Oh Sandy, Queen of the Atoll Kingdom, we have succeeded in retrieving your crown! While I graciously put my health on the line when facing the devil-child, Kozmo’s intellect and magical prowess was the reason why I was able to find him!”

Slime Streak walked over to Joust and Kozmo, standing proudly.

“Of course, we wouldn’t have been able to subdue LDC and retrieve our stolen items without Nicky’s help. though I was put off by their slimy green skin, I learned that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover”.

“Oh, what wondrous news; With the evil vanquished, my kingdom is peaceful once more!”

Sandy stood up from their “throne”, retrieving a plastic chest they had hidden behind it.

“I must reward you handsomely— here!”

They opened the chest, revealing what goods lay within.

“Take as many SpongeBob fruit snacks as you want!”

Within seconds, the chest had been emptied. As the trio began reaping their reward, Lil’ Devil shuffled over, sitting next to Slime Streak with his own stash of SpongeBob fruit snacks.

Sandy sighed happily.

“I’m so glad we’re friends”.

Shellraiser bowed upon seeing his sibling in-person for the first time in years.

“I am always honored to be in your presence”.

“And I am honored to have been given the opportunity to see you standing before me”, Takabisha responded.

“I understand there was something you wanted to show me”.

“Yes. Though I have many fun events planned…”

Do-Dodonpa’s loop stood tall, awaiting its final resting place.

“…we must take the time to honor those who have left us”.

Situated near Eejanaika was a mural of Fuji-Q’s coaster lineup, past and present. In front of Do-Dodonpa’s was the lead car of its blue train.

Shellraiser took a sponge from the bucket, cleaning off the outer shell; it would shine in the sun once he was done.

Takabisha placed a bundle of incense next to the wheel assembly, wafting a strawberry scent into the surrounding area. A bouquet of white chrysanthemums was laid on one of the front seats.

Shellraiser scooped water into his ladle, gently pouring it over the front of the car.

Takabisha and Shellraiser crouched down, holding their hands up in prayer.

“May Do-Dodonpa’s kindness be honored by those who remember, and may the coaster who settles upon their land carry on their legacy…”

Festive music echoed through the halls of the American Dream Mall, as no time was wasted in transforming it into the holiday shopping destination. Trees were abundant, lights twinkled above every storefront, and Santa was getting ready to open his ears to those who desired to let him know what they wanted under the tree this year.

For the resident Coasterdroids of Nickelodeon Universe, things were no different.

Shredder climbed up the ladder, mistletoe in hand. She had done this every year since the park had opened— but she now had someone who was willing to honor the tradition that it represented.

Just as she was about to hang the mistletoe up…she felt something brush against her cheek.

Timmy had made her way up the ladder, planting a kiss on Shredder— who just so happened to be holding the mistletoe above their heads.

They giggled, Shredder returning the favor with a quick kiss on Timmy’s forehead.

Shellraiser had spent all afternoon setting up and decorating the tree. Though he had a couple of ornaments he liked (and some he was…less fond of, like the mooning Santa that Timmy had purchased as a gag gift two Christmas-es ago), there was one ornament that stood above the rest— literally, as he had left a space just below their tree topper, which was a homemade clay model of Patrick Star.

It was a small frame, containing a group photo and a personalized message;

“Our first Christmas together”.

“…a ukulele songbook, a sandwich press, a new purse, a cat—or dog, one of those big bubble wands, a conveyor belt sushi place to open at this mall…Oh! And I want a new coaster here, maybe something small like a Zamperla mini mouse or SBF spinner so I’m not the “baby” anymore…”

“Woah, slow down!” Sandy advised. “Santa’s gotta give presents to other kids too, you know”.

“Yeah, you’re right. I still hope we get a new coaster here eventually”.

“I’d welcome it!”

“Hey, Sandy…what do you want for Christmas this year?”

Sandy pondered for a moment.

“I…actually haven’t thought about it”.

“Woah, really? You’ve always wanted things for Christmas, Sandy! A lot of things!

“Yeah, I have— mostly Spongebob merch, of course. But…when I was stuck in that void, all alone…I wanted nothing more than to be someone else”.

“Oh…that’s not good”.

“It wasn’t, even if I thought it was at the time”.

“But you aren’t thinking like that anymore, right?”

Sandy shook their head; “No”.

“‘Cuz I like that you’re Sandy, and so do you!”

Sandy smiles.

“Yep. And after all the things I’ve been through…I think I already have everything I want”.

[techycatartist]

Medusa was sprawled out on one of the couches that adorned what used to be one of Great Adventure’s sit-down restaurants, “Best of the West”.

Even with B&M’s track-record for reliability, it wasn’t impossible for their coasters to go down for the day. There are a multitude of technical issues that could be responsible for a day-long closure, such as the one that Medusa’s coaster experienced that Thursday.

But then one day turned into two, which turned into three, which turned into a week.

Medusa should’ve suspected something was up when he woke up the next day with flu-like symptoms. Fortunately, it wasn’t contagious— but it was likely to persist until his coaster re-opened.

Not wanting to be held up in his apartment the whole day (but also not wanting to deal with the blistering summer heat), Medusa found refuge in the so-called “VIP Lounge”.

A beanbag flew over Medusa’s head, landing just in front of a cornhole board.

“Hey. I know this is fun for you and all but…could you move behind me? I don’t want to get nailed in the face, and I don’t think you want to have snot all over that beanbag”.

Lil’ Devil gently returned to the ground, still holding a beanbag. He looked at Medusa with curiosity.

“What happened?”

“Nothing, it’s just that the last beanbag you through got really close to my-“

“To you. To you?”

“Oh? To me. I’m sick. I’ve been sick since last Thursday. My coaster’s been down for over a week, and I have no idea why. I think you know how that feels”.

Lil’ Devil nodded. His coaster was one of the dozen that wasn’t ready in time for Opening Day— but even as the others returned, Lil’ Devil’s coaster sat still with no given explanation as to why. During this period, Lil’ Devil fell ill; while nothing too severe, the symptoms would ebb and flow in their intensity depending on the day. It wouldn’t be until Ka’s coaster re-opened from it’s most recent mechanical issue that Lil’ Devil’s coaster finally opened for the season— and his symptoms vanished soon after.

“Not much I can do about that. Though I would appreciate if you moved behind the couch”.

Lil’ Devil wordlessly flew over Medusa, touching down briefly to push the cornhole board away from him before Lil’ Devil went airborne again.

Medusa looked up at the ceiling.

“Is this the universe’s way of telling me I was too hard on Great Adventure? I get it, I should be glad that I got to operate for another season and this park’s reaching the big 5-0 next year, but…this park could be so much better. So, so much better. I don’t know who on the business side of things isn’t giving a shit, but maybe if I could threaten to turn them into stone it’d be enough to convince them to invest in this park”, he thought.

Medusa turned over, now lying on his stomach.

“Like, it’s good that the Skyride’s still around, but they’re only running one side of it. Not sure if that’s a staffing thing or a maintenance thing, maybe both. Whatever it is, Great Adventure needs more. More money, more people, more resources. But I can’t do anything about it. I’m just a Coasterdroid. Who happens to live here, and sees all the shit they neglect, and notices how the crowds are unusually light for the summer, and knows how nice Fiesta Texas is because their park president actually CARES, and remembers how Great Adventure is SUPPOSED to be one of the chain’s most profitable parks…”

His face scrunched up in frustration, consumed by this chain of thoughts.

“So why the fuck isn’t Great Adventure treated like it is?”

Medusa lets out a groan, then sneezes.

“…Great. Nearly got it all over the pillows”.

Medusa locates the nearest sink, washing his arm clean. Just as he turns the water off, Medusa picks up a faint sound; a brief musical chime. Before he could question it, Medusa heard it again.

Medusa returned to the couch to find his phone’s lock screen populated with texts. Unlocking his phone, Medusa tapped his way to the group chat that was the source of these messages.

“There’s a whole cluster of markers near the security gates”.

A picture was attached to this message. It was a close-up of the sidewalk, with the image of a white triangle with a red dot in the center prominent. Under this symbol was a string of letters and numbers— “CED 05”.

“Strange. Why would they place markers in front of the security gates? The ticket booths are what needs updating now”.

“That’s what I was thinking. Maybe it’s something else. Something bigger”.

“Could explain the surveying thing near Cyborg”.

“It’s about time they did something with that area. Once Old Country shut down, they pretended that nothing was ever there”.

Medusa couldn’t help but be amused at the timing— even if it wasn’t a new coaster, the presence of markers were a sign that something was happening.

Still, Medusa had his doubts that it would be anything substantial. He typed out a two-part response;

“I think it’s too early to tell”.

“But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep an eye on it”.

[techycatartist]

Medusa glanced at her coaster, still sitting idly. Runaway Mine Train stood beside them.

“Two weeks until this area of the park re-opens… at least, that’s what we’ve been told will happen”.

“I’m sure the park will have found enough staff by then. Memorial Day weekend has always been a big time for us, and all those students and international workers would’ve been ready to work”.

“And Opening Day isn’t?”

“No, but the humans should know to not expect everything to be open”.

“Yeah, but that’s to things like food stands and park entertainment. Not what amounts to basically half the coaster line-up. What was different this year? This park has been through economic resessions, tourism crashes, parent company bankruptcy, managerial shifts, and a global pandemic. Out of the 49 seasons Great Adventure has been open…why is this the first time the park has done something like this?”

Medusa was hurt by the park’s decision not to open her coaster in time for opening day. To tout her coaster around one season as a “new experience” only to push its opening back because it was seemingly “unimportant” felt like betrayal.

“Never once has this park felt so incompetent”.

“But we’re getting better as the season goes on. Is that not a sign of things to come?”

Medusa looks at Runaway Mine Train.

“Sure, if you believe it”.

“Then maybe you should start believing in our future. Our 50th anniversary is next year, and I hope that this park will continue to operate for another half-century”.

Medusa thinks about RMT’s advice.

“I guess if the park bothered to refurbish my coaster in the first place, they still think I have some merit. That goes for all of us, since everyone’s still here after the off-season. But I guess it could be a lot worse, for all of us. I’m glad to have stuck around— and for everyone to have stuck around with me”.

Toro’s coaster sits ildly.

“…And despite all my grievances, I’m not in the least-favorable situation around here”.

[techycatartist]

None of the Coasterdroids of Great Adventure are happy to hear the news that the entire “Frontier Adventures” section of the park will be closed off until Memorial Day, but (understandably), Medusa takes it the worst out of all of them;

“Oh. Memorial Day. Nearly a whole two months after we open for the season. I get it”.

Medusa glances at the informational sign placed on the recently-added fence.

“You repaint my coaster, give it a backstory that actually fits the area of the park, fix it all up nicely and proudly promote it as a “new” attraction…and then I’m back to being sidelined and forgotten. So much so that you can’t even bother to open me on time— not for maintenance reasons, but because it’s too much effort for something so inconsequential to the park’s sucess…”

Medusa turns around and begins to walk away.

“I’m going to the Arboretum, if anyone cares. Might as well take some pictures of what’s there, because it’s only a matter of time before those photographs are all that’s left of it…”

[techycatartist]

First post of the new year, and the first of the “Alternate Universe” designs I drew for some of my SFGAd coaster personifications! Today we have Medusa “2.0” as Medusa— or more accurately, Medusa with their coaster’s original lime/purple color scheme. This design was mostly just a simple palette swap, with the sole new addition being the grape and vines around their elbows. Also threw in a ball python for fun because snakes are good :3 This design does make me wish Medusa kept its OG colors, not the biggest fan of the burnt orange/green lol.

But that’s not all! I also have a whole document that goes into the AUs that these designs come from (and more!) You can find it via the link below;

(Also, a small disclaimer; I used the Photoshop Express app’s “heal" feature to remove some noticeable pencil marks from the drawing. Outside of that, the drawing is unchanged.)