PATRICK PLANKTON 1/4
(NEURODIVERGENT AUTHOR)
Patrick went in the Chum Bucket
where Plankton lives with Karen.
"Welcome to the Chum Bucket
Patrick," Karen called out.
Patrick waved back, eyes lighting up
at the sight of the various contraptions
and inventions that lined the walls. He
always found Plankton's fascinating, a
stark contrast to the bright and bustling
SpongeBob's pineapple house. The Chum
Bucket was like a treasure trove of mysteries
waiting to be uncovered, and Patrick loved a
good mystery.
He wandered further into the lab, his footsteps
echoing off the metal floors, each step revealing
more of Plankton's ingenious creations. Suddenly
he spotted a tiny figure hunched over a book on a
couch. It was Plankton, his single eyeball glued to
the pages, oblivious to the world around him. The
book's title, "101 Ways to Steal the Krabby Patty
Secret Formula," was barely visible under a thick
layer of dust.
"Hey, Plankton!" Patrick bellowed, his voice
booming like a foghorn in the small, cluttered
space. The sudden noise caused Plankton to
jump, sending his book flying into the air. "What
are you reading?"
Karen, who had been quietly watching the scene
unfold from her desk, couldn't help but notice that
Plankton had not moved a muscle since the book
flew from his grasp. His body remained rigid, his
eyeball unblinking. Concern crept into her voice
as she called out to him, "Plankton, are you ok?"
The tiny villain didn't respond, his expression frozen
in a silent scream. Patrick looked around, puzzled.
"Is he playing a game?" he asked, his tone hinting
at the innocent curiosity that often got him into trouble.
Karen recognized immediately went to
the couch and sat by Plankton, Patrick not
knowing what's happening.
Karen's gaze fell upon Plankton's unblinking
eye and she knew instantly what was wrong.
He was in a state of sensory overload. She
had seen it happen before, though Patrick
hasn't. She gently touched his shoulder, trying
to coax him back to reality.
"Plankton, sweetiep," she cooed.
Patrick's puzzled expression grew
more concerned as he took in
Plankton's unresponsive state. "What
happened to him, Karen?" he asked, his
voice quieter now, a hint of worry in his tone.
"It's his sensory shutdown, Patrick," Karen
explained softly, stroking Plankton's arm
gently. "It's like his brain got too full of
thoughts and had to take a little break. It's
ok, he'll be fine."
She knew this was something he'd have to
come out of on his own. She had been there
for him countless times before, each
instance more terrifying than the last, but she
had learned patience was key.
Patrick, still not fully grasping the situation, knelt
beside the couch. He leaned in closer to Plankton
nearly touching the little plankton's face. "Hey buddy
you ok?" he asked, his voice now a gentle whisper.
Karen put a hand on Patrick's arm, gently guiding him back.
"Just give him some space, Patrick," she instructed.
"He'll come around. This happens when he's really
stressed or overwhelmed."
Patrick nodded slowly, his eyes still glued to his friend.
He didn't fully understand, but he knew that Karen knew
what she was talking about. He stepped back, allowing
Karen to continue her soothing whispers to Plankton.
The room grew quiet, save for the rhythmic ticking of a
clock that had long ago lost track of time and the soft
hum of machines in the background. The tension in the
air was palpable, as if it too was holding its breath,
waiting for Plankton to snap out of his frozen state.
"You can do it, Plankton," she encouraged. "Just breathe."
Plankton's body slowly relaxed, and his eye blinked, finally
coming back into focus. He looked around, bewildered, as
if he had just woken from a particularly vivid nightmare.
"Karen?" he croaked, his voice weak and trembling.
"I'm here, Plankton," she said, her hand still resting on
his arm. "You had another shutdown, but it's over now."
His eye narrowed on Patrick, who was now standing
awkwardly by the couch.
"What?" Plankton snapped.
Patrick's eyes widened. "I-I just want to
see what was wrong," he stuttered.
"Well, nothing's wrong with me!" Plankton spat
pushing himself up from the couch.
"But you were just..." Patrick started to protest.
"I said there's nothing wrong!"
Patrick took a step back. "But..."
"Just leave me alone!" Plankton shouted, echoing
off the cold metal walls.
Patrick's smile faded, and he looked down. He hadn't
meant to upset his friend, but he couldn't help but feel
confused and hurt by Plankton's sudden outburst.
"I-I'm sorry, Plankton," he murmured. "I didn't mean to...
I just..."
"You just what?" Plankton cut him off, antennae quivering
with irritation. "You just don't know to mind your business
do you?"
"But I just..."
"I said leave me alone!" Plankton barked again, his
tiny frame shaking with anger.
Patrick took another step back, his eyes brimming
with confusion. "Plankton..."
"What part of 'leave me alone' don't you understand?"
Plankton retorted.
Patrick's eyes searched the room, desperate to find
something to say or do that would fix the situation.
The air grew thick with the tension of Plankton's
frustration and Patrick's fear of losing a friendship
he had worked hard to maintain despite their
many differences.
"I just..." he began again, his voice trailing off as
he tried to find the right words.
"What is it?" Plankton snarled, impatience
growing with each passing second.
Patrick took a deep breath, trying to compose
his thoughts. "I just wanted to make sure you
were ok because I don't know what's wrong with
you," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Wrong with me?" Plankton's voice grew louder,
his tiny fists clenching at his sides. "You think
there's something wrong with me?!"
Patrick took another step back, his eyes never
leaving Plankton's furious gaze. "Well, you know
you were just sitting there, not moving..."
"It's none of your business!" Plankton yelled, his
antennae quivering with rage. "What's it to you anyway?"
Karen, who had been watching the exchange
with a growing sense of unease, knew that
she had to intervene. She could see the hurt
in Patrick's eyes and the turmoil within Plankton's,
and she knew that their friendship was hanging
by a thread. Carefully, she stood up from her chair
and approached the two, her movements deliberate
and calming.
"Plankton, honey, let's not get too worked up," she said
placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Patrick
didn't mean any harm. He's just worried about you."
Patrick nodded emphatically, his hands raised in a
gesture of peace. "Yeah, buddy, I just want to help."
But Plankton's anger didn't subside. "You don't get it
do you? I don't need your help, or your pity. I just want
you to leave me alone!"
Karen's gaze softened as she looked at her husband.
"Patrick, I know you mean well, but sometimes
Plankton needs his space."
Patrick's eyes darted from Karen to Plankton, his confusion
now mixed with a hint of sadness. "But, I thought..."
Karen stepped between them, her eyes filled
with understanding. "Patrick, sometimes Plankton
just needs a moment." She turned to Plankton, her
voice firm but gentle. "And Plankton, you know
Patrick only wants to be there for you."
Plankton's eye narrowed, but he didn't argue. He
just nodded curtly, embracing her hand.
"Ok," Patrick murmured, his voice heavy
with disappointment.
"Look, Patrick," Karen said, her voice measured
and soothing, "Plankton's got a condition."
Karen turns to Plankton as Patrick comes back
by them. "Plankton, may you explain to Patrick?"
Plankton let out a heavy sigh, his tiny shoulders
rising and falling dramatically. Patrick's expression
grew more concerned, his pink star-shaped body
inching closer to the couple. "Plankton, don't be scared.."
"I'm not scared!" Plankton barked, his antennae
shooting straight up. "I just don't need you poking in
to my business!"
Patrick's eyes grew wide, and he took a tentative
step back. "But..."
"But nothing!" Plankton spat, curling inward to Karen.
"I don't need your help, I don't need your pity, and I
certainly don't need you treating me like some sort
of lab experiment!"
Ignoring the barb, Patrick took a step closer, his
tentacles reaching out to pat Plankton's shoulder.
It was a gesture of comfort he'd seen SpongeBob
use countless times, and it had always worked to
soothe his frayed nerves.
But as soon as his hand made contact, Plankton
flinched violently, as if he'd been scalded. "Don't
touch me!" he yelled, shoving Patrick's hand away.
Patrick's eyes went wide, and he took a hasty step
back, his tentacles retreating into his body. "I'm
sorry, Plankton," he stammered, his voice full of
genuine remorse. "I didn't mean to..."