KAREN REACHING AUTISM pt. 13
(Autistic author)
ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ɪɴᴊᴜʀɪᴇꜱ
Plankton quivers. "Stop," he
whispers, his voice
a plea. "Please."
Mr. Krabs' grin
widens, eyes
glinting with cruel
delight. "Afraid
I'll do to you what
you deserve?"
Before Plankton can
respond, Mr. Krabs
punches at him with
his claw. Plankton
squeaks in pain, his eye widens
with terror, his voice
a distressed static. "No,
Mr. Krabs, please stop!"
Mr. Krabs' chuckles
turn into full-blown laughter.
"Look at him squirm,"
he says, his voice
a rumble. He
doesn't heed the tears
streaming down
Plankton's face.
Plankton's body
wrenches in pain,
his antennae sticking
straight out in alarm.
"Why?" he whispers,
his voice a broken
static.
Mr. Krabs' laughter
echoes. "Because
you're weak," he
sneers, his voice a
harsh grate. "Always have
been, always will be."
Plankton's body
shrinks, his antennae
drooping. "No," he
whimpers, his voice
a static plea.
Mr. Krabs' laughter
fills the room, his
claws still poised
for another strike.
"Look at the
tiny thief," he says,
his voice a cruel
cackle, "so scared of
a little pain."
Without warning,
his claw swings down,
connecting with Plankton's
thin leg, and
Plankton's scream pierces
the air, his voice
a shattered static.
Pain shoots through
his body like lightning,
his leg feeling like
it's on fire. He tries
to pull away.
"Mr. Krabs," he gasps,
his voice a desperate
whine.
Mr. Krabs' laughter
continues, unabated by
Plankton's cries. "See?
You're just a tiny,
weak little creature,"
he says, his voice a
malicious cackle.
Plankton's screams
fill the room, the
pain in his leg
unbearable. "No," he
whispers, his voice a
static moan. "No more."
Mr. Krabs' laughter
doesn't waver, his
claws still poised
for another strike. "Oh,
poor Plankton," he
sneers, his voice a
harsh static.
Plankton's body
writhes in pain, his
leg twisted at an
impossible angle
as Sandy and Karen
return.
Sandy's eyes widen
in horror, her voice
a shocked rumble. "Mr.
Krabs, what are you
doing?" she asks,
as Karen rushed to
Plankton.
Mr. Krabs' grin
doesn't falter. "Teaching
a lesson," he says, his
voice a cruel crackle
as he finally leaves.
Sandy's face is a
picture of horror, her
voice a trembling
trill. "What did he
do to you?" she asks,
her eyes on Plankton's
twisted leg.
Karen's screens
flicker with rage, her
beeps sharp. "That monster!"
she says, her voice
filled with fury. She
quickly assesses the
damage.
Plankton's leg is
twisted grotesquely, his
tiny body trembling
with pain. Sandy's
hands hover over
his body, unsure how
to help without causing
more distress.
Sandy nods, her
face pale with shock.
"I'll get SpongeBob,"
she says, her voice
a trembling trill. She
runs to the phone,
dialing with trembling
fingers. "Sponge Bob,
please come quick," she
says, her voice a
desperate hum.
While Sandy is on the
phone, Karen's screens
flicker with medical
information. She
quickly assembles a
makeshift splint for
Plankton's leg, her
beeps a frantic
symphony of care
as SpongeBob arrives.
His eyes are wide with
concern, his voice
a panicked squeak. "What
happened, Plankton?" he
asks, his eyes
damp with unshed
tears. But Plankton's eye
had rolled up in his head.
Sandy's voice is
shaky as she tells
Sponge Bob the
story, her eyes
never leaving
Plankton's trembling
body. "Mr. Krabs... he
was so cruel," she says,
her voice a soft
whisper of disbelief.
Sponge Bob's face
twists with anger.
"Why would he do
this?" he asks, his
voice a strained
whine. "First causing
brain damage, and now..."
Karen's screens
glow with determination.
"We'll deal with
Mr. Krabs later," she
beeps. "First, we need
to get Plankton help."
Sponge Bob nods,
his eyes wide with
fear. "What can we
do?" he asks, his
voice a choked whisper.
Karen's screens
flicker with
information. "His
leg is broken, and
his sensory overload
could be severe."
Sponge Bob's
face falls, his voice
a sad squeak. "Oh no,
Plankton." He gently
picks up his friend,
his touch as soft as
a feather.
Sandy watches,
her eyes wide
with fear. "What
now?" she asks,
her voice a trembling
trill.
"We can't just take
him like this to a
regular hospital. We'll
have to be careful
not to overwhelm
his senses, and find
medical help equipped
for neurodivergent
people like Plankton."
SpongeBob speaks up.
"I was born with a mild
form of idiopathic Autism.
Different from Plankton's
I know, but my parents
have taken me to a
sensory-friendly clinic. They
are skilled and have lots
of different methods of
medicine! It's called
the Quiet Bubble Clinic!"
Sandy nods, her eyes
filling with hope. "That
sounds perfect," she says,
her voice a gentle
hum. "Let's take him
there."
Karen's screens
pulse with agreement.
"Good thinking, Sponge
Bob," she beeps. "We'll
have to be careful,
though. Any loud
noises or sudden
movements could trigger
another meltdown."
Sponge Bob nods,
his grip on Plankton
steady. "Sandy can drive,"
he says, his voice
determined. "We'll get
you to the Quiet
Bubble Clinic, buddy."