Plankton found himself in a sticky situation. In his haste, he collided with a
submerged rock, and with a painful snap, one of his antennae broke dangling in half.
His computer wife Karen took him to a clinic. The receptionist, a kind octopus
named Tentacla, took his information and assured Dr. Dolittlefish would see him
shortly.
"Plankton?" Dr. Dolittlefish called out, his voice echoing through the room.
Plankton walked in, Karen trailing behind.
The doctor examined the fractured antenna. Plankton winced, feeling a sharp pain
as the doctor prods it gently. Dr. Dolittlefish chuckled, "We'll need to perform a
repair, and for that, you'll need a touch of anesthesia. It'll make you feel like
you're floating on a cloud.."
Plankton's one good antenna perked up with interest. "A magical elixir that will
put you into a state of deep relaxation," Dr. Dolittlefish explained, his eyes
twinkling behind his spectacles. "You'll be completely unaware of the surgery. We
give you a little dose to make you drowsy. It's like sinking into a warm, bubble
bath after a long day of plotting. Trust me, you'll wake up with a fixed antenna
and no memories of the procedure. It's like a nap that'll keep you unconscious and
pain-free throughout the operation. It's tailored for each patient, so you'll only
get what you need."
Turning to Karen, who had been quietly observing the exchange, the doctor said,
"Karen, if you have any concerns, feel free to ask. Your husband's safety is my top
priority. I'll be sure to take into account."
Karen sighed, her circuits whirring as she searched for the right words. "Well,
Plankton has always had trouble with deep sleep. He's a bit of a light sleeper, you
see. Even the slightest disturbance and he's up for the day. It's hard for him to
get to sleep."
The doctor nodded, scribbling more notes. "I see," he said thoughtfully. "That does
add a layer of complexity to the anesthesia. We'll need to be precise with the
dosage to ensure he remains asleep throughout the surgery without any complications.
We'll use the lightest touch possible and administer the anesthesia in a way that
minimizes discomfort."
Dr. Dolittlefish turned to Plankton. "Now, when you wake up, it'll be like coming
out of a delightful dream. You'll feel a bit groggy, like you've just emerged from
a particularly long nap. You might be a tad disoriented, but that's perfectly normal.
Your body will be feeling the effects of the medication wearing off, so it's crucial
that you rest for a while in our recovery area."
Plankton's eye searched Karen', looking for reassurance. She nodded firmly, gripping
his tiny hand. "You'll be okay, Plankton. I'll be right here."
The doctor nodded. "Karen, you can accompany him into the surgery room. But remember,
you'll have to go and stay outside once the actual procedure begins."
The next day, Plankton and Karen returned to the clinic, feeling a mix of anxiety
and hope. The lobby was filled with various sea creatures, all waiting for their
appointments with their own assortment of woes and ailments.
"Come on, Plankton," Karen urged, her voice steady. "You've got this."
Dr. Dolittlefish took his place at the head of the operating table, a serious look
on his face. "Alright, Plankton," he said, his voice steady, "It's time for the
anesthesia. This might feel a bit strange, but remember, it's just like drifting
off to sleep." With a flick of his fin, he administered the first dose through a
small tube connected to a bubble filled with the sedative.
The bubble popped, and Plankton felt a warm sensation spread through his body. It
started in his toes and traveled up to his antennae, making them feel weightless.
His eye grew heavier, and he couldn't help but let out a sigh. The room began to
spin gently, the sounds around him becoming muffled, like the distant hum of a
lullaby sung by the ocean currents. He felt himself sinking into the chair, the
cushions seemingly made of the softest sea foam.
"How do you feel?" Dr. Dolittlefish's voice was a comforting murmur.
"Woozy," Plankton slurred, his eyelid fluttering. The room was a blur of lights and
colors, like a kaleidoscope of bubbles. The pain in his antenna was fading, replaced
by a pleasant numbness.
Karen squeezed his hand tightly, her grip the only solid thing in his swirling world.
She watched him closely, her LED eyes full of worry. "It's ok, Plankton," she murmured.
"You're going to be fine."
The doctor nodded to her encouragement. "I want you to count backwards from one hundred
ok?"
Plankton, already feeling the warm embrace of the anesthesia, began his count with a lazy
sensation. "One hundred... ninety-nine... ninety-eight..." His voice grew softer with each
number, the digits slipping away like grains of sand through his tiny fingers. The world
around him grew fuzzy, like a TV show losing signal. The lights above looked like distant
stars, their brightness dimming as he descended into the abyss of unconsciousness.
"...eighty-four... eighty-three... eighty-two..." His eye now half-closed, the surgery room's
noises melding into a symphony of comforting whispers. The gentle sway of the seaweed outside
the clinic's windows seemed to be rocking him to sleep. His voice grew more faint, words slurring
together.
Karen watched him count, her gaze never leaving his face. She could feel his hand loosening
in hers, his grip becoming as light as a feather. Each number he uttered was a step closer
to the surgery that would hopefully restore his antenna to its former glory.
The count grew slower, like a snail on a leisurely stroll across the ocean floor.
His voice was a mere murmur, the words barely discernible. Karen could see his tiny chest rising
and falling in a slow, rhythmic pattern, his breathing growing deeper and more relaxed with each
passing moment.
The colors around them bled into one another, creating a dreamlike landscape. The lights
above danced like jellyfish in a moonlit lagoon, casting eerie shadows across the gleaming
surgical instruments. Plankton's eye fully closed now, his count barely a whisper.
Each word was a soft ripple in the vast ocean of sleep that was consuming him. The whirring of
the machines and the occasional splash of water seemed to fade into the background, replaced by
the steady rhythm of his breathing. Karen watched, her heart swelling with love and fear as she
listened to the dwindling numbers.
Plankton's voice was now a faint echo, his body going slack. The room was still, save for the
hypnotic pulse of the anesthesia bubbles and Plankton's shallow breaths. Karen held her own
breath, her screen never leaving his face.
His count grew quieter still, each number a soft, barely perceptible sigh. Karen felt the tension
in her limbs ease as she watched the lines of worry on Plankton's forehead smooth out. His sleep
was finally deep and peaceful, the anesthesia working its magic.
"Thirty-four... thirty-three..." His voice was a mere ripple in the vast sea of quiet that filled
the room. The last number slipped away, and Plankton's count stopped, his breathing deep and even.
Karen felt the weight of his hand in hers, a silent testament to his complete surrender to the
anesthesia's embrace. She watched Plankton's chest rise and fall with each steady breath, his body
utterly relaxed with his eye sealed shut slightly. The surgery room, once a cacophony of fear and
doubt, was now a sanctuary of peace, the only sounds the rhythmic beep of the heart monitor and
Plankton's soft snores.
The doctor nodded, satisfied with the sedation's effect. "Alright, Karen, he finally fell asleep," he
whispered, patting Plankton's shoulder. "Now, we'll proceed with the actual procedure."
Karen swallowed hard, nodding her head. She had never seen Plankton so vulnerable, but she knew this was
for the best. "I'll be right outside," she said, her voice wavering slightly. She leaned in and kissed
Plankton's forehead before letting go.
With a final squeeze of his hand, she reluctantly let go and went towards the door. The doctor nodded in
understanding, his eyes focused on the delicate task ahead. As the door slid shut with a soft hiss, Karen
found herself in the stark, sterile waiting room. The walls were lined with sea-themed art, an attempt to
provide comfort in a place filled with uncertainty and anxiety. She hovered over to the plush sea sponge chair,
the material reminding her of home.
Her tentacles wrapped around the phone, her movements deliberate and precise as she dialed the numbers. The first
call was to Spongebob, she knew he would want to know about the accident. The line rang, and she hoped he'd pick up.
"Karen?"
"Spongebob, it's about Plankton," she began, her voice trembling. "He's had an accident, and he's in surgery now."
"Oh no!" Sponge Bob exclaimed, his bubbly enthusiasm dimming. "Can I talk to Plankton during the surgery?"
"No, they put Plankton to sleep," Karen explained, her tentacles gripping the phone tightly. "But I'll let him know
you called as soon as he wakes up."
"Thank you, Karen," SpongeBob said, his voice filled with genuine concern. "Tell him I'm thinking of him."
The receptionist, Tentacla, noticed her distress and swam over. "Is everything okay?" she asked, her tentacles poised
to offer comfort or assistance.
"It's just... I've never seen him like this," Karen admitted, her voice wavering. "So... vulnerable."
Tentacla nodded sympathetically, her tentacles reaching out to pat Karen's arm. "It's tough, I know. But Dr.
Dolittlefish is the best in the business. Plankton's in good fins."