"Hi, my boss Mr. Krabs told me I need to
work on my people skills and to volunteer.."
SpongeBob says in the surgery room before
recognizing Plankton and Karen.
Plankton lay on
the operating
table, a small tube
delivering medicine that kept
him asleep. Karen sat by him.
"Plankton‽"
"Plankton's had his
wisdom teeth removed."
She glanced at the sleeping
Plankton with affection.
Sponge Bob leaned closer.
He poked Plankton gently.
"Hey, Plankton; wake up, buddy!"
No response. Plankton's
breathing remained slow
and even, the rhythm
unchanged by Sponge
Bob's nudges. Karen's
robotic hand shot up to
stop Sponge Bob's poking.
"He's not going to wake up
anytime soon, Sponge Bob.
The anesthesia will wear off
in a couple of hours," she
explained in her usual monotone.
Sponge Bob's bubbly demeanor
deflated a bit. He had never seen
Plankton so... peaceful. Usually
the tiny villain was full of mischief
and plotting his next Krabby Patty heist.
But the sight of his arch-nemesis
helpless and snoring?
"Karen, do you think a little light chat
would help him wake up?"
"Sponge Bob, the purpose of
anesthesia is to keep him
unconscious during surgery
and ensure a painless recovery.
Your efforts are futile."
Undeterred, Sponge Bob leaned in closer.
"Come on, Plankton. Time to wakey-wakey!"
He waved his hands in front of Plankton's face,
creating a gentle breeze that tickled his antennae.
Still, Plankton remained steadfast in his slumber,
oblivious to the world around him.
Karen sighed again, the closest she ever got to
expressing exasperation. "As I said, Sponge Bob,
he's under the effects of anesthesia. There's
nothing you can do to wake him up." She went
back to reading her magazine, the glow from her
screen casting a soft blue light on her metallic features.
Sponge Bob studied Plankton's sleeping features. His
mouth was open just enough to reveal his top row of
teeth, and Sponge Bob had to stifle a giggle when a
small bubble of drool formed at the corner of his mouth.
"You know," he mused aloud, "I never realized
Plankton had such a... cute snoring sound."
The statement hung in the air, and even the
normally stoic Karen couldn't resist cracking a
smile. "Cute is hardly the word I'd use," she
murmured, but the warmth in her voice belied
the affection she had for her partner.
Sponge Bob's curiosity grew as he continued to
gaze at the unconscious Plankton. He'd seen
him in various states before—angry, plotting
and occasionally defeated—but never so vulnerable.
The sight was strange yet fascinating. He reached
out and carefully wiped away the drool. Plankton's
head lolled to the side, but he remained asleep.
SpongeBob put his head back up on a pillow.
Plankton's snores grew quieter as his head settled
into the cushioned embrace.
"Don't worry, Plankton," he whispered, patting the
villain's arm gently. "I'll watch over you."
Sponge Bob's curiosity grew stronger as he watched
the drool form at the side of Plankton's mouth. He
leaned in closer, studying the phenomenon. He'd
never noticed Plankton drool before.
"It's like a tiny river," he said
to himself.
What would happen if he tried to touch it? He tapped
it lightly. It wobbled, bulging slightly before collapsing
back into its original state.
He poked the drool again. This time, it grew slightly larger
before popping, leaving a tiny, wet splatter on the pillow.
Plankton's snores grew louder for a moment, but didn't stir.
Sponge Bob couldn't resist a grin spreading across his face.
"Looks like he's enjoying his nap," he whispered to Karen
who remained engrossed in her magazine. The drool was
fascinating—like a living organism, pulsating with
every one of Plankton's breaths.
He poked it again, gently this time. The drool grew larger, stretching
out like a bubble of gum. It was almost mesmerizing. "I wonder if
I can make it pop," he thought, eyes gleaming with child-like excitement.
Slowly, Sponge Bob poked the drool bubble once more. It grew to
the size of a marble before it burst with a tiny splat, splattering on
to the pillow. Plankton's snoring remained undisturbed.
Sponge Bob could see the light from the ceiling reflecting off
the droplet's surface. He waited, the anticipation building, eyes
fixed on the wobbling mass.
At the last second, he poked it. The bubble popped with a sound
that echoed through the quiet room. Plankton's snore caught in
his throat for a split second, then resumed with renewed vigor.
The splatter was more substantial
this time, leaving a wet spot on the pillow.
The sudden noise made Karen look up from her magazine.
"What on earth are you doing, Sponge Bob?" she asked, voice
a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"Just... science," Sponge Bob said, his grin unabated. "I'm studying
Plankton's snoring pattern... and drool."
Karen rolled her digital eyes. "Fine. Just don't wake him. And
for the love of Krabby Patties, please don't make a mess." She
returned her focus to her magazine, seemingly unfazed by the
sight of her arch-enemy playing with drool.
Sponge Bob nodded solemnly, his eyes lighting up with newfound
purpose. He decided to be more strategic in his scientific endeavor.
He would need precision and timing.
The drool bubble grew again, this time larger and more robust.
Sponge Bob waited, his heart beating faster with every pulse of
Plankton's snore. He took a deep breath, held it, and at the peak
of the snore's crescendo, poked the bubble with a controlled flick.
It exploded with a sound like a miniature water balloon, splattering
across Plankton's cheek. The pillow was now a Jackson Pollock
canvas of drool. Plankton's snoring hitched but he didn't wake.
"Oops," Sponge Bob whispered, giggling quietly. He reached for a near
by tissue to clean up the mess, his eyes glancing nervously at Karen.
She peeked over her magazine, the corners of
her robotic mouth curving upward slightly.
"If you're going to play, at least be tidy,"
she said, voice a blend of reprimand
and amusement.
Sponge Bob nodded, eyes sparkling
with mischief. "Of course, Karen," he
whispered back, dabbing at Plankton's
cheek with the tissue. The drool
was sticky and clung to the fabric
but Sponge Bob managed to clean
when Plankton's snoring hitched.
This time, Plankton's eyes opened a crack,
his single eyelid revealing a sliver of his iris
before dropping shut again.
"What's going on?" he mumbled sleepily.
Sponge Bob froze, tissue in mid-air. "Oh
nothing," he said quickly, trying to sound
nonchalant. "Just admiring your snoring."
Plankton's eyelid quivered but remained shut.
"Mmph." His mouth moved around the word.
"Don't worry, buddy," Sponge Bob said softly
patting Plankton's arm. "You're just resting.
Nothing to worry about."
The half-awake Plankton mumbled something
unintelligible, and Sponge Bob took it as a sign
to back off. He retreated to his chair, watching
as Karen put down her magazine and began
to fuss over Plankton, checking his
vitals and making sure he was comfortable.
For once, he wasn't at odds with Plankton.