ANTENNAE ii
"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."
Karen tried to smile, but it came out as a wobbly line. "What do you mean by 'vulnerable'?" Tentacla asked, her curiosity piqued.
"It's just... Plankton is always so... so... Plankton," Karen said, her tentacles fluttering. "He's always scheming, always planning, always looking for the next big thing. To see him like this, it's just..." She trailed off, unable to find the right words.
Tentacla nodded, her eyes kind. "I know it's hard to see someone you love in pain, but you're doing the right thing by being here for him." She paused for a moment, then asked, "What's the usual setup at the Chum Bucket?"
Karen took a deep breath and began to explain. "Well, Plankton has his own little lab," she said, her voice distant, as if recounting a story from a fairy tale. "It's filled with all sorts of contraptions and gadgets. He spends most of his time there, working on his latest invention or plotting his next move against Mr. Krabs." She paused, a sad smile playing on her lips. "He's so driven, you know? Sometimes I think he forgets to take care of himself in the process."
Tentacla nodded, her tentacles curling around a clipboard. "It sounds like he's quite the innovator."
"Oh, he is," Karen said, her LED eyes lighting up with pride. "He's so clever, always coming up with new ways to outdo Mr. Krabs. But sometimes, I worry about him. He pushes himself too hard, and now..." She gestured towards the surgery room with a sad sigh.
Tentacla nodded understandingly. "I'm sure he'll be back to his usual self in no time," she said, offering a comforting smile. "But tell me, what's it like at the Chum Bucket?"
Karen's eyes lit up as she described their life together. "It's a small place, but it's home," she began. "Plankton has his own lab in the back, where he keeps all his secret formulas and gadgets. It's like a miniature version of the Krabby Patty factory, but with a lot more nefarious purposes." She chuckled, the sound bubbling through the water. "His bed is just a tiny plank of wood, but he says it's all he needs for his big brain to rest."
Tentacla listened intently, her tentacles scribbling notes on the clipboard. "And what about the accident?" she prompted gently. "How did that happen?"
Karen sighed, her screen drifting to the floor. "It was one of his Krabby Patty schemes," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of exasperation and affection. "Plankton was trying to sneak into the Krusty Krab again. He's always looking for that perfect formula, you know? Anyway, he tripped over a loose rock, and..." Her tentacles mimed the snapping motion of Plankton's antenna. "It just broke right off."
Tentacla winced in sympathy. "Ouch," she murmured, her tentacles shaking their heads. "And here I thought the worst part of my job was dealing with jellyfish stings."
Karen couldn't help but chuckle, despite the gravity of the situation. "Yes, Plankton's life is a bit... unconventional," she said, her tentacles wrapping around a strand of seaweed that had snagged on the chair. "But he loves it. He's got his computer lab in the corner, where I help him with his plans and calculations. And then there's the kitchen. It's a mess, but it's his mess, and he can whip up a mean bowl of chum in no time."
Tentacla nodded, her tentacles scribbling away. "And your living arrangements?"
"Ah, yes," Karen said, her eyes brightening. "We live in the Chum Bucket. It's compact, but it's got everything we need. A kitchenette for when Plankton needs a midnight snack, a mini lab for my own projects, and a bedroom that's just big enough for the two of us. It's not much, but it's ours."
Tentacla jotted down more notes. "So, you'll want to recreate that cozy environment for him when he wakes up," she mused. "We'll dim the lights in the recovery room, keep the sounds low, and perhaps play some calming music. Anything specific he enjoys?"
Karen's tentacles fluttered with thought. "Plankton loves the sound of a bubbly cauldron," she said. "It's his favorite background noise when he's cooking up a new scheme. It's... comforting to him, I suppose."
Tentacla nodded, making a mental note. "I'll see what we can do about the soundscape," she said.
The surgery dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity to Karen. She watched the clock's second hand tick by, the steady movement a cruel reminder of Plankton's vulnerability. She clung to the thought that he'd soon be back to his usual self, cooking up schemes and concocting Krabby Patty knock-offs. But until then, she could only wait and hope.
Finally, the doctor emerged from the surgery room, a smile on his face. "The operation was a success," he announced, his fin rising in a reassuring gesture. "Plankton's antenna is as good as new."
Karen's LED eyes lit up with relief. "Can I see him?" she asked, her voice quivering with anticipation.
"Of course," Dr. Dolittlefish said, gesturing towards the recovery room.