absolute infinty 🅱

1/2 MOVING ON ➪ғᴇᴀʀ ᴏғ ᴅʏɪɴɢ. "Honey, you forgot your phone!" Karen yelled. The door slammed shut. Karen sighed, setting the phone down on the kitchen counter. Plankton had been more obsessed with his latest scheme than usual these past few days, and it was starting to wear on her. Her thoughts drifted to the time before they were married, when his ambition had been endearing, not exhausting. They had met in college, where Plankton's mind for science had been as vast as the ocean. Back then, his inventions had been quirky little gadgets that never quite worked out as planned. But now, as he chased after Mr. Krabs' secret recipe, his obsession had become all-consuming.. Suddenly, Karen saw a flash of light from the direction of the Krusty Krab, she dashed out the door, and she raced to the chaos, and as she approached, she saw the exploding contraption hit his head. "Plankton!" she screamed, but it was too late. He lay motionless as she sprinted, fear coiling around her. She knelt beside his tiny frame, her hands shaking as she felt for a pulse. The Krabby Patty formula could wait. Her husband's life couldn't. With trembling fingers, she dialed the emergency number, her voice shaky as she relayed the situation. Sirens grew louder, piercing the stillness of the night. When the medics arrived, they worked swiftly, their movements a blur of efficiency. Karen hovered nearby, her screen never leaving her husband's face. They loaded him onto the stretcher, Karen going in with him. The hospital was a stark contrast to the colorful underwater world she knew. The doctor's expression was grave as he explained that Plankton was in a coma. "We're doing everything we can," he assured her, but his words offered little comfort. Karen sat by Plankton's bed, her hand tightly gripping his. The machine beside them beeped a steady rhythm, a grim reminder of his condition. The door to the room squeaked open, and in waddled SpongeBob Square Pants, looking out of place in the stiff chair. "Hi, Karen," he said softly, his eyes immediately finding Plankton's lifeless form. Karen looked up, the tears still fresh on her screen. "Oh, Sponge Bob, thank you for coming," she managed. He nodded, his usual cheerfulness replaced by a look of genuine concern. "I heard about the accident," he said. "Just keep him company," she replied, her voice weak. Sponge Bob nodded solemnly, his gaze shifting back to Plankton. He approached the bedside, the squeak of his shoes echoing. He pulled up a chair and sat down, twirling his hat nervously. It was strange to see the normally energetic Plankton so still, so small in the face of something bigger than his own ambition. Then, tentatively, Sponge Bob began to speak. "You know, Plankton," he started, his voice barely a whisper, "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be here without you causing trouble. You've been a real thorn in Mr. Krabs' side, but you've also been a part of our lives for so long. In a weird way, I guess you're like family." He leaned closer, his spongy hand reaching out to squeeze Plankton's tiny one. "And families stick together, even when things are tough." He took his hat and laid it on the bedside table. Karen watched, surprised by the tenderness in Sponge Bob's voice. Despite their rivalry, there was a bond between them that she had never fully understood. Perhaps it was born from the years of adversity, a shared history that transcended good and bad. "I know you're in there, Plankton," Sponge Bob continued, his voice a mix of hope and sadness. "You're the most stubborn person I've ever met. I can't imagine you giving up now." He swallowed hard, his eyes misting over. "You've got to pull through this, buddy." The room grew quiet again, save for the rhythmic beeping of the machine. Karen felt a warmth spread through her, despite the coldness of the room. Sponge Bob's words had touched her in a way she didn't expect. Their friendship, built on a foundation of constant conflict, was somehow stronger than she had ever realized. Then Mr. Krabs entered. "Karen, hey," he began, his voice cracking with emotion. "How's he doing?" Karen looked up from her vigil. "No change," she replied, her voice flat. Mr. Krabs shuffled over, his eyes flicking from the unmoving Plankton to the worried look on Sponge Bob. He cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. "I just wanted to, you know, check on him," he said awkwardly. Sponge Bob nodded, his grip on Plankton's hand tightening. "We're all here for him," he said, his voice firm with resolve. Mr. Krabs hovered by. "I never thought I'd say this," he murmured, "but I don't want to lose him either." The words were a surprise to him, and also to Karen. The weight of their shared history sat heavily in the room, a silent acknowledgment of the battles they all endured. SpongeBob nodded, his expression earnest. "We all have our moments," he said. "But it's what we do when things get tough that really counts." He leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving Plankton's face. "Remember that time you accidentally turned us into babies?" A faint smile ghosted his lips at the memory. "We all were so tiny, I could've swallowed you whole." He chuckled, a sound that was unfamiliar in the somber room. "But I didn't. Because deep down, I knew you had more to give to this world than just being a rival." Mr. Krabs chuckled too, the tension in his eyes easing. "Aye, that was a wild ride, all right," he said, his gruffness softening. Karen couldn't help but smile at the memory, wiping a fresh tear from her screen. "You two have had quite the history," she said, her voice filled with wonder. Sponge Bob nodded. "Yeah, more adventures than I can count." He paused, his smile fading. "But none of them have ever made me feel like this." He took a deep breath, his words coming out in a rush. "Plankton, if you can hear me, you need to wake up. Your Chum Bucket's not going to run itself, and I can't eat Krabby Patties without someone to compete with." Mr. Krabs grunted in agreement, his eyes never leaving Plankton's still form. "Yeah, and who's going to challenge me for the title of best burger in town if you're not around to stir the pot?" They shared a moment of quiet laughter, the kind that comes from a place deep within, where memories are etched. It was a strange sight: the sworn enemies, now united by a shared love for the pint-sized that was more than just a rival. It's midnight when he's no longer in a coma. Right at midnight, was when their waiting would come to an end, and everything's changed.. Plankton's eye fluttered open, his vision blurry. He tried to sit up. He felt weightless. Karen and Sponge Bob gasped. Mr. Krabs' turned to emit a choking cough. They stared at the empty space where Plankton's body still lays. "What's going on?" Plankton's voice was faint, echoing around the room. "Karen?" But they seemed to ignore him. The doctor sighed. Karen and Sponge Bob exchanged a hopeful glance. "Plankton?" she whispered, leaning in. "Can you hear me?" Plankton's eye searched the room, confused. "I'm right here," he said, his voice growing stronger, but still not reaching them. "Ma'am," the doctor says, "I know it's hard but, you can leave the hospital whenever you're ready." Karen nodded, her screen still fixed on Plankton's body lying on the bed. The beeping machine had stopped. "What?" Plankton's voice grew desperate, floating above the room. "Why aren't you guys listening?" Karen's gaze remained fixed on his lifeless body, the reality of the situation setting in. "Oh dear Neptune," she whispered, her hand trembling as it hovered over his chest. "He's...he's..." Sponge Bob's eyes widened in realization as he cried. Mr. Krabs stumbled back, his claws over his mouth, his eyes bulging in shock. "No, no, no," he murmured, his voice a whispered denial. The doctor looked from the machines to the ceiling, his eyes glassy. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice hollow. "We did all we could." Karen felt the world collapse around her, her body heavy with the weight of her loss. Plankton's voice grew faint, his words lost in the air like a ghostly echo. Sponge Bob's sobs filled the room. Plankton's spirit hovered above his body, his mind racing. "What happened?" he asked, his voice now a mere wisp of what it had once been. "Can one of you just explain to..." But his words trailed off as he saw the tears on Karen's screen, the shock on Mr. Krabs' face, and the sadness etched into Sponge Bob's features. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice barely a murmur. "Why are you all so upset? My machine exploded but now I'm awake!" It was as if there was a barrier between them that muted his voice and kept him from touching the world. He waved his arms frantically, trying to get their attention. "I'm right here," he whispered, his voice growing louder with each desperate attempt. But the only response was the sadness that hung in the air, thick and palpable. The doctor's expression remained steady, his gaze flicking from the machines to Plankton's body, then back to Karen. "Ma'am," he said gently, "you should go home. Rest." But Karen couldn't tear her screen away from Plankton's lifeless body. "Karen?" Plankton called out. "What's happening?" But Karen remained silent as she stared at his still form. Sponge Bob was crying openly now, his body heaving with sobs. Mr. Krabs was leaning against the wall. "What's going on?" he asked again, his voice desperate. "Why can't they see me?" He looked around the room. "Karen," he shouted, his voice echoing through the emptiness. But she just sat there. "Guys, I'm right here!" Plankton's voice was now a desperate shout, but it was as if he didn't exist.