Author's Notes: Scooby Doo and all related characters and trademarks are copyright 2010 Hanna-Barbera Productions/Cartoon Network/Warner Brothers. This story is loosely based on the 1973 horror movie Sssss and the Scooby and Scrappy Doo episodes "Where's The Werewolf?" & "Canine to Five". Also, thank you to everyone here at Fan Fiction and Deviant Art for title ideas.
Chapter 1
As our story begins, we find the brightly painted red and green van known as The Mystery Machine driving along Main Street in the small town of Coolsville, Ohio; the city is home to the world famous group of sleuths known as Mystery Inc., whose members include four young people named Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, Shaggy Rogers and a Great Dane named Scooby Doo.
At the moment Daphne is driving the psychedelically painted van while for one of the very few times in his life, Fred sits in the passenger seat as Velma, Shaggy and Scooby sit behind the two of them in the back of the van as usually was the case.
"Boy Fred, you sure were lucky," Daphne stated.
"I'll say, getting to be an assistant to one of the world's most important snake researchers, Dr. Richard Stevens," Velma remarked.
"Yeah, I guess it was pretty lucky to get a job like this," Fred replied.
"Like how did you get the job anyway Fred?" Shaggy asked.
"Yeah I'm curious myself," Velma added.
"Well, there's not really that much to it, I decided to get a summer job and this was one of the positions that I saw in the newspaper," Fred replied.
"I'm glad you've got a summer job Freddie, after all there haven't been too many mysteries to solve lately" Daphne commented.
"Yeah, no kidding and I have to admit, this is going to be pretty interesting," Fred remarked.
The Mystery Machine continued on it's way through the main section of the small Ohio town; the blond teenager had brought out a piece of paper and was giving Daphne directions to his new job.
"Dr. Stevens' office should be about a half mile in that direction," Fred said as he pointed in front of him out the front windshield.
"Sounds good Fred, we're on our way," Daphne replied.
The Mystery Machine turned a corner and saw a large stone building with large glass sliding doors; the van drove into the building's parking lot as Daphne parked the van in one of the spaces; with that the gang exited the vehicle and walked across the street over to the large building that housed the doctor's office.
The doors slid open and Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby Doo entered into the building; after entering the gang noticed that they were in a large foyer-type area that featured a fancy-looking glass chandelier, several old paintings and other artwork.
The gang then walked over to one of the walls and looked at a building directory; Fred searched for the name of Dr. Stevens and finally found it.
"Dr. Richard Stevens, 2nd floor room 213" Fred read from the directory.
"Come on gang, let's find an elevator and find Dr. Stevens office," Fred noted.
The gang found one of the elevators, entered it and pushed a button and up the elevator rose to the second floor.
The elevator arrived at the gang's floor and the doors opened as the gang walked out into a hallway; they walked through the hall looking for the doctor's office, finally they found a door marked 213.
"Here we are, Dr. Richard Stevens" Fred remarked.
Fred opened the door and the gang walked into the office; the five members of Mystery Inc. noticed all sorts of Snake themed paintings and other artwork in the office.
"Hmm, it looks like this guy must have a thing for snakes" Velma remarked.
"It certainly looks that way" Daphne replied.
The gang then walked up to a wooden desk and saw a brown-haired middle aged woman wearing black glasses sitting behind it; as the team of sleuths looked around, Fred noticed a small bell on the desk that had a Ring Bell For Service sign in front of it, the blond young man then rang the bell and the woman turned to face the gang.
"Yes how can I help you?" the woman asked.
"Hello, my name is Fred Jones; Dr. Stevens is expecting me" Fred commented.
"Very Well and what is the purpose of your visit?" the woman inquired.
"Dr. Stevens hired me as a laboratory assistant for the summer and I wanted to speak to him" Fred replied.
"Fine, I'll make sure if he's in; you and your friends can sit down if you wish" the woman said.
The gang then walked over to some chairs on the other side of the office and sat down to wait for the doctor.
"I wonder what this guy's like?" Daphne remarked, speculating about what Fred's new boss could be like.
"Probably like a regular doctor, white surgical lab coat and everything like that," Velma replied.
While the gang chatted with one another, the woman at the desk pushed a button on an intercom and spoke into it.
"Dr. Stevens, a young man named Fred Jones and his friends are here to see you," the woman said.
"Ah, very good Ms. Price send them in so I can speak with them," replied a male voice from the intercom.
"Very good Dr. Stevens" the woman answered.
With that Ms. Price called the gang over to the desk once more, a few moments later they walked back over and stood in front of the desk.
"Dr. Stevens will see you all now, he should be coming back into the office in a moment" Ms. Price said.
"Terrific, come on gang" Fred replied as he and the rest of the gang waited for the doctor.
A few minutes had passed since the gang had walked over to the secretary's desk and after a few more moments of waiting, the gang noticed the door that was next to the secretary's desk was opening and out walked a middle-aged man with black hair, wearing a red shirt under his white lab coat and neatly pressed blue slacks.
"Ah, you must be Fred Jones and I see you've brought your friends and your dog along as well, come on in and I'll show you around" the man said.
"OK" Fred replied.
The gang then followed the man through the door and into a medium-sized room with a desk, telephone, computer and miscellaneous other equipment.
"Well, Mr. Jones I know who you are but I don't believe I'm acquainted with your friends, maybe you can introduce them," Dr. Stevens said.
"OK, as you know my name is Freddie Jones or Fred for short and these are my friends: Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, Shaggy Rogers and Scooby-Doo" Fred remarked.
"Very interesting, and what two very lovely young ladies" Dr. Stevens noted as he looked over at the two female members of Mystery Inc. before kissing each one of their hands.
"Why thank you sir" Daphne replied smiling.
"Likewise" Velma said, her face beginning to blush a little.
"So Fred, what exactly do you and your friends do for a living?" Dr. Stevens asked.
"Well, the five of us work as private detectives and we operate our own detective agency called Mystery Incorporated or Mystery Inc. for short" Fred replied.
"Private Detectives, how very interesting" Dr. Stevens remarked.
"Yeah it's pretty interesting most of the time" Fred commented.
"Well, now that you kids have introduced yourselves I might as well properly introduce myself; your friend Fred already knows who I am but I'll introduce myself to the rest of you anyway, my name is Dr. Richard Stevens and I specialize in snake science and the medicinal benefits of snake venom" the doctor remarked.
"Jinkies, snakes?" Velma asked curiously.
"Yes, for years I have been fascinated by snakes, ever since I was in high school I have dedicated myself to the study of all different species of snakes, what their lives are like, their habits, everything about them" Dr. Stevens replied.
"Snakes are certainly are a strange animal to study Dr. Stevens" addressed Daphne.
"Like that's for sure" Shaggy replied.
"Well the four of you may have that opinion, but that is what I have dedicated my life to working with and working on as well" Dr. Stevens remarked with a stern look on his face.
"We're sorry Dr. Stevens, we didn't mean anything by our comments" Daphne commented.
"Yes we're certainly sorry if we offended you in any way" Fred remarked.
"That's quite alright; however I think it would be best if you kids and your dog left here" Dr. Stevens remarked.
"Good idea Fred it is getting pretty late" Daphne replied with a yawn.
"Yeah I'm getting pretty tired myself" Velma remarked.
"I'm actually getting a bit sleepy as well, goodbye Dr. Stevens" Fred declared.
"Goodbye kids, oh and Fred I wanted to speak to you alone before you leave" Dr. Stevens commented.
"OK" Fred replied.
With that Daphne, Shaggy, Velma and Scooby walked into the outer office, while Fred stayed and spoke to Dr. Stevens for a few moments.
"You have some interesting friends Fred my boy" Dr. Stevens remarked.
"They sure are, and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world" Fred replied.
"Fine, fine, now then; I want to give you directions to my laboratory so you can report for work tomorrow" Dr. Stevens replied.
"Wait, you mean this isn't your laboratory?" Fred asked.
"My no, this is just my office; my laboratory is outside of town which is why I'm giving you this" Dr. Stevens handed Fred a white piece of paper with some directions written on it.
Fred looked at the sheet of paper and nodded back at Dr. Stevens; Fred turned in the other direction and started to walk out of the office, until Dr. Stevens called out to him that is.
"Oh and Fred one more thing" Dr. Stevens remarked.
"Yes doctor?" Fred replied.
"Be sure to be at my laboratory at 9:00 AM sharp, I don't like tardiness" Dr. Stevens replied.
"Yes sir" Fred commented.
With that Fred said his goodbyes once again to the doctor and walked out of the office.
After the blond young adult left, the doctor sat down at a desk inside his office and sat down; he then pulled out a small yellow notepad out of his desk and began to write; once he finished writing he put the notepad back in his desk and relaxed in his chair.
"Ah excellent, little does that young fool know that he is the key to my current experiments and the key to a new era of mankind; and when I'm done with him, he will never be the same again!" Dr. Stevens said as he began to laugh evilly.