Author's note: All of this craze about the recent presidential election down in the States and my reading about several political dramas, like West Wing, both versions of House of Cards and Designated Survivor, inspired me to come up with this brand-new AU Scooby series.
This new series takes place in Dimension 56, numbered 56 due to the fact that the United States has 56 administrative divisions: 50 states, the District of Columbia and 5 territories, and the timeline follows that of Dimension Four.
In other words, like D4, the human members of the gang are all born in 1953 and the events of the Hanna-Barbera canon of the franchise, excluding 13GSD and Superstar 10 Scooby films, occurs in this dimension, with 1985 being the year the timeline for this dimension diverges from that of D4s.
In addition, the floating timeline utilized in D56 lasts between 1969 and 1999, as opposed to 1969 and 1991 in D4, though it still goes by the characters aging once every two years like D4s floating timeline.
I don't own Scooby-Doo. Hanna-Barbera Productions and Warner Bros. does.
Chapter 1: Prologue and Election Year
March 15, 2012
"I don't care what you said, Freddie." Shaggy can hear the anger and disgust in her voice after the police left with the handcuffed culprit of a latest haunting. "But I quit!"
"Fine by me." Fred huffed as Daphne walked away. "I don't want to see that sorry excuse of you ever again! Getting us into trouble with your antics and mess up our monster traps, I really could care less if you decided not to stay, Daphne Blake."
Those words continued to ring in the mind of Senator Dr. Norville "Shaggy" Rogers, the oldest human member of a group of mystery-solving adventurers formerly known as Mystery Inc., for all those years. Years after the bitter breakup of the gang.
It all started when they were in high school back in the 1960s when they found themselves grouped together in tackling a haunting in their old school library. A haunting that turned out to be the cover for a counterfeiting racket.
After that mystery, the group decided to stay together and solve mysteries, branding themselves as "Mystery Inc." as a result.
A year after solving their first case, they got a van that eventually came to be known as the "Mystery Machine", which they used in driving around and ended up solving mysteries in places then stopped by at after either hearing about the case or the Mystery Machine suffers a problem and ends up stranding them at where the haunting was taking place.
Like the first case, all those supernatural and paranormal hauntings they encountered were more of a cover for some illegal activity, though occasionally, the gang did encounter someone who used the ghostly disguise for noble reasons.
Later in the late 1970s, the gang decided to split up to pursue their own careers and for a while, Shaggy and his loyal dog companion, a Great Dane named Scoobert "Scooby" Doo, along with Scooby's nephew Scrappy Doo, kept the Mystery Machine and they travelled around the country and overseas, during which they encountered some more supernatural phenomenon that turned out to be real, though their friends were skeptical of their stories when the gang reunited briefly in 1984, though only Daphne believed them when they reunited in early 1983.
By that point, Shaggy was in his final year of obtaining his masters degree in his medical studies and he had gained some experience in the field while interning at various hospitals during that time.
Then came the Luna Ghost case in early 1985, where the gang had to deal with a ghost haunting a toy factory.
Well, prior to the case, Shaggy had already begin to discover signs that the gang isn't getting along well lately.
The fact that Fred takes all the credit for all the cases solved and gets all the media's attention, while it was mostly Velma that discovers the clues and deciphers their meaning to the mystery.
The fact that at times Daphne's danger-proneness, and even his own danger-proneness, gets them into trouble with the villains they've encountered, and Fred can't help but scold them about it.
The fact that he, Scooby and Scrappy at times mess up Fred's delicate traps while trying to capture the villain in question.
As usual, the gang came out on the top and solved the mystery, but Fred's claiming of credit that rightfully belonged to Velma, as well as his scolding Daphne about her danger-proneness in front of the media, was the spark that set up the fire.
Shaggy will never forget the aftermath of the case where Velma was the first to question Fred's responses during the media interview, as well as Fred reprimanding her for trying to hog all the glory.
Then, Fred reprimanded him, Scooby and Daphne for not doing much in solving the mystery and it was his colourful, crude language that was used to describe Daphne that was the last straw.
Mystery Inc. was no more after Daphne was the first to quit, followed by Velma and Scrappy.
Afterwards, Shaggy and Scooby offered their resignations and left Fred all on his own. Truth be told, he was getting fed up by the way Fred was treating the others, particularly Scrappy.
Shortly after leaving Fred behind, Shaggy decided to pay Daphne a visit, only to learn from the Blake family butler that she has joined her parents and flew out of the country.
Anyways, long story short, Shaggy eventually got his license to practice medicine, but he subsequently found himself dragged into the world of espionage, especially due to his work with rare medicine and treatments, in addition to the fact that he had an encounter with MI6 a while back, back when it was just him, Daphne and the Doos.
Oh, how he missed those days. He longed to get the group back together, but it won't be easy, since he had lost contact with Daphne, in addition to the fact that not long after the gang's breakup, Scooby got into an accident that left his legs paralysed, confining him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life and Scrappy, blaming himself for not preventing the accident, dedicated to take care of his uncle.
Without the Doos moving around with him, it was just Shaggy on his own.
Anyways, Shaggy eventually joined the CIA as medical support for a spy team under the leadership of the famed Jonathan "Jonny" Quest, who's now the Deputy Director of the CIA, in 1990. Shaggy's work in helping defusing various crisis, as well as his hard-working ethics with a strict moral code, earned him admiration and hero status, even among the enemies he had faced, some of whom had mused that they'd rather be captured by the beatnik-turned doctor.
However, being the type not used to the high stress related to the field of espionage, Shaggy resigned from the CIA in 1997 and instead focused on his medical career, which was benefited by his work in defusing various crisis concerning the country and he eventually accepted working at the Coolsville Don Messick Memorial Hospital as a medical supervisor.
His work at the hospital didn't quite last long. A few months into his new position as a medical supervisor, Shaggy was approached by the California Progressive Party, a political party that campaigned for various progressive causes he supported, for his candidacy to run to represent California in the Senate in the upcoming 1998 midterm elections.
It was after the incumbent senator representing the state, whose seat is up for election, announced his intention to step down from politics after the 1998 midterm elections.
Shaggy was reluctant to run for politics, considering the fact that he always has viewed the bureaucracy in Washington, as well as Capitol Hill, a nuthouse.
However, in light of a number of controversies involving the intelligence agency, as well as widespread public dissatisfaction on the administration and lack of action from Congress, Shaggy accepted the party's offer and ran for the Senate.
His honest campaign across the state, particularly his pledge to clean things up on Capitol Hill, lead him to win in a landslide in the election, and he became the third senator elected to the Senate from a third party in the administration of the President who recently became embroiled in a scandal and is now facing impeachment.
Taking office in January 6, 1999, one of Shaggy's first acts as senator was taking part in the President's impeachment trial and the subsequent impeachment vote weeks later, a vote that ended with the President's acquittal.
Shaggy's tenure as the junior Senator from California was marked with several positive accomplishments and sponsoring of several bills helpful to progressive causes, and his honest, strict work ethics and integrity earned him praises from his colleagues from both sides of the political spectrum.
After the 2000 election, a new President took office and, well, let's just say that Shaggy became one of the several senators that regularly clashed with the President.
He was a major critic of the Patriot Act, and he was one of the several senators that voted against authorizing military action in Iraq, even going for a filibuster to stall the proceedings of the bill that, if passed, will authorize the military action.
He was subsequently re-elected in a landslide in the 2004 election and was later assigned to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, where he took part in the fierce opposition of the President's pension reforms.
After the party he and a fellow Progressive senator from Michigan caucuses with in the Senate won a majority in the 2006 midterm elections, he was subsequently nominated as the chair of the committee he has been a member of since early 2005.
He was also among the group of senators that called for the President's impeachment, though those efforts fell through due to lack of the two-thirds support required to trigger the impeachment trial.
In 2008, as the country descended into financial turmoil due to the 2008 Financial crisis, in combination with growing tiresome of the established two-party system in place and a strong third party candidate with at least 22% support, who also promised to fix things in Washington as an outsider and stated that "the country requires a strong man during a time of crisis" during an interview, led to the closely-contested presidential election that ended with the third-party candidate elected in a landslide.
That third party candidate was Alexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor, the owner of the powerful LexCorp, a multinational corporation based in Metropolis, who is known for his disdain towards Superman.
(Who are the two Presidents that are mentioned here prior to the election of Lex Luthor in 2008?)
While Shaggy did welcome Luthor's election as a way to break the two-party system, which he was a critic of, as well as the new President's efforts in ending the economic depression, he shared Superman and Batman's distrust of the new President and suspicions that Luthor was up to something sinister.
That something was proven when a kryptonite meteor at a size of Texas was discovered to be on the path of colliding with the planet and after President Luthor was discovered to have framed Superman in the murder of a Secret Service agent and was using the upcoming meteor strike to pursue a secret, sinister agenda, Shaggy became the first senator to call for his impeachment once the meteor crisis ended.
In early 2010, President Luthor became the third President to be impeached and the first to be removed from office as a result of the Senate unanimously voting in favour of impeachment. His vice president Pete Ross was subsequently elevated to the Presidency to fill out his remaining term.
(Which Superman/Batman film events are being mentioned here?)
Months after President Luthor's impeachment came the 2010 midterm elections, the conservative leaning party gained a majority in the House of Representatives, and Shaggy responded with the suggestion that legislating will become a major challenge with a gridlocked Congress, as the progressive caucuses maintained their majority in the Senate.
Then in early 2012, President Ross shocked the country when he announced that he will not be seeking re-election, which brings us to today as Shaggy sat in his Senate seat for a debate in the chamber.
There has been rumours that he could decide to go for the Progressive Party's nomination for President in the upcoming election, and there has been plenty of party members who has encouraged him to run for President.
However, while he did look forward to the challenges ahead in relation to the Presidency, he felt he wasn't quite ready to take up the challenge at the moment.
Shaggy patiently composed himself as he listened to a conservative-leaning Senator presenting her argument in the debate chaired by the President pro tempore.
At that moment, the Senate was debating a major healthcare reform package that then-President Luthor introduced. A package that he and his team of senators in the Health Senate Committee had examined and supported.
The Republican senator in question was arguing against some controversial changes that were indicated in the reform package, the changes in question which the House had removed upon first passage and then reintroduced when moved to the Senate.
"So Mr. President, I'll like to ask the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to fully explain the reason behind the approval of the State participation of the Medicaid Expansion Clause, which the Supreme Court could rule as unconstitutional if the law is challenged." The senator concluded after making her argument.
The President pro tempore turned to Shaggy and said, "California Senator Dr. Rogers, how will you respond to Alabama Senator Bennett's question?"
Shaggy composed himself and then stood up before beginning. "Like, Mr. President, this is how I will respond."
He then went on to present his arguments in favour of the controversial changes that were reintroduced in the chamber after the House passed the reform package bill with the changes removed, including citing his research figures and statistics.
"Therefore, in conclusion, Mr. President, that is why the Senate Committee agreed to reintroduce the Medicaid Expansion Clause in the reform package." Shaggy concluded and then took his seat as his colleagues applauded.
Hours later, Shaggy was back in his office, clearly worn out by the day's events.
As he sat in his office alone, he looked around and his eyes were drawn onto several objects.
His MD-PhD certificate, right by the side of a photo of him shaking hands with a fellow doctor who awarded him the certificate in question, a photo of his family, him and his old pal Scooby Doo and Mystery Inc. posing together in a group photo right in front of the Mystery Machine.
His father Sam had recently retired after almost forty years of law enforcement service, including ten years as the chief of police of his hometown Coolsville, California, while his mother had retired as a medical supervisor just a few weeks ago.
His younger sister Maggie, who has the nickname of "Sugie", which was given to her by Daphne, is currently a research scientist and is married with two children.
Shaggy sighed as his eyes settled on the group photo of Mystery Inc. They all looked young, cheerful and happy, and Daphne looked as beautiful as she ever was, as far as he remembered.
During their brief reunion in the early-1980s, Shaggy had resisted the urge to wrap his arms around her. He had wrote in his diary that he felt that he was under her spell and later wrote that he wished that he had the chance to say goodbye to his closest human friend outside his family.
Sighing, Shaggy turned towards the television in his office and decided to tune into the news.
His office phone rang as he was about to reach for his remote and he swiftly picked it up.
"Like, hello?" Shaggy answered.
What's this phone call about? All I can say is stay tuned, and please read and review!