Chapter 2

The gang walked with Lester back to his home. They weren't expecting it to be far, but his house was a little walk out of town. It wasn't as far as their walk from Scorpion Ridge but about halfway in the opposite direction.

His house sat on the top of a small hill, and it was a tiny house. Lester put the key into the lock and jiggled the door handle until the door opened, "It's a little rusty." He explained with a little smile.

The gang stepped into his house; the wooden floor creaked a little bit as they walked in. The walls were bare and a bit cracked and the curtains were dusty. There was a shelf in the corner of the room with photographs of spaceships, a model of a spaceship and newspaper clippings stuck to the wall.

"How long ago was your abduction?" Velma asked. "About 10 years ago." Lester said.

Fred was looking over the clippings that were stuck to the wall; there were news reports way back from, people reporting spaceships and mysterious missing planes. Fred remembered when he and the gang were watching a documentary about the Bermuda Triangle and a group of planes that went missing in 1945. Since nobody knew what happened to them, they assumed they must have been abducted by aliens.

"Are these the pictures you have, Lester?" Fred asked, motioning to the framed photograph. "That is a photograph of a spaceship, but not the one I saw. My son took that one, he lives in Nevada and takes photos of the night sky when he's out driving around Area 51." Lester explained.

"These are my pictures." He said, treading towards a sheet that was covering something. He pulled it off and to reveal stacks of canvases.

"Oh, paintings." Daphne said, she began looking through the paintings, Fred and Velma looking over her shoulder. One of the paintings was of a very large spaceship; it was black with dark green edges covered with bright lights, a window at the front and a huge light at the bottom.

"Like, maybe that's the thing that blinded us in the desert." Shaggy suggested. "I don't know." Velma said curiously, "But these are amazing paintings, Lester." She smiled; Lester bowed his head.

"It's getting kinda late, is there a hotel around here, Lester?" Fred asked, Lester chuckled, "There ain't no hotel. But you're welcome to stay here tonight." He offered. "Oh, that's awfully kind of you Lester, but-" Velma began

"You ladies can sleep in the back room, it used to be the kids' room before they moved out." Lester pushed open a door revealing a small bedroom with a bunkbed. "And you, young fella, can sleep on the couch." Lester pulled a blanket out from behind the sofa and gave it to Fred.

"And you two, I got somewhere special for you two." Lester said, "Come on, I'll show ya." He grabbed 2 blankets and led Shaggy and Scooby through the backdoor and up a metal staircase to the roof. There were 2 sunbeds on the roof, Lester gave Shaggy the blankets and wished them a goodnight before he stepped down the stairs.

"Well, this is nice huh, Scoob." Shaggy said, laying the blankets on the sunbeds, Scooby was looking over the balcony, when he was certain that there were no Jackalopes or aliens around the house, he climbed onto one of the sunbeds.

"Like, it's a nice warm night, we'll get some decent sleep, an' in the mornin' we'll get the Mystery Machine fixed and head off to the Wild West Steampunk Convention!" Shaggy exclaimed. "Roo hoo!" Scooby exclaimed. "That's right, Scoob!" Shaggy exclaimed, "Like, g'night buddy." He yawned. "Night Raggy." Scooby yawned.

Back inside the house, Lester stepped into the living room. Fred and Daphne were looking through the newspaper clippings that Lester had been collecting, and Velma was looking through Lester's paintings.

"Well, good night kids." Lester smiled, "Get a good sleep." He opened the door to his bedroom, closing it behind him. "Hmm…I'd wonder if Lester's paintings are legitimate or if-"

"He's been out in the sun too long?" Fred joked and Daphne giggled. "That's one way of putting it, Fred." Velma commented, "Anyway, I'm going to get some sleep." Velma said, "Goodnight." She treads into the bedroom which belonged to Lester's kids, and climbed onto the top bunk.

"Goodnight, Freddie." Daphne smiled, following Velma into the bedroom. "Night, Daph." He smiled. He spread the blanket out on the sofa and climbed under it, plumping a cushion under his head. The sofa and the blanket were both too small for him; he pulled he blanket up to his shoulders and it left his feet exposed, they hung over the arm of the sofa. "It's just one night." He muttered to himself.

A couple of hours passed, Shaggy and Scooby were snoozing peacefully on the rooftop. It was a nice warm night and the stars were shining brightly. As the two were sleeping, they were unaware of a bright light hovering over them, and they were lifted into the air and disappeared inside the spaceship hovering above them.

Back inside the house, Daphne had been trying to get some sleep, but Velma's snoring had made it hard to do so. She climbed out of the bed and looked up at Velma who slept in the top bunk. She whispered her name, but it was no use; Velma was a heavy sleeper.

Daphne knew she wouldn't sleep if she stayed in the room with Velma. She crept out of the bedroom, hearing the floorboards creak under her feet, and she pulled open the door. She could see Fred sleeping soundly on the couch, his feet hanging over the arm of the chair, one arm under his head and the other resting on his chest.

Daphne stepped over to him and gently nudged his arm, but he didn't wake up, "Freddie." She whispered, shaking him again, he groaned, "Daphne?" He asked, his eyes slowly opening, "What's the matter?"

"I can't sleep, Velma's snoring." Daphne said, "Can I sleep here with you?" She asked, she felt her cheeks getting warm. "Uh, sure." Fred said, he scooted over as far as he could to make room for Daphne. She climbed onto the sofa and laid next to him, she laid her head onto his outstretched arm and Fred threw the blanket over them both.

"Thank you." Daphne said sweetly. "Anytime." Fred smiled. "Night, Freddie." She yawned.

"Night Daphne."

Lester might have had an old dust house, but Velma couldn't deny that the bed was incredibly comfortable, she woke up in the morning feeling refreshed. She climbed down from the top bunk and noticed that Daphne wasn't there. 'She's up early' She thought.

She opened the bedroom door and was surprised to find Daphne and Fred asleep together on the sofa. "Wow." She gasped. The pair slept soundly together; Fred's arm was wrapped securely around Daphne's shoulder and her head on his shoulder, the blanket them both but Fred's feet were exposed and hung over the arm of the sofa.

As Velma watched them, Daphne began to stir and so did Fred. "Morning." Daphne mumbled as she looked up at Fred, "Morning." Fred smiled. He looked up and saw that Velma was watching them, his eyes widened, and Daphne looked over her shoulder. She and Fred quickly sat up, "Uh, morning Velma." Daphne smiled.

"Morning." Velma smirked; Daphne rolled her eyes. "Are Shaggy and Scooby up yet?" Fred asked. "I don't know, I just woke up." Velma explained.

"Well, morning kids." Lester greeted, "Sleep well?" He asked. "Yes, thank you Lester." Daphne replied. "Are your other friends up yet?" He asked. "I don't know, we've only just woken up." Velma responded. "Alright, I'll go check on 'em." Lester said, and he stepped out through the backdoor.

"So, you two had a good sleep them?" Velma asked, smirking at Daphne. "Alright, I slept out here with Fred because you snored all night." Daphne replied. "What? I don't snore." Velma stated. "You do." Daphne replied. "I do?" Velma asked, Daphne nodded. "I'm sorry, I had no idea." Velma apologised, "I should go and see a sleep doctor when we get back home."

"Hey, your friends aren't up there." Lester said as he stepped back into the house. "What?" Velma asked. "They're not there." Lester said. "Maybe they were hungry and went into town for breakfast." Daphne suggested. "Maybe." Fred said.

"Well, if you guys are hungry, why don't we head to Sergio's for breakfast?" Lester suggested. "Sure." Velma said.

The walk into town had built up an appetite. When they stepped into the diner, they noticed that some of the tables had already been filled, but they were surprised to find that Shaggy and Scooby weren't there.

"Where are they?" Daphne asked. "I don't know, it's not like them to miss breakfast." Velma said. "Breakfast doesn't finish until 11 o'clock, they should still be here." Fred said. "Come on, let's sit down, maybe they'll turn up soon." Velma suggested. Just as they made for a booth by the window, Dottie came out of nowhere and greeted them.

"Morning." She said, "How did you sleep last night handsome, did you dream about me?" She asked Fred, quite seductively. "Umm…umm…" He stuttered. "If you were in that dream it would be a nightmare!" Serg shouted. Fred quickly followed Daphne, Velma and Lester to the booth, sitting next to Daphne.

"Where do you suppose Shaggy and Scooby got to?" Fred asked. "I think I know." Daphne said, she nudged Fred's arm and pointed out the window. Shaggy and Scooby climbed out of a red Jeep which was covered in many painted flowers. The driver of the Jeep was a gorgeous woman with long dark hair and wore a huge smile, in the back seat of her Jeep sat a beautiful golden retriever which wore a red bandana around her neck. Shaggy waved to the woman as she drove away.

"Who's that?" Velma asked. "I think she's a nature photographer, been hanging around here since last week." Lester explained. The gang watched them as they came into the diner and sat with them.

"Hey guys." Fred said, noticing had Shaggy and Scooby both had dreamy looks in their eyes. "Hey." Shaggy smiled. "Where have you been?" Velma asked. "And who was that girl?" Daphne asked, Shaggy sighed dreamily. "Her name is Crystal, like she's wonderful."

Fred and Daphne exchanged looks. "Ready to order?" Dottie asked, she stood at their table ready with her notepad. "Nothing for me thanks." Shaggy said, "Re reither." Scooby said.

"What?" The gang all gasped. "Like, I'm not hungry." Shaggy said. "Re reither." Scooby responded. Lester chuckled, "Just bring us 4 Ranch breakfasts, Dottie." Lester said. "Sure thing." Dottie said, walking away. Shaggy watched her walk away, raising as eyebrow and smirked. "Shaggy!" Velma exclaimed, Daphne's eyes widened, and Fred picked up the bottle of water Shaggy had bought in with him and he sniffed it.

"It's still early, where did you meet her." Velma asked. "In the desert." Shaggy said. "What were you doing out there?" Fred asked, Shaggy's eyes widened, and he seemed to have snapped out of whatever trance the gang thought he might have been in. "Like, I forgot, Scooby and I were abducted by aliens last night."

"Aliens?" Daphne asked. "Yeah, they were green and slimy and had huge bug eyes." Shaggy shook as he told the gang of their ordeal on the spaceship last night.

"Turn out that night light Scooby." Shaggy mumbled in his sleep. "Raggy!" Scooby exclaimed. "Not now, Scooby." Shaggy groaned.

"Raggy!" Scooby exclaimed. Shaggy slowly opened his eyes to see 3 huge aliens standing over him and he and Scooby were strapped to metal tables, and he screamed. "Aliens!"

"Railens!" Scooby exclaimed. "Let us go!" Shaggy exclaimed; the aliens exchanged smirks. "Let us go!" Shaggy begged, "We taste terrible! We're like, all stringy."

"Do no fear us, Earth creatures." One of the aliens spoke. "Roo rate!" Scooby cried. "D-don't you need to ph-phone home o-or something?" Shaggy stuttered.

"Co-operate and you will not be harmed." Another alien spoke. But now, Scooby had successful used his tail to press the button of the side of table and freed himself. He pressed the button on Shaggy's table and he too was freed.

"Unacceptable!" The third alien shouted, and the three began chasing Shaggy and Scooby around the ship. They were running around in circles, and Shaggy wondered if there was a button on the huge control panel that opened a door for them to escape, if there was, he couldn't stop to find it.

As they ran, Shaggy noticed that none of the aliens had any 'alien features' he'd thought they would have, sure they were scary looking, but they didn't have any extending arms, or mind control, or teleportation. They weren't fast, but it looked as if that their boots were too heavy for them to run properly in.

As Shaggy and Scooby were running, he looked back at the aliens and believed that one of them had shouted 'no', but ever so quickly, Shaggy and Scooby felt the floor break beneath them and they fell out of the ship.

When Shaggy opened his eyes, instead of 3 aliens standing over him, he saw a beautiful woman and he thought perhaps he had died in the fall from the spaceship and he was in Heaven, or he was just hallucinating.

"Are you alright man?" She asked, but he voice sounded so real. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. Scooby came over to him and licked his face and it was then that Shaggy noticed he and Scooby were in the desert.

"Where are we?" Shaggy asked. "You're out in the middle of nowhere, man!" The woman exclaimed. "Huh?" Shaggy asked.

"What are you guys like, doing out here?" She asked. "I don't know." Shaggy scratched his head as he stood up.

"Are you ok?" The woman asked, Shaggy noticed a beautiful golden retriever standing close to her. "Like, you didn't see any, umm…any…"

"Any what?" She asked. If Shaggy asked her if she'd seen any aliens, she would have thought him a weirdo, so instead he laughed, "Never mind. Must have been a nightmare, huh Scoob." Shaggy suggested, Scooby nodded.

"Want some water?" She asked holding out a water bottle to him. "Oh thanks." Shaggy said, he took the water bottle and took a sip. "So, what are you doing out here?" Shaggy asked. "I'm a freelance photographer. This is my dog Amber, we're out shooting some wildlife for a magazine." She explained.

"Hey cool!" Shaggy exclaimed, "Like, last night, Scoob an' I saw a Jackalope."

"A Jackalope?" The woman asked, Shaggy nodded, "It's like a rabbit with antlers." He explained, the woman laughed, "Dude, you're funny!"

"Raliens roo." Scooby said. "Aliens?" She asked, Scooby nodded. "You understand him?" Shaggy asked. "Sure, clear as crystal." She smiled, "That's my name, I'm Crystal." She held her hand out to Shaggy.

"Oh, I'm Norville," He said, "But everyone calls me 'Shaggy'." Crystal giggled, "Nice to meet you Shaggy."

"And like, that's Scooby-Doo." Shaggy said, pointing to Scooby who was showing interest in Crystal's dog, Amber. "So, can you show me where you saw the Jackalope and the aliens?" Crystal asked, laughing as she spoke the sentence. "Like there's a sentence you don't expect to hear." Shaggy laughed and Crystal laughed along with him. "Like I think so, but we've gotta find our friends first." Shaggy explained.

"Do you guys want a lift into town?" She asked, "Like, that would be great." Shaggy smiled. "Groovy." Crystal smiled, and she led them to her jeep which was parked just behind them. "Groovy? Crystal, you're talkin' my lingo." Shaggy smiled, Crystal laughed again.

On the journey into town, Shaggy watched as Crystal spoke about her job, he thought she must have been passionate about photography as she had loads of equipment in her car. He liked the way her hair blew in the wind and how the sun shone on her face, and the smile she wore when she spoke.

"And that's what happened." Shaggy said. Dottie had bought over the breakfast Lester had ordered for them. Daphne swapped her bacon for one of Fred's eggs; he didn't like eggs and she was starting to dislike meat.

"Did the aliens experiment on ya?" Lester asked. "I don't know, they might have done whilst we were asleep." Shaggy explained. "They didn't hurt you guys when you woke up?" Velma asked. "No, but this morning, we met Crystal and Amber." Shaggy sighed dreamily.

"Alien mind control." Lester whispered, tapping his head. "Mind control alright, but not aliens." Velma said.

Velma suggested that they pay a visit to a mechanic Lester had mentioned yesterday to see if he could fix the Mystery Machine, and then visit to Scorpion Ridge to where Shaggy and Scooby woke up this morning. When they finished their breakfast, the gang decided to pay together, and had offered to pay for Lester, as a thanks for him putting them up last night.

"See you later, handsome." Dottie said to Fred, leaning closer to him, seductively. Daphne tried not to laugh as she turned around to walk out the door. "Dottie, quit scaring the customers!" Serg shouted from the kitchen. "Shut it!" Dottie shouted back. Fred had quickly turned away from Dottie to catch up with Daphne, and he grabbed her hand.

Daphne looked up at him, and then down at his hand that gripped hers. "What are you doing?" She asked, her cheeks turning pink. "I want her to stop flirting with me." Fred whispered as he pushed the door open. "Oh, so you thought you'd pretend that I'm your girlfriend to make her stop flirting with you?" Daphne joked.

Fred's cheeks flushed bright red, "No, no, I'm not pretending." He said quickly, and once he realised what he'd said, his eyes widened, and his cheeks turned redder. Daphne pulled the door open and realised she was still holding Fred's hand. "It's ok." She smiled.

"Wow." Velma said when Fred and Daphne stepped outside holding hands. They quickly let each-other go, both blushing heavily.

"Like this often?" Lester asked, Velma laughed, "A regular occurrence with those two." She replied.