Chapter 11

Velma went with Daphne and Fred to the dentist while Shaggy went with Charles and Marlo back to the island to get Scooby Doo. Before leaving for the dentist, Velma had walked through the process of getting clothes with Fred and Daphne. Her A-Eye did a full holographic scan and sent it to the clothing manufacturer's A-Eye along with the selection desired. The clothes were then printed out at the local outlet and shipped over by A-Eye trolley or drone depending on the location. That allowed Fred and Daphne to go out in public with clothes that fit. And allowed Velma to quit seeing how big her waistline was compared to Daphne's.

Dentistry was one of the industries which had most changed in the 35 years since Fred and Daphne had been out of touch. When they had left, the process of getting crowns and bridges made for a person's teeth had taken weeks. Now, it was completely robotic with a scanner in the patient's mouth feeding information in real time to a 3D printer which created perfect recreations of the teeth and filled in any gaps by algorithmic comparison against the norm.

The robot then used high-intensity lasers to cut the remaining teeth down to the nubs onto which the teeth would be glued. This was followed by another round of scanning to the 3D printer that hollowed out the crowns for a perfect fit. The only parts that still involved human hands were adding small metal rods into the jaws where there were not enough teeth to hold a bridge and the gluing of the crowns into place over the remaining teeth.

This was all new to Daphne and Fred. The thing that had not changed was that it was not a comfortable or painless process. Especially after getting a series of shots in their gums to treat advanced periodontitis. Any thoughts of shopping, beauty salon, or cold beverages were shelved for the rest of the day so that the two could recover – at least a little. The return to Crystal Cove was delayed another day to get through Daphne's list of required fashion and make-up items as well as to provide the promised photographs to the dental clinic. As painful as it was, the new teeth looked great, the swelling of their gums was already receding, and Velma was kind enough to inform them that their breath was almost human.

xXx

The flight back to the island was uneventful and Shaggy and the pilots found Scooby waiting at the pier. He apparently had found the liquid body wash that Shaggy had left (Scooby couldn't hold a bar of soap) and seemed clean. His collar was back on with the 'SD' tag dangling from it. Both appeared to be in remarkably good shape. With the exception of the grey around his face, Scooby looked normal.

They landed and took a few minutes to give Charles and Marlo a lunch break.

Shaggy opened up a box of Scooby Snacks and handed it to Scooby. Scooby looked at the box and smiled, "I wonder if they have rat flavor. It kind of grows on you."

"Maybe you can write them a letter and make that recommendation."

"My face isn't on the box anymore?"

"Naw. Hasn't been in a long time. They asked me to be their spokesman, but I said no. It didn't feel right."

Scooby shook his head, "Easy money always feels right."

"You know, I can't get used to you speaking so clearly."

"The speech impediment always made me feel stupid. I hated repeating myself."

The topic was beginning to get heavy, so Shaggy changed, "How did you sleep last night? Stay up all night being excited?"

"No. I slept soundly. It was the first night in a long, long time when I didn't have to worry about Fred killing me in my sleep."

Not exactly the lighter topic that Shaggy had hoped for. He tried again, "What's the first thing you want to do when you get back?"

Scooby looked at the box between his paws, "Eat a box of Scooby Snacks. I'm getting a head start on that." He poured another mouthful and chewed. He let out a sigh, "Bliss."

Now that he was on a roll, Shaggy tried to keep the conversation moving, "You know, I can call anyone from here. Who do you want to call?"

Scooby stopped chewing and slowly swallowed, "Who would I call?"

ShAggy should have seen that one coming.

xXx

Velma had ordered A-Eyes for both Daphne and Fred and they were waiting at the hotel when they returned from the dentist. It took just a few minutes to get the devices operating. Fred settled into a chair in the hotel room, brought his holographic screen up, and enlarged it. He sat for a few minutes.

"What the hell is this?"

Velma stepped around and looked over his shoulder, "That's a football game."

Fred grimaced, "Really? Who would watch this?"

"Not many people do anymore. But it's really safe for the players."

Daphne spent the afternoon holographically sketching from memory her ideas for the fashion look that would have been known as Daphne 2.0 but had never been unveiled. She looked from her sketches to the mirror and put large X's over some and erased haphazardly over others. Daphne 2.0 was intended for a woman in her thirties who was starting a family and in the prime of life. It just wouldn't work for a 65-year-old. She kept looking back and forth between her sketches and the mirror.

She looked over at Velma, "I can't dye my hair red, can I?"

"It would look like a pathetic attempt to recapture your lost youth." Velma, as always, was Velma.

Daphne stared back into the mirror, "But what if I really did lose my youth?"

xXx

Shaggy and Velma had decided that Scooby Doo would go to Hilo. Having Fred and Daphne and Scooby Doo staying on the same island seemed a bit risky. They arrived at the seaplane anchorage at mid-afternoon and Shaggy had a P-Car waiting to take them around to the hotel. Scooby did not come into the hotel lobby and when they were walking around to the room, he didn't speak and walked alongside Shaggy like a well-trained animal.

Scooby had requested a room to himself which had been unusual for who he was before. Another change in his friend to which Shaggy would have to get accustomed. Before leaving him, Shaggy asked, "Are you okay, Scoob? You're not acting like yourself."

"Or maybe you no longer know who I am." The dog paused for a moment, "Sorry. That was more cryptic than necessary."

"Yeah, it definitely had an ominous ring to it."

"Right now, I'm not ready to be Scooby Doo again. On the island, I found out how much of that had always been an act and just how exhausting it was."

"That's true for everybody, buddy. It's the façade we all put on to face society."

Scooby nodded, "I suppose. But after living without such a façade for so long, it may take a while for me to adjust to wearing it again."

Shaggy thought about his next statement and made it anyway, "Once news gets out that you're back, society is going to be forced on you in a big way." Some more thought and a deep breath preceded Shaggy finishing the statement, "We can still take you back to the island if you want."

"No. Being alone is worse. It's much, much worse. I'll deal with society."

It was time to get the conversation off the deep and melancholy, "What are you going to want to do for dinner?"

It worked as hoped. Scooby's ears went up and his entire countenance improved, "Pizza? Can we get some pizzas delivered?"

"No problem, buddy. How many and what toppings?"

Scooby was now downright excited, "I'd like two with pepperoni and sausage. One with onions, green peppers, and bacon. And then, just because we're in Hawaii, one with pineapple and bacon. How many are you going to get?"

Shaggy shook his head, remembering the old days. But alas, those days were gone, "If I can have two or three slices of yours, I'll be fine."

Scooby placed his paw on Shaggy's forehead, "Should I call a doctor?"

"Since I've gotten older, I eat less. We've all changed, Scoob."

"Yeah, but there's change and then there's CHANGE. Only two slices of pizza? That's un-American!"

Shaggy's resolve had weakened, and he had eaten nearly a full pizza by himself and when he woke up the following morning, his stomach was bloated and sore. Groggily looking around for what awakened him, he saw that it was an incoming call from Delilah.

Her face was serious, "It looks like the news is out."

Shaggy looked over to the other side of the bed to tell Velma before realizing that she was on Oahu. He didn't like being away from her, "Really? I haven't had any alerts."

"It's still local but the wire services should be picking it up any minute. I don't know if it will really change anything. I just wanted to give you a heads up."

"Okay, thanks Delilah."

Shaggy immediately called Velma and relayed the news. They stayed on the line together and braced for the deluge of media attention. Within a minute, the first placard popped up announcing the story. It was the local story which Delilah had mentioned. Within seconds, a third, fourth, and fifth joined. Over the next five minutes, eight more placards were in the air over their A-Eyes. They waited for calls from reporters or A-Eyes wanting details. They waited for calls from fan clubs or individual fans. They waited for calls from CBS or any of their old clients. But no calls came. And the number of placards in the air above their A-Eyes remained at thirteen.

Shaggy opened the first one.

SCOOBY DOO FOUND

Scooby Doo, the world's only talking dog and star of the television series 'Scooby Doo, Where Are You?', among others, has been found alive after being missing for 35 years. Also found were Daphne Blake, heiress to the Blake Industries fortune, and Fred Jones.

Other than the location of Riley, there was no by-line which meant it had been written by an A-Eye. The other twelve stories were simply reprints of this one with no additional information.

They waited another ten minutes before Shaggy said, "That's humbling."

Velma nodded, "I guess our fifteen minutes of fame ran out a long time ago. But, at least, that's one less headache to worry about."

Scooby slept in until Shaggy knocked on his door and called through that the breakfast buffet would be closing in 45 minutes. Thereafter followed a flurry of motion which ended with them in the dining room with 40 minutes to spare. Scooby went down the bar and smelled each item before piling it onto his plate. With each sniff, he said softly to himself, "Not rat."

A dog at the breakfast bar was unsettling to the hotel guests who apparently did not have Riley/Crystal Cove local stories prioritized on the news feeds. Shaggy had to enlist the aid of the US Embassy to get involved on Scooby's behalf since, when Hawaii seceded from the United States, the status of the laws recognizing Scooby as a full citizen with full rights became cloudy. The Embassy requested reciprocity, the RHI Government granted it, and the hotel A-Eye sent an announcement to all of the guests as to who and what Scooby Doo was. All of this was completed before Scooby got to the end of the buffet line. Some things had definitely improved from the old days.

xXx

Daphne's excitement deflated like a burst balloon, "What?! That can't be possible!"

Velma shrugged, "It's just the way it is now."

"But… it's so wrong!"

"I don't know what to tell you."

Five minutes before, Daphne had shown up at Velma's door, ready to go shopping for clothes. Velma had explained to her that what they had done earlier in the morning was not an emergency process but how all clothes shopping was done. They never had to leave the hotel room.

"But shopping for clothes is an event – not something you do while eating a muffin at your kitchen counter. It means so much more than just getting new outfits. It means going out with a friend, eating lunch at a nice restaurant, and just having a fun day."

Velma's definition of fun leaned way closer to the muffin at the kitchen counter, but she tried to sympathize, "There are a lot of things that you may have to get used to."

Daphne was emaciated, had grey hair, and her skin was wrinkled, but she was still a Blake and Blakes find a way. She stepped over to the bedstand, picked up the little box, and spoke to it, "A-Eye thingy?"

It answered, "Yes Daphne?"

"I would like to go out shopping for clothes at real clothing stores with people in them."

"There are three such stores in Honolulu which advertise the full old-fashioned shopping experience. Both have built-in bars and dining rooms and are able to create on site a full range of manufacturers. The price range is at the highest end."

Daphne almost squealed, "Perfect! Do I need reservations?"

"Yes."

"Please make me reservations at all three at two-hour intervals starting in one hour."

"There is a ten percent surcharge for reservations made within 24 hours."

"No problem."

"Reservations are made and the destinations are programmed into your P-Car."

"Great!" She looked at Velma, "This is going to be so much fun."

Velma was wearing the fakest fake smile she had ever faked.

xXx

Shaggy was at a standstill. Daphne and Fred being delayed gave him the opportunity to get Scooby and himself on a flight today and have a day to get him settled in at a location where he would not bump into them. But there were no seats available.

He found himself with only one alternative. Delilah answered the phone, "Hello Shaggy. Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, but I need a favor."

"Right now, your name is pretty high on everyone's list around here. Name it."

"I need help getting me and Scooby Doo on a flight today."

Delilah's jaw clenched, "I have no intention of doing any favors for that dog."

"I don't blame you. But this is not really for him. If I can get him home today and can keep your sister from accidentally bumping into him while traveling tomorrow, then we can avoid a situation that would be bad for everybody. Emotions are running pretty high, and I wouldn't want her or Fred to have troubles with the authorities over an incident."

She smiled, "Your crafty as hell. You know that?"

He shrugged, "Maybe. But it's also true."

"We'll get you on a flight but I'm sending the dog a bill."

"Fair enough."

xXx

Fred wasn't traditionally much for day drinking but he figured that he had missed 12,783 nights, so he could cut himself some slack. With no desire to share in the shopping experience, he worked with his A-Eye to get some in-style clothing (which was oddly like the primary-colors wardrobe that he had worn in the old show) delivered to the hotel. Then, he went out just to see civilization.

Being driven through downtown Honolulu by the P-Car, he was amazed by how few people were out on the sidewalks. It was a beautiful day and the middle of the week. Things should have been bustling. The only activity seemed to be around bars. So that is where he stopped. Just to talk to people. But bars don't make money on conversation and Fred had to buy himself drinks. And 'waste not want not', if he bought them, he might as well drink them. The walk back out to the P-Car was getting longer and more circuitous with each stop.

But Fred was having fun.

xXx

Daphne was having a blast, as well. She didn't have to change every time she wanted to see a new dress. Instead, she changed once when she first started at each store into a generic green gown. Holographic imagery took care of the rest. Dress after dress after suit after suit passed before Velma's eyes. She was having flashbacks to the horrific process forced on her by her mother and Daphne to choose a wedding gown.

A human sales clerk came by and offered her a glass of wine. On taking it, she looked up at the clerk and whispered, "Shoot me, now."

The clerk smiled, "You just need to get in the mood."

"Or get plastered."

"That helps, too."

Velma took a second glass off the tray and the clerk moved over to Daphne, cooing over how perfectly the particular outfit set off her eyes.

xXx

Scooby's A-Eye had been delivered to Shaggy as they were waiting at the airport for the flight home. It had taken longer than average since Scooby needed the hands-free model designed for the handicapped. It hung from a chain around his neck which worked perfectly for him except that the chain was a little long and he kept kicking it as it dangled out in front of his front legs. That could be adjusted later. The flight back to the US was relatively uneventful. Now that Scooby's legal status had been confirmed with all parties, his new A-Eye broadcast that information out to everyone who would be within eyesight. This brought about a lot of strange looks but avoided altercations or confusion.

Delilah had gotten Shaggy a seat in first class and Scooby a middle seat in coach. With all of the ticket transactions being done by A-Eyes, Scooby lost his opportunity for an upgrade like in the old days and was stuck between two children who asked him non-stop questions about how a dog could talk. Honestly, it made the flight go more quickly.

xXx

While dentistry had advanced greatly in the 35 years, skin moisturizing had not kept up the pace. Each of the three boutiques included a make-up and skin care professional along with a wide variety of products. Each had looked at Daphne's skin and explained that, while skin regeneration creams could eventually make a difference in her skin, it would take months to see the improvement. She accepted that and bought the recommended products and smeared them over her face, neck, arms, and legs right there in the store. While her skin didn't look any better, the moisturizers made it feel better immediately.

She and Velma returned to the hotel with Daphne looking elegant in a bright blue outfit with white trim and a touch of green to match the faded green of her eyes. It was a very staid and mature look, in keeping with her now advanced years. She had decided that this was Daphne 3.0. She would use various shades of blue or grey as her main color with a full spectrum of trim colors and always a dash of green somewhere near her face.

She praised modern technology in the fact that the shoes were a perfect fit and there was no break-in period.

When they got to Daphne and Fred's room, they found Fred passed out on the bed, fully clothed, snoring loudly. The room smelled like a brewery.

"I guess we each celebrate a return to civilization in our own way." She looked at the clothes that Fred had gotten for himself, "Well, this certainly won't do. I'll sit down with Fred and get him some proper clothes when he wakes up."

Velma was looking forward to getting back to her room for some alone time but checked on the evening plans, "When do you want to have dinner?"

Daphne tentatively pushed her teeth together and they were still sore from the previous days' dentistry, "I'm not sure that I'm up for eating."

"You've barely eaten anything all day and you're too skinny. You need to eat, even if its drinking soup through a straw."

"Okay, seven o-clock."

Daphne's A-Eye spoke from her pocket (purses apparently were no longer a thing), "Message from Delilah."

Daphne looked at Velma who said, "Tell it to read the message."

Daphne nodded, "Oh. Okay. A-Eye thingy, read the message."

"Your flight is at 11:00 tomorrow morning from the charter terminal. It will be a Blake Industries jet. See you tomorrow night, Sis."

xXx

"Nice place." Scooby walked into Shaggy and Velma's house and walked through to the sunroom looking out over the river. He enjoyed the view for about 30 seconds and then found his way to the refrigerator. He opened the door and looked in, "There are few things sadder than an empty fridge."

He jumped a little when a holographic placard appeared in the air in front of him reading 'Incoming call from Leonard Petway.' This A-Eye thing would take some getting used to.

Scooby didn't know what to do. The A-Eye verbally queried, "Would you like to answer the call?"

"I guess so."

The placard turned into the face of Leo Petway, the Government psychologist that had studied Scooby Doo as part of the Air Force project, "Hello Scooby." Leo would be in his seventies now and looked every day of it.

"Hello Leo. Long time, no see."

"Wow. Your speech has improved."

"I've had a lot of time to work on my diction. Why are you calling?"

"The Government has contacted me, and they would like to continue the studies. Are you up for a steady paycheck for one night a month of work?"

"How about medical? I used to get medical."

"Still catching up I see. Medical is free for everybody now. But we could probably get you private medical insurance."

"Why would I need that?"

"Medical care is free to everybody but rich people or people with private medical insurance get better doctors and shorter wait times."

"Good to know we haven't turned into a complete Marxist dystopia. I would hate it if the rich had to live like us poor common folk." Scooby's sarcastic wit was slowly returning.

"Are you interested?"

"I need some upfront money and I have one condition… no prostate exams."

"At your age, I'd recommend at least one per year."

"Okay. One per year but that's all."

"We can work with that. We'll send all the info to your A-Eye. Agree to it and we'll get the lab set up."

"Will it be the Air Force again?"

"Probably. It's all one big happy military-industrial complex family." Leo smiled at his own joke. Scooby didn't since he considered it true. "We'll get started in a couple of weeks. We'll schedule it with your A-Eye. You'll find an advance in your account within a few hours."

"My account? What account? I closed all my bank accounts."

Leo shook his head, "Banks don't hold individual accounts anymore. Your account is with your A-Eye."

"Okay. I guess I'll see you in a couple of weeks."

Leo ended the call and Scooby looked over at Shaggy, "I guess I have a job again."

Before Shaggy could respond, his A-Eye spoke, "Nan and Natalie are entering the front door."

They heard Nan's voice from the front hall, "Just leave it in the P-Car. We'll go back and get it. We've got enough to carry."

Mother and daughter came into the room with their arms full of groceries.

Shaggy was confused, "What are you doing? We could have had groceries delivered."

Nan jumped, "Dad? What are you doing here? I thought you and Mom and… Daphne and Fred weren't coming back until tomorrow. Are they here?"

"No, they're still coming back tomorrow. I… uh…"

Nan stepped toward the kitchen counter, "We'll talk more after I put these bags down. I figured that we're going to be in Crystal Cover for several days, so I emptied out our refrigerator and pantry and…"

Scooby Doo stepped out from behind the kitchen counter and Nan saw him for the first time. She set her groceries on the counter and walked up to stand directly in front of him. Natalie walked up right behind her. Everyone in the room, including Nan herself, was surprised when she suddenly hurled a roundhouse punch into Scooby's snout, "Fuck you!"

The pain in Scooby's face was sudden, unexpected, and blinding as his eyes teared. He took half a step back and his dog half instinctively took over. He crouched and let out a terrifying growl. His eyes cleared to see Nan's look of fear as she turned away from him and used her body to shield her daughter.

Shaggy dove between them, "Scooby!"

Nan screamed, "I don't want him anywhere near me or my daughter!"

Scooby recovered himself and looked up at Shaggy, "I'll wait for you outside." And he left.