Earlier that day...
"Well here we are gang" said Fred as the Mystery Machine pulled up outside a large steel and glass building "ECBio Labs"
"It will be nice to see Polly again after all this time" said Velma, as they got out and walked towards the building.
"And to see the new Dinkley" said Shaggy
"Yes, this is so exciting, my own bacteria, a whole new species named after me" enthused Velma
"Velma, it's a bug" said Daphne with a degree of disgust "A perfume or shoes I can understand, but... bacteria?"
"Daphne, this is a huge honour for me, it's like immortality, the laws of taxonomy are set in stone, it's... oh never mind" Velma stopped, slightly crestfallen, when she saw Daphne's look of incomprehension. Velma and Fred walked slightly ahead. Shaggy went up to Daphne.
"Come on Daph, this is a big thing for Velma" he whispered "Especially after..."
"I know, I know" sighed Daphne feeling a little guilty "I just can't get excited by it like she does. I don't want to hurt her feelings but it all just makes we want to go ewwwwww. I mean they first found it in raw sewage."
The gang went through security and then waited to be collected. After a short while the lift opened and for all intents and purposes a lab coated Velma stepped out.
"Hey Velma, how did you get over there, but if your over there, who are you" Shaggy was doing a double take between the Velma next to him and the 'Velma' that had stepped out of the lift.
"Hi Velma" called lab-coat Velma
"Polly, it's good to see you, but, you've... changed" said a surprised Velma,
"I'm into amateur dramatics and had to dye my hair for a part, I've also had an eye infection so I have to wear glasses rather than contact lenses for the time being" replied Polly Velma and Polly did look rather similar to each other, especially at a distance. "So this is Scooby" enthused Polly "oh I love Great Danes, I've even got some Scooby Snacks for you, Velma told me you liked them" she bent down and scratched Scooby behind the ear, Scooby was just as enthusiastic.
"We're dumped Velma, looks like Scooby has a new best friend" wailed Shaggy resting his head on her shoulder in a blatant display of overacting
"Don't worry Shaggy dear, you can have Scooby's share of the snacks I've brought" replied Velma patting him on the head, the rest of the gang joined in the amusement.
Polly escorted them to a conference room where some refreshments had been laid. Slightly chastened by her discussion with Shaggy Daphne was trying to get a human angle on things so she could generate some genuine enthusiasm for the proceedings so she decided to have a chat with Polly
"So why did name the thing after Velma?" she asked
"It was Velma that fed my interest in science, she was kind enough to keep answering all my questions and encouraged me when I was in graduate school. It's thanks to her that I'm where I am today. As the discoverer of the new species, I get to pick its name, and this was the most appropriate way I could think of to acknowledge both her support and her love of science."
"I think I get it now, but, well, a bug as a friendship gift" replied Daphne
Polly gave a giggle "I'm a microbiologist Daphne, I don't study 'cute' things, but there is beauty there, even in bugs. It's not to everyone's tastes but for Velma it is an appropriate friendship gift." Daphne nodded in agreement
"That's true Polly, its also put quite a spring in her step, I haven't seen her this happy for months. Certainly not since she came out of hospital" replied Daphne
Polly took hold of Daphne's arm and quietly moved her to the side of the room "Speaking of Velma, how's she really doing? I can never bring myself to ask her directly." she asked quietly.
"Much better Polly," replied Daphne "she's almost her old self now, she still has the odd bad day from time to time, thought they don't upset her as much as they used to. When she first came out of hospital she was mortified by the changes in her behaviour when she was in public."
"I remember that" replied Polly "You said she refused to come out of her lab for a days at a time as she was so distressed by her behaviour"
Daphne nodded "That was the worst time, she even considered admitting herself to hospital again. Then Shaggy had the genius idea of taking her out for a walk early each morning when there was no=one else around. It got her out the house into the fresh air but in a safe environment which was what she needed. That's when the real Velma began to make a come-back. What annoys her most now is she hasn't had the all-clear to play ice-hockey yet."
Polly breathed a sigh of relief "Thanks Daphne, I was horrified when I heard how badly she'd been hurt."
Daphne shivered slightly "We all were, it was so bad that the man who attacked her was charged with attempted murder. I nearly fainted when I first saw her in the ICU, she looked so tiny amongst all those wires and tubes… she couldn't even breathe for herself… she nearly died…."
"But she's better now Daphne" Polly said firmly, she could see Daphne beginning to tear-up with the memory.
Daphne smiled "Yes Polly, I think we're the ones who need therapy now, she still can't remember any of if, whereas we still can, all to clearly. What annoys the rest of us is that the police could never find who was behind the gang. After what happened to Velma, they deserve to be in jail."
Later in the afternoon there was a semi-formal reception prior to the presentation. The gang and the guest mingled and the room was filled with the noise of social hubbub. As the reception carried on Velma noticed that Polly's voice began to grow quite and she was coughing a lot
"Your voice sounds a little rough Polly, are you sure you are OK?" asked Velma,
"It's all the rehearsing we've been doing, I'm not used to speaking so much" croaked Polly.
"Do you want me to do the talk after the presentation to save your voice?" asked Velma "I should be OK unless things get very technical"
"That would be welcome Velma, I'll get the slides so you can look over it before hand" replied Polly and she left the room with Scooby in tow.
"Like, what's up Velma?" asked Shaggy as he came up behind her
"Polly has been overdoing rehearsing and has a sore throat" Velma turned and smiled at him
"Ah! 'Once more unto the throat lozenge dear friends' or perhaps 'Now is the winter of our expectorant'" quipped Shaggy in a Shakespearian voice and manner, Velma laughed and held his arm. A little way off Daphne could see Shaggy and Velma, they were exceptionally close at the moment, all they need is a little nudge in the right direction… she thought.
Just before the presentation the gang went off to get changed into suitably formal clothes, Daphne wore the latest fashionable dress, Fred wore a blazer and smart sweater and Scooby had his collar and tag polished till they shone like new. Shaggy entered the room looking uncomfortable, as ever, in a suit. Velma entered a few seconds later wearing smart chocolate-orange trouser suit. Shaggy said something to Velma; she smiled and looked rather bashful. Shaggy offered her his arm, she took it, and he escorted a blushing Velma towards the stage. Daphne whistled 'Here comes the bride' but to her disappointment neither of them heard her. Velma was now on the stage and people settled down for the presentation. Velma was handed a framed copy of the formal species description written in Latin, some large electron micrographs and a cut-away model of her bacteria "Wow, look at Velma's face" whispered Daphne "She looks so proud". Instead of the usual flowers at the end she was presented with a large orange coloured plush-toy of E. velmadinklei, she waved its flagella at the applauding audience, "If her grin gets any wider the top of her head will fall off" whispered Shaggy. Velma then proceeded to give the presentation talk instead of Polly; Velma was in her element and enjoyed every minute of it.
That afternoon there was an informal buffet, everyone was now back to normal. Daphne was surprised to find out that Shaggy had helped Velma pick her outfit for the presentation. She couldn't decide between feeling a little put out or intrigued by this discovery. The gang were due to crash at Polly's house that evening for a proper party. Polly was enjoying the time she was spending with Scooby "My boyfriend and I love dogs, but he's allergic to them" she sighed "but as he's off on mountain rescue course at the moment I'll take full advantage of Scooby being here". The group made their way down to reception. They were bringing the boxed-up leftovers from the buffet as back-up. Polly, though she had been warned to get extra food in, had yet to experience Shaggy and Scooby in full party-food mode.
"Polly do you want me to put this stuff in your car while you put snacks into Scooby?" laughed Velma
"Thanks, Velma here are my keys" replied Polly
Velma walked out of the building with the boxes, as she appeared a van parked opposite the building started up and entered the car park.