In Crystal Cove, Mystery Incorporated II was looking at Estelle in pure shock. They couldn't believe that she was really an angel and she really came to help Scooby. Scooby pulled out the key from underneath his collar and looked at it. The symbol on his key was the same that Mystery Incorporated I had. Speaking of Mystery Incorporated I, Mr. E aka Ricky Owens was wondering where Professor Pericles was. Brady Chiles and Judy Reeves went with him so Ricky - er - Mr. E was really in the dark.

Thinking back on it, Professor Pericles had been a lot of trouble since Ricky had saved him and ever since they started Mystery Incorporated I. He looked at the pictures of Cassidy Williams again in much sorrow. He couldn't believe that he had a hand in her - how he had to choke on this word - murder. It had been about six months since Angel Dynamite aka Cassidy Williams was killed. Ricky looked back on those events with a very long face...

…

-Flashback: 'The Midnight Zone'-

A robot disguised as a Nazi World War II soldier attacks Cassidy Williams at her radio station, eventually self-destructing as Cassidy fights back, taking the entire building with it. She explains to the gang that these robots have been attacking her for the past week and that she would've told the gang but they don't exactly trust her. Robots continue to attack the gang as they investigate. When the gang realizes that the robots are coming from deep underwater, Daphne recruits two of her babysitting charges.

And they are: Tom and Tub, and their seal also named Scooby, to transport the gang in their submarine to the robots' spawning vats, in an area the kids call "The Midnight Zone". Shortly after submerging, the sub is attacked by a group of robots and damaged. Thee gang stumble upon an underwater base and attempt to use it to repair the sub. However, they discover that the base is the factory where the robots are constructed and it is run by Pericles.

Pericles reveals that he met Abigail Gluck in the 1930's, meaning that he is at least 85 years old. That's when Pericles snatches the disk piece from her dead body. In the end, Pericles escapes leaving the laboratory to self-destruct, possibly killing Cassidy Williams as everyone else escapes.

-End of Flashback-

…

Mr. E still couldn't believe it. Was he really having an attack of conscience now? He was really close to the treasure of Crystal Cove but he had no idea what Scooby and the others knew. He didn't know that the treasure was evil and needed to be destroyed. He just thought that the treasure was going to make him rich and powerful beyond his wildest dreams. He sighed.

"I have to admit," he stated to someone in the shadows, "It's not worth it if I don't have my Cassidy."

"But what about that poison that Pericles put in you," the person asked, sounding concerned.

Mr. E shook his head and answered, "Forget the poison, forget about the possibility of going to prison. Forget everything. I want to make up for everything I did."

The person stepped out of the shadows to reveal Alice May, the girl that Mr. E hired on multiple occasions. Alice placed her hand on top of Mr. E's rather gently. She knew that he needed a friendly hand right now -employer or not.

Especially since Ed Machine and Cassidy were both killed by Pericles. Even though Mr. E had sort of a hand in the fact that Cassidy was killed, he still needed a friend and Alice knew it. She had just gotten out of prison so she went to see Mr. E. When she first got here, she saw that he was all alone. She was going to ask him where everyone was but she knew the news that Cassidy was possibly killed. She really started to hate Pericles but she wasn't going to tell Mr. E that...unless she had to.

She said, "Mr. E - Ricky. You really think that Mystery Incorporated II is really gonna believe and trust you after what you and Pericles did to them."

"I tried to help those kids," Mr. E pointed out, lying.

"From the beginning it was all about the treasure and you know it," Alice replied, not believing his lies.

Mr. E sighed sadly and responded, "You're right Alice. It has been about the treasure since the start."

Alice crossed her arms in front of her chest and stated, "Sure has been."

Mr. E closed his eyes and made an angry fist. He commented, getting mad, "What a fool I've been. Instead of trying to solve the mystery of Crystal Cove like I was supposed to, I got caught up in getting that darn treasure. And it cost me a good employee and the love of my life. Cassidy will never forgive me."

Alice walked over to him and did the one thing that he wasn't expecting. She hugged him and stated, "She will if you do the right thing."

Mr. E was taken back by Alice's hug. She was just his employee - one of his best - and she was hugging him... He was stunned...beyond stunned. Alice realized what she was doing and pulled away from him.

"Sorry, I was only trying to help," she told him, looking down.

Mr. E, for the first time that this started to happen, actually smiled. It was pure and it was genuine.

He stated, "No, no Alice. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hired you to try to destroy the kids to flush Pericles out. I wasn't thinking."

Alice perked up at this and asked, "What are you saying?"

"You are no longer my employee, Alice," he answered, sounding firm.

Alice smiled, throwing Mr. E for a loop. She stated, "I much rather be your friend right now and besides, I came here out of my own free will."

"As did I," said another voice.

Mr. E and Alice spun around. Alice's eyes widened in surprise as she saw who was coming in.

She asked, surprised, "What are you doing here?"

Alice and Mr. E saw Marci "Hot Dog Water" Fleach standing there. Mr. E was furious. He couldn't believe that Hot Dog Water was actually here ever since she stole the pieces of the Planispheric Disk. However, a part of him was also glad that someone was going to try and solve the mystery of Crystal Cove.

Mr. E asked, hissing, "What are you doing here Hot Dog Water? Haven't you done enough to me already?"

Marci waved her hands in defense. She answered, "Whoa, I only came to see how you were doing."

"And to spy on him for Mystery Incorporated II as well I'll bet," Alice accused, pointing a finger at Marci.

Marci gave Alice a dirty look and accused, "Says the girl that tried to blow up my friends to get her hands on a stupid disk piece and flush out that bird of terror!"

Alice's eyes widen in pure surprise as Mr. E raised an eyebrow. She couldn't believe that Marci had the guts to say what was on her mind aloud. Mr. E had nothing to say about the bird that caused him and his friends so much misery. But he knew that he had to get in the middle of this before Alice and Marci got into a fight.

So; he commented, "Alright you two, that's enough. What happened in these past weeks had nothing to do with the two of you or what you did to me or to those kids. What is important now is our mission is still the same. We have to stop Pericles - the bird of terror as you call him Marci - from getting the treasure."

"Where is that bird anyhow," Marci asked, now noticing that the parrot wasn't perched on Mr. E's shoulder.

Alice answered, shrugging, "He went off somewhere with Brad and Judy. Now Ricky - er - Mr. E has poison in him from that bird of terror because he wanted to be in charge!"

"Poison," Marcy repeated, blowing off that Alice had called Mr. E by his real name.

Mr. E stated, "It's no concern of yours, Hot Dog Water. Besides, I was on my way to see Sheriff Bronson Stone."

Alice perked up at this as she knew that the sheriff didn't have the best track record for when it came to solving crime most of the time. Plus, Sheriff Bronson Stone and Mayor Janette Neddles had a relationship going after a very rocky start.

Alice asked Mr. E, "What for?"

"To turn myself in," he answered, walking by the two girls and out the door.

Worried and putting aside their differences, Alice and Marci went after him.

Marci stated, "Mr. E, the law will not show you mercy."

Mr. E replied, "I don't care."

"You'll never get out," Alice added, trying to help out Marci.

"I don't care," he simply replied again.

That's when Marci thought of something.

She stated, "You'll never avenge Ed and Cassidy's murders!"

Mr. E's face fell to this. He did feel responsible and did want to avenge their deaths but he thought that going to jail was a better idea. He reflected on what happened to Ed when the truth all came out about The Freak of Crystal Cove...

…

-Flashback: 'All Fear the Freak'-

Shaggy and Scooby were running away from the Freak as fast as they could. They had a piece of the Planispheric Disk and just then, a car crossed their path. In the car was Ed Machine.

He told the two of them, "Get in this car if you wanna live."

Shaggy was reluctant at first but obeyed and Scooby got in as well. At K-Ghoul radio station, the gang was gathered there.

Fred stated, "You had no right to bring us here."

Angel had her hands on her hips, not wanting any of their cold shoulders. She replied, "I brought you here to protect you."

"Yeah where I have heard that before," Fred hissed, really not in the mood for Angel right now.

At that moment, Shaggy and Scooby came in. Velma asked, "Shaggy, Scooby. Are you two alright?"

Scooby answered, "Reah rhanks ro rim."

At that moment, Ed Machine came in. "Ed Machine," the gang blurted out in unison.

Angel looked at him and asked, "What happened?"

Ed answered, "The Freak attacked them at their home."

Angel stated, "He's getting more desperate."

Ed replied, "I'll tell Mr. E they are safe. The rest is up to you."

With that, Ed left for his car. The gang turned to Angel at that moment.

Fred asked, "I thought you told us that you were no longer working for Mr. E?"

Angel answered, "When the needle is in the red zone, sometimes you have to dance the devil's gig. Now, I know you kids don't exactly trust me but E and I are the only ones that dealt with this freak before." She asked, "So, truce?"

She knew that it was a long shot but she was hoping that the kids would agree for their own safety. The gang nodded as they headed out of the small place where Angel did her radio broadcast. She was starting to plan out when the kids locked her in and headed off on their own. Angel quickly called Ed, who just got to a house and left his phone in his car, which had just started to ring. However, Ed didn't hear it and entered the house, not knowing there was trouble.

Ed threw his keys on the table and turned on the lights. On the chair in front of him was Professor Pericles.

He stated, "Hello, Ed Machine."

Ed asked, "What are you doing here?"

Pericles answered, "I'd like you to deliver a message to Ricky - or should I call him Mr. E."

Ed crossed his arms in front of his chest and stated, "Say what you want to say Pericles and then get out of my house."

Pericles chuckled evilly at this. He knew that Ed was a lot like Ricky since they were practically like brothers.

He commented, "Dear Ed, you misunderstand. I don't want to say anything."

Ed turned white as Pericles approached him with something electrical. Some say that all you could hear in the house after hearing something electrical going off was a piercing scream and then nothing but quiet and peaceful silence.

-End of Flashback-

…

Wishmaker1028: Chapter 23 is finished! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!