Chapter Three: Heed or Refuse

Shaggy had managed to loose their attackers and finally stopped the motorcycle at the train-yard. Once sure that they were out of danger for the moment the three stepped off of the vehicle.

"Like, I think we're good now," said Shaggy.

"Who are those people?" Alexa asked.

"Like I don't know what they call themselves but...but they're part of some organization," said Shaggy. "One which is after various artifacts. Like a book that Wickels had. You found it didn't you?"

Alexa clutched her bag tightly as Shaggy and Scooby both focused their attention on it.

"Please," Shaggy said, his eyes pleading and his hand outstretched. "Just give me the book Alexa."

"Why do you want it?" she asked.

"I don't want it I...I need it," said Shaggy. "Alexa please, I can take you back to the Consulate, you can...you can forget all of this ever happened."

"I will tell Diana," said Alexa.

She saw a twinge of fear run through Shaggy's eyes.

"Then she'll kill me," said Shaggy. "Or lock me away like an animal for the rest of my life."

She saw the fear of that possibility in Shaggy's eyes so clearly.

"She...she wouldn't," said Alexa. "Diana...would never kill without reason. Or heedlessly lock away an innocent. If they were innocent."

"I haven't killed anyone," said Shaggy. "Even with my...condition during the Full Moon."

"It's true," the dog spoke, in a voice that seemed more to ring into Alexa's mind even as the dog moved its mouth as if to mimic the image of speech.

"And you," Alexa said. "A...talking dog."

"Like yeah," said Shaggy. "Like, Alexa I'm sorry we...I'm sorry I deceived you but...I have to get that book. Please?"

"If I say no what will you do to me?" Alexa asked.

Shaggy held his mouth open, as if struggling to find words. The dog whimpered a bit. Between the two of them it would have been all to easy to take the book from Alexa. She was not the warrior her sisters were after all.

"Would you give it for a...Scooby Snack?" Scooby-Doo asked in that telepathic voice.

"What?" asked Alexa.

"Something I made for Scooby as a reward for being good," said Shaggy.

Alexa only raised her eyebrow more in confusion.

"Like Scooby might be like some weird mystical talking dog," said Shaggy. "But like...he is still a dog."

Alexa sighed, feeling as if the tension was lessening by the second.

"Like listen, the only thing that wasn't really true was our names," said Shaggy. "Oh and like, our jobs too. We're detectives and like we're trying to get ahead of these like majorly bad dudes. Like the same kind of dudes who just tried to shoot us all dead. And like on a more personal note that book...well it could help me."

"This book," said Alexa, bringing the book out of her bag. "Is a centuries long study on werewolves. History and...physiology. You're looking for a cure aren't you?"

Shaggy nodded sadly, Scooby-Doo imitating the motion.

"Like, I'll take you back to the Consulate but...I need that book," said Shaggy.

Alexa thought about it, despite the false name he had used she still found there to be honesty in his voice. She wasn't entirely certain but more than that there was something else stirring in her. For so long she had been more scholar than warrior. For so long that had been enough. But there were times when Alexa wished she were more like her sisters. When she could have an adventure of her own.

"I can't just give you the book. But I...I can tell you must have a true need of it. So...I'm coming with you," Alexa said.

"What?" Shaggy asked.

"I...I want to know the truth of all of this," said Alexa. "As such I offer a pact. The book never leaves my side...and I go with you."

"Like that's crazy," said Shaggy.

"That is my offer," said Alexa. "Or you will have to take it from me by force."

Shaggy bit his lip and exchanged a look with the dog. As if they were having a conversation in silence. As an Amazon gone missing it was a sure way to ensure that Wonder Woman would follow them. As well as perhaps the rest of the Justice League and...

"I can assure you Diana will not harm you if that is what you're afraid of," said Alexa, as if reading Shaggy's mind. "If you're looking for a cure then I promise she would only offer her aid. And if you fear me betraying you...I give you my word as an Amazon that I will not attempt to contact her."

"Like do you have any idea how bad an idea this sounds like?" Shaggy asked.

"It is my offer," said Alexa. "As they say in Man's World, you may receive or abandon it."

"Like I think you mean, 'take it or leave it', but I like get your point," said Shaggy. "What do you think Scoob?"

An idea came to Alexa's mind, something she believed might help her win this debate.

"I'll make more spanakopita," she said.

"She's in," Scooby-Doo projected, wagging his tail happily.

"Scooby! That's...well like I guess that is a good point," said Shaggy. "Like alright but...the thing is I'm due for...a bad moon. Scooby can help keep me calm when I'm...well when it happens but..."

"I will manage," Alexa said, putting up as brave a front as she could.

"Like, fine," said Shaggy. "We can't risk the streets, we don't know how many of those goons there are and they might be watching the CCTV cameras. I think one of these trains is getting ready to leave. We can hop on and get out of the city. After that we'll get our bearings and like head to a rendezvous point the Gang agreed on. Some of them should be heading there now if they're not waiting already."

"Very well," said Alexa.

The three then quietly crept along to an empty car as the sounds of the train began to signal the departure. Thus Alexa departed on a true adventure.

Diana called ahead to Etta to retrieve Alexa from the Gateway Museum. Uncovering the true identity of Matt Casey and fearing that a repeat incident would happen going along with the pattern Batman had noticed, Diana wanted her sister out of harm's way.
To her sorrow, Etta responded that by the time she arrived Alexa was missing and there was evidence of a fight in the Museum. By the time Diana arrived with Batman in tow, there was a heavy police and media presence. Along with Batman's advice Diana drew back and waited for Etta to meet up with them.

"It's crazy down there," Etta said, as she climbed up the fire-escape of a building across the museum. "Diana, I'm so sorry if I..."

"None of this is your fault Etta, please don't blame yourself," said Diana, placing a comforting hand upon her friend's shoulder.

"But it's bad Diana, after I finished talking with the cops I got told not to leave town," said Etta. "They didn't seem to like it when I dropped your name either. Or that Alexa was an Amazon."

"Strange, I have a good relation with the Gateway City Police Department," said Diana. "I'll speak with the lead officer down there and..."

"I'd advise against that," said Batman. "For now at least. Did you overhear anything else when you were down there?"

"Only that some of the tablets that Alexa was recently studying were taken," said Etta. "They're also saying the security system, really all the electrical systems were fried."

"But no sign of Alexa?" Diana asked, a worried expression clear on her face.

"Or of Rogers," said Batman, looking down at the scene and noticing the torn up fire hydrant.

The impromptu trio of Shaggy, Scooby, and Alexa hopped off the train as soon as they were out of the limits of Gateway City. Cutting through the woods they soon came across a roadside motel on the edge of a small town.
Shaggy paid cash for two nights stay and purchased an atlas. Once in their room Shaggy went to explain to Alexa their route.

"Like our end goal is here, Scorpion Ridge in New Mexico," said Shaggy. "It's just like...on the other side of the country. And like we kind of had to improvise our get out of town and cash is going to run low."

Alexa thought of once again suggesting that they try and get in contact with Diana. But she had given her word as an Amazon that she wouldn't contact Diana. Although by now Diana was well aware that she was missing. She had no doubt that soon enough that Artemis would get called. While she tried to assure Shaggy that Diana would not harm him without due cause, she couldn't really say the same about Artemis.

"Like now would be a real good time to look for good escape routes," said Shaggy. "Like say we split up and..."

"No," said Alexa, her hand on the bag containing the book.

"Okay, but like we really do need to be smart about this," said Shaggy. "Like my friend Velma came up with this."

Shaggy pulled up what Alexa had come to learn was an ATM card.

"It's specially designed to scramble up an ATM's security systems," said Shaggy. "Allowing to connect to a secret account but without leaving a trace in the system. But like only for emergencies."

"And this qualifies as such an emergency?" Alexa asked.

"Like I'm a werewolf with a talking dog whose technically kidnapped an Amazon who is I'm guessing very close with one of the world's greatest superheroes," said Shaggy. "Not to mention there is a shadowy organization with lots of guys with guns and ghosts who are made of lightning. And worst of all...we're low on snacks, so yes this is an emergency."

"Food is a very important part of your life isn't it?" Alexa asked.

"Like totally," said Shaggy.

"Yeah," Scooby said.

"Well before we do anything I think we should both go over this book," said Alexa. "I also have more questions for you. Both of you."

"Like can we do a grocery run first?" asked Shaggy. "I like think better when my stomach's full."

After the police had finished Batman and Wonder Woman looked through the museum. Damage from gunfire was obvious in certain areas. The doors of the medieval room were damaged, as was a window leading out into an alleyway that would lead to the street with the damaged hydrant.

"Multiple groups at least given some of the damage," said Batman.

"No casings were found according to the police," said Diana. "Even digging for the bullets proved fruitless. Even from the guards who had residue on their hands but could not remember firing weapons."

"The bullets could have been used to identify the make," said Batman. "Door to the medieval room is damaged, someone tried to break it down. Someone hid in there, likely Alexa and Rogers, the dog too apparently."

"Then run out to the street and a fire hydrant is damaged," said Diana. "The electrical system is also shorted out greatly. We all know this Bruce. But it doesn't tell me where Alexa is or if she's safe."

"We need to determine what this was about Diana," said Batman. "This isn't an isolated incident. Other strange robberies and murders. A group of detectives, two of whom have come close to us."

"One of whom has my sister," said Diana. "Bruce, I respect your craft of deduction but where my sister is concerned my patience is as thin as the string keeping Damocles from being skewered. And you should know that..."

"Etta Candy is going to contact Artemis," said Batman.

"Of course you know that already," said Diana.

"Standard procedure for a kidnapping," said Batman. "Although I'm hesitant to call it a kidnapping at this time. Rogers has a record that's spotless. Save for his diagnosis of a panic disorder."

"You mentioned that," said Diana. "That it caused him extreme reaction when presented with stress or danger. But Alexa was saved by him during the initial break in. If he truly had a disorder he would have been paralyzed."

"Just another puzzle," said Batman. "I think the root of it has to be the items stolen from each location. Obviously Rogers prevented the initial theft."

"So this was a second attempt," said Diana. "And once more Alexa was caught in the middle. But if Rogers is on the side of justice..."

"Jury's not entirely out either way," said Batman.

"Then why not deliver her safely to me?" Diana proposed. "In fact why haven't we been called in on these other cases?"

"Aside from Gotham, the other locations I noted weren't known to be close to our radar," said Batman. "The pterodactyl creature I fought was the first indication that there may be an extra-normal involvement in these crimes."

"So assume then that this Mystery Incorporated is investigating these crimes, you encounter Jones and Alexa meeting Rogers," said Diana. "But why wouldn't Jones return what was being stolen from the Gotham museum?"

"Good question, another is determining what was the true object of value in this museum," said Batman. "Sumerian Tablets are one thing, but I doubt that's all."

"Alexa mentioned that Professor Wickels had been accosted about something specific," said Diana. "Perhaps his office may bare some answers."

"Worth a shot," said Etta.

The three entered Wickels office and began to carefully inspect it. It did not take Batman long to find the same secret compartment that Alexa had discovered the book in.

"A secret passage...with nothing in it," said Etta.

"Something that was here," said Batman.

"That must have been the real goal for the thieves," said Diana. "And for Rogers. But...Alexa, she must have found whatever was here."

"But what was it?" asked Etta. "And why not just talk about it when she did?"

Diana thought about that, thinking about her time with Alexa. Alexa had always preferred the excitement of a good book over such things as training in combat with their sisters. But after leaving and becoming known to Man's World as Wonder Woman, whenever Diana returned home she saw a listlessness in Alexa's eyes whenever she spoke of her adventures. A feeling that grew when Artemis, Alexa's true older sister joined in adventures of her own.

"You read and hear enough about the adventures of others and soon you grow to want your own," said Diana.

"And in this case it could be fatal," said Batman. "At least two of the other incidents included violent deaths. One of which looked almost as if some kind of animal had shredded the victim."

"Think Cheetah's involved?" asked Etta.

"If it were she'd go directly after me," said Diana.

"But someone is clearly using animal-esq muscle, especially given the thing I tangled with," said Batman. "This also might tie into Rogers. I did some digging into his family history on the way here. On his mother's side of the family there was a particularly unpleasant reason why they fled to America. They also changed their names to avoid the persecution happening in Europe."

"That's not an uncommon story for immigrants, then and now," said Diana.

"The family name Shagworth used to be Fangsworth," said Batman. "They were accused of being werewolves."

After procuring food for the night, as well as a change of clothes, Shaggy began going over everything he knew about the situation Alexa had suddenly found herself in. As well as truths about himself.

"Like, a lot of what I said was true," said Shaggy. "My dad was a cop and my mom was like a hippie. A bunch of friends of mine we...we kind of formed our own gang of detectives and...well when I couldn't be a cop I figured that would be the closest I could get to dad."

"Including your friend here?" Alexa asked, gesturing to Scooby.

"Like, that's a funny thing," said Shaggy. "Scooby's actually about as old as I am. Like, he doesn't age like normal dogs in addition to the whole weird 'mind' talking thing."

"And that wasn't strange to you?" asked Alexa.

"Like, not really as...well it kind of ran in the family," said Shaggy. "On my father's side of the family, every eldest son was accompanied by a Great Dane. From the same family of Great Danes even. Going back to even before we were on the May Flower and possibly further than that. All of them talking like Scooby does. Dad used to say our ancestors believed they were our guardian angels, just in dog form. Can't say he's wrong, Scooby's been the one to like...keep me from falling apart. Even before the...the other thing."

"The Lycanthropy," said Alexa. "Were you bitten?"

"Actually, like mom told me that her...her side of the family was the hairy part," said Shaggy.

Alexa pulled out the book and flipped to pages detailing that some cases of lycanthropy can be passed down through family lines.

"Like my uncle Albert, mom's brother, actually became a scientist to try and figure out the problem," said Shaggy. "It skipped his and mom's generation but like hit me when...well I don't entirely remember too well but it did hit when I was a kid. I actually kind of liked...blocked most of that out until a few years ago."

"How so?" Alexa asked.

"Like ever since I was a kid I was like...well I wasn't the bravest kid," said Shaggy. "In fact I could get freaked out by just about everything it seemed. Kept me from being a cop like dad. It's part of what got me and Scooby together. Even Uncle Albet had to give me medicine."

"Formulated to attempt to keep the transformations at bay," said Alexa. "And as an Annunaki, even as a descendant, Scooby-Doo would have been able to perhaps influence your beastly mind to keep you calm."

Both Shaggy and Scooby stared at Alexa with a look of surprise at how well she was able to deduce that.

"I'm sorry," she said, with a light giggle. "Please...go on."

"Like...yeah...it was through uncle Albert's research that he came across that book, and other things as well. A lot of them coming from the same collection."

"Collection?" Alexa repeated.

She then recalled what Professor Wickels had said.

"The collection of artifacts from World War II. Such as the stone tablets I was studying," said Alexa. "The Professor said that the collection had long been split up."

"Yeah, Uncle Albert spent a long time researching that collection," said Shaggy. "He thought that Nazi lunatic who originally had the stuff in WWII was onto something. Something about hybridizing animal and human DNA to make super-soldiers. But he like got bombed before anything came of it."

"Maybe not," said Alexa, flipping to pages in German. "Apparently some experiments had pleased his mad master."

"Like you're sure that's right?" asked Shaggy.

"This entry is written in the most recent dialect," said Alexa. "There are also pages in which the same language and hand is used to comment in older sections. Making corrections which correlate with what were then modern scientific practices. But especially highlighted are terms and references about the Annunaki."

"Like Uncle Albert looked them up too," said Shaggy. "He thinks that they were extra-dimensional beings who possessed animals. He also thinks that's where Scooby came from."

"Yeah," said Scooby.

"So in that sense it's a race between you and your friends against this organization for the remains of the collected artifacts of this scientist," Alexa said, summarizing the plot she had stumbled into.

"Essentially," said Shaggy. "But like we don't know a lot about these guys. Except some of that they've got like some seriously freaky power. Like that...volt ghost thing. We didn't even realize that these guys were a thing until we began looking into the collection. Following Uncle Albert's research on it we found that like there had been some freaky things reported. Going back to 1969 even. We were lucky to track down a few locations in the continental U.S and split up. We split up and went undercover to try and get what we could before these bad guys could."

Shaggy pulled out a road map of the country and circled the various locations the Gang had split up.

"Like we missed two locations here," said Shaggy. "Oakhaven and New Orleans. Number Three was Gotham but like I'm not sure if that got hit by now. Of if..."

"If the Batman is now aware of this," Alexa interjected.

"Yeah," said Shaggy.

"And now Diana will surely be looking into this because of me," said Alexa. "And I suppose...Artemis as well will involve herself soon enough."

Shaggy gulped loudly, knowing Artemis's reputation when compared to Wonder Woman.

"If they catch up to us...I will talk to them," she said. "But I will keep my promise and not contact them."

"Like at this point I'm thinking maybe that isn't such a bad thing," said Shaggy. "Like it'd be bad enough if Batman thinks we're the bad guys. If he hears from Wonder Woman that I just kidnapped one of her Amazon sisters I'm screwed. Like they'd probably accuse you of having Stockholm Syndrome."

"I've read about that," said Alexa. "It only applies to captives who come to identify with their captors. I'm not a hostage...am I?"

"No," Shaggy said without hesitation. "But like...I really don't get why you'd actually want to come along to this? You could have just gone back to Wonder Woman and...well I'd likely be getting shipped to Arkham, Blackgate, or any of those other other prisons where they keep all the other monsters."

"If I am not a captive...you are not a monster," said Alexa.

"We still have a full moon coming," said Shaggy. "Tell me what you think after that."

"Regardless, I intend to see this through," said Alexa. "As for why I'm here...I'll admit I'm not much of a warrior like my sisters. The excitement of a good book was always enough for me. But for the longest time after living on Theymiscira, a good while after we arrived, I began wanting more. To see how Man's World had changed. Hearing all the stories Diana and later Artemis would tell...I...I suppose I saw this as chance for my own adventure."

"Like how's it going so far?" Shaggy asked.

"So far it's been...groovy," Alexa said with a light giggle.

Professor Wickels had recovered enough that he could be allowed visitors. Visitors and interrogators alike it appeared, in the form of Batman and Wonder Woman.

"I truly apologize Diana," said Wickels. "I hope your sister can be found safe and sound. As well as the book she no doubt found."

"What book?" Diana asked, having insisted she take the lead for the sake of the man's health.

"A unique text detailing the study of the physiology of the victims of lycanthropy over millennia," said Wickels. "Collected and bound by arcane researchers over centuries, crossing over time and distance, updated with each ages advancements."

"Why did you have such a book?" asked Diana.

"To keep it safe," said Wickels. "I am the last of an ancient order of knights. Though obviously I lack the physicality of one, I took my duty seriously. We were sworn to keep certain secrets guarded against those who would use them for ill intent. That book fell into the hands of my order after World War II."

"The Sumerian Tablets were also recovered after World War II," Batman said.

"Yes, there is a connection," said Wickels. "The War itself had helped thin our numbers and drain our resources. As such we could only collect a scant few truly precious objects. Secreting what artifacts we could, the rest was recovered by Allied forces and scattered. We assumed that the mission was accomplished. But over the decades these spoils were being...collected. Our order being cut down slowly. I've checked the papers recently. Robberies and deaths, the items stolen, I know them. Items my order had failed to recover ourselves but have been bouncing around museums since the war. All part of the same collection as the tablets."

"All from one trove of artifacts collected by the Nazis?" asked Diana.

"Assigned to one scientist," said Wickels. "Supposedly he was killed in the bombing raid that destroyed his castle but...I know of no one else who could know what to be looking for."

"What was his name?" asked Batman.

"His work was so classified that the Nazis tried to destroy all records of him after his supposed death," said Wickels. "Only a few clues to his identity survived. His initials mostly, A.M.P, although that's not much help I know."

"We'll look into it none the less," said Diana.

"What about this man?" Batman asked, showing a picture of Shaggy Rogers. "He was working at the museum as a security guard under the name Matt Casey. His real name is Norville Rogers, nephew of Albert Shagworth."

"Shagworth?" asked Wickels.

"Family name originally Fangsworth," said Batman. "Thought to be werewolves, like the ones in this book of yours, before fleeing Europe. Could be it was just part of the hysteria that plagued Europe at the time or..."

"There are cases in which the curse can be passed through a bloodline," said Wickels. "I know Shagworth, we've worked together before on many a dig, and...I knew that was Norville. Albert had deduced the existence of the book and my connection to it. Norville was there with my full knowledge operating undercover. Working to protect the book and when he got word from his friends of other parts of the collection which had been secured, I would give the book to him. My order can no longer protect the secret knowledge that collection hid. And I am in no condition to do so, as you can see. Diana, if you sister is with Norville right now I can tell you she is in no danger from him. Even if he is a werewolf, so long as he has the dog, she is safe."

"Why the dog?" asked Diana.

"That's no ordinary dog," said Wickels. "That dog is from one of the last prominent bloodlines tracing back to the Annunaki. Our first gods, all of whom are referenced in one way or another by the objects which were part of the collection."

Shaggy had managed to haggle a deal on a used truck being sold near the motel. They would leave the following morning, taking the night to rest and secure provisions. Alexa elected to bathe before bed, hoping to relax after the harrowing events of late. Shaggy for his part sat with Scooby outside the door. As man and dog sat out in the night air a maid rolled a cart up to the door.

"Hope ya'll don't mind I'm just the housekeeping," the maid said in a southern accent.

"Like no problem," Shaggy said.

As the maid entered the room, Shaggy and Scooby both seemed to catch a whiff of something off about her. That or something else, something in the woods. Shaggy unhooked Scooby's leash from the post and pressed his ear against the room door while Scooby kept and eye on the treeline.

Alexa reclined in the bath, feeling the stress of the last few hours melt away.

"Housekeeping," a woman's voice said as the door opened.

Alexa turned her head and saw the woman, dressed in a maid outfit with dark hair, and gave her nod before sliding back down into the tub. Once her eyes were off Alexa, and once she was sure that Alexa was distracted, the woman lifted the drape of the cart. From the bottom a large spider crawled out and made its way to the bathroom where Alexa bathed. While it did so the woman began looking through the group's belongings.
As she began looking through Alexa's bag where the book was hidden, the door opened and Shaggy came in.

"Hey," he said.

The woman turned sharply and her face morphed into something similar to a cat. When Shaggy saw a powerful jolt of adrenaline went through his body. His fight or flight instinct, for so long having been hyper-sensitive, kicked in. But in the past the flight instinct often prevailed. But as of late, fight seemed to take over, with something else coming along. He growled like a wolf, hair growing prominently over his face and body as claws sprouted on his fingertips. The woman had the same reaction, although her's was more like that of a cat.

The animal sounds alerted Alexa who shot up in the tub. At the same time she noticed the large spider which leapt to her. She was barely able to catch the spider by its legs, extending her arms fully outward to keep the deadly fangs from her.

"Great Hera," she cried out.

As if to mock the frightened plea of the young Amazon, the spider actually seemed to laugh in a feminine voice.

The door had closed after Shaggy entered, leaving Scooby-Doo out in the open. And while his heritage allowed him many advantages, thumbs weren't among them. He was about to bark at the door when heard something else in the woods. Turning back Scooby growled as a shape began to form from the dark. A gorilla-like shaped body, but the head did not match, as it was the snarling fanged head of a panther.

Author's Note: For those who might not have caught it, there are a few other Hanna-Barbera references in this chapter. For instance Fangsworth is from Fangface, a Scooby-Doo clone show featuring a werewolf. I figured it would be a great Easter Egg to include. But I thought I'd be sure to explain it in case some didn't catch it. Let's face it the Scooby clones didn't last as long as the original. And while Shaggy and Scooby are a bit braver here than they usually are, I did at least want to capture some of their goofiness with certain scenes and hope that conveyed.
Also for those who might not catch it, the final bits of the chapter in the motel are inspired by Courage the Cowardly Dog. Fitting since Scooby and Courage had a crossover not too long ago.