The Stonetown Scavenger Squad [A Mysterious Benedict Society Fan Fiction]

Chapter 1: Rude Awakenings and Something about Bighorn Sheep

"So children, you are probably wondering why I have gathered you all here on such short notice," said Mr. Benedict from his seat on the floor. It was barely morning, with just enough sun peeking over the horizon so that one could see where they were going and avoid having any nasty falls, but it was still too early for most people to even consider getting out of bed, let alone the members of the Mysterious Benedict Society (except Kate, but then again Kate was always moving and bustling about), so although they were surprised when Rhonda came into their rooms and told them that Mr. Benedict wished to see them, they were not surprised that Kate was already running about looking as if she had woken up from a restful sleep hours ago.

Reynie and Sticky were somewhat reluctant to arise from their slumber, but they both realized that Mr. Benedict would not have asked for them at such an hour if it were not important. In fact, he rarely saw them nowadays as he was almost constantly busy in his study. The Whisperer had been finally secured from the hands of Mr. Curtain (who was now undergoing a very long sentence in prison), but there was still tons of work to do, both of the physical and paper kind. Mr. Benedict Had finally decided to use the Whisperer for the good of the people, and after the success with both Constance and his own narcolepsy, he was convinced that he could finally help people in the ways he always wanted. And the government was no longer breathing down his back thinking that he was trying to con them or do something for his benefit only, so he had the freedom to fulfill his dream. But first safety procedures needed to be put into place, and people had to be found to be cured (depressingly, there was not a lack of these), and they had to be screened to make sure they weren't a Ten Man in disguise, and a million other thing had to be done as well, so the only time anyone would ever see Mr. Benedict was when he came in briefly to load up a tray during mealtimes, and then he would head right back to work.

It was Contance, however, who had the most trouble getting up in the morning, and the fact that it was barely light outside made it even worse. She loved Mr. Benedict, especially because he had adopted her into his family, but she was still just a small child, and while her heart was telling her to go to Mr. Benedict, her body was telling her to go back to sleep. So, it took the other three members of the Mysterious Benedict Society and Rhonda to wake her from her sleep and get her out of her bed, and then form a barricade around it so she couldn't get back into it. Grumbling about "wanting more sleep" and "Bighorn sheep," Constance reluctantly put on her slippers (with the left one on the right and the right one on the left, so that Kate had to go and switch them), and walked out of her room without even brushing her teeth, intent on hearing what Mr. Benedict had to say, and then return back to her bed.

"I'm sorry for waking you all up so early," said Mr. Benedict (and they could tell he meant it), "but this is one of the only times that I can meet with you, and besides, starting right now will give you more time as well, and I'm sure you will want all the time you can spare."

"Starting what right now?" exclaimed Constance in an exasperated and tired tone of voice. "Why did we have to get up at this ungodly hour?!" She crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Mr. Benedict with as much anger as she could muster at him that early in the morning, all the while trying not to fall asleep right then and there.

"Connie girl, relax geez," said Kate. "Waking up early never hurt anyone. I do it all the time!"

"I think what the girls are trying to say," said Sticky to Mr. Benedict and Rhonda, "is that they are very excited about this surprise you have planned for us, and are merely wondering if you would elaborate upon your previous statement in which you introduced it."

"I was just getting to that," said Mr. Benedict with a smile. "You see, I have tried time and time again to reward you all with some puzzle, challenge, or adventure for risking your lives and saving people time and time again, but every time I tried my brother would end up getting mixed up in it, and things would not end up going well. So, I have devised a series of challenges for you, which you shall be doing instead of your lessons."

At this Constance's ears perked up, for she did not particularly enjoy the lessons that Mr. Benedict normally had them do every day as opposed to traditional schooling.

"Some of these challenges should be straightforward, while others will require all of your talents combined." At this he smiled at each of the children in turn, and they beamed. "Lastly, at the end they will be a surprise that I think you will all enjoy quite a lot."

"When do we start?" asked Reynie, while the others suddenly became wide awake at stared intently at Mr. Benedict.

"Right now," replied Mr. Benedict with a grin, and he handed Reynie a sealed white envelope.