George and Dr. Peterson where looking for signs of mice or rats being in this area.

"Do you see anything?" asked George in a whisper voice.

"Not yet," replied Dr. Pererson in a whisper voice, "but I think that we are getting close."

For the next ten minutes they both found noting but dark mud and rocks, but then Dr. Peterson found something that caught his eye. It was an old machine of some sort.

"Think I found something," whispered Dr. Peterson.

"What?"

"It looks like some type of iron box."

"Do you think that has it has mice or rats in it?" asked George.

"I don't know, let's see. Quiet now"

"Right"

They both moved closer to Nicodemus's house. Nicodemus saw them coming and ran to the back of his home. Dr. Peterson looked through a little hole to see if there is life inside, the same hole that Nicodemus was looking out of.

"See anything?" asked George.

"Not yet, wait!" in a whisper voice. "I see something."

"What?"

"It looks like... wait! I think it's a mouse! No, better yet, a rat! Give me the net."

"George gave Dr. Peterson the net that he had sat aside to look into strange iron box. They both were closing in on Nicodemus, and it looks like he would be the first one to be caught.

On the other side of the field, Justin, Jenner and Isabell were watching the hole thing from Justin's small window. Jenner had ran over to Justin's house and went through Justin's samll human like door when he saw the humans coming. He was on his way to Justin's house at the time. Justin's house is just a iron box in the ground, with a large bowl on the top to make his home water proof. He had found the bowl in town, and the iron box was just lying half under ground his father had found it. Justin and his father had to drag the bowl all the way to the field to put on top of the iron bow. At that time his mother and father would help him do large jobs like that, but he still waits on his mother's safe return. His father had left to find some food one day, and he did not return. That was about a year ago, and that is way Justin is so worried about his mother.

While the three of them are looking out of the window at the humans, behind them another human came from the back. They did not see him coming. It was Dr. Necros with a huge net, big enough to cover Justin's hole house. As three rats are looking out the small window, they are overcome by a large swift shad of darkness. Dr Necros had just dropped his net over Justin's house. Justin, Jenner and Isabell ran to the back of the house with Justin in front, and stopped at Justin's back door.

"Why are we stopping?" asked Jenner.

"I think I hear something behind the door," said Justin.

As Justin opened his door slowly, he notice that he was about seven feet in the air. Dr. Necros had picked up Justin's house, and is holding it above his head. They did not feal them themselves being lifted because Dr. Necros had picked the house up very slowly. The house is not heavy, it is about has heavy as a normal size computer moniter. As Dr. Necros is taking the house to the van, he looks to see if he can find anymore signs of mouse or rat life. He spots none and continues on his way to the his van. Once he reaches the back of his van, he opens both doors and slowly puts the house inside. Once the house is inside he closes both doors, and then walks away to find the other scientists.

Dr. Necros saw Dr. Valentine coming up the hill with a net full of rats that he found on the other side of the field.

"I bet I found more rats than you," said Dr. Valentine.

"Hurph," grunted Dr. Necros.

Dr. Valentine went to his van, and did the same process as Dr. Necros, and when he was done he closed both doors.

"I wonder where the others are?" asked Dr. Valentine.

"I don't know, but they had better hurry. It looks like it is going to rain"

The sky had turnd cloudy in just minutes, and the wind was starting to howl.

"What are we going to do now?" asked Dr. Necros.

"I guess that we'll just have to wait hear and hope that the others found more mice or rats" (Dr. Valentine said yelling over the howling of the wind.)

"How come there or no mice in this area?" asked Dr. Necros.

"I don't know, but we may have to go somewhere else in the state to find mice."

"What, like were?"

"Let me go get the map."

Dr. Valentine runs back to his van, and the wind is blowing so strong that Dr. Valentine's lab coat is blowing in the wind like a flag. Once he gets to his van he opens the left front door on the drivers side opens the glove compartment, and gets the map. He closes the compartment door and the drives side door, and runs back to Dr. Necros.

"I've got the map."

"Great!" said Dr. Necros. "Let's see it."

Dr. Valentine pressed the map against the Dr. Necros's van, and unrolled it from left to right.

"Now I think that we need to just go south from here," said Dr. Valentine.

"How far south?" asked Dr. Necros is a depressing sort of way.

"Not that far south. In fact, we are going to pass the place on our way back. We are going to go a different way that will not take us as long as it did for us to get here."

"Where are we going?"

"To Garden City, Kansas. It will be dark by the time we get there, so the mice will be harder to find.

"Garden City is a town?" asked Dr. Necros in a very confused way.

"Yes, they just call it a city. Like Elizabeth City, North Carolina is a town.

"Oh"

"Where is everyone?" asked Dr. Necros.

"I don't know."

Meanwhile on another side of the field, Dr. Jackson had no such luck with finding mice or rats. He gave up looking in the area that he was in and is walking back to his van. Dr. Necros sees he coming over a hill to the east.

"Did you find anything?" asked Dr. Necros.

"No, there are just no mice are rats around here."

"There may not be any mice here, but there are plenty of rats," said Dr. Valentine.

"Where?" asked Dr. Jackson.

"I think I found three or four over there to the west," said Dr. Necros.

"And I think I found about sixteen over to the nouth of here," said Dr. Valentine.

"Well no wonder I could not find any rats. You caught them all, but why are there no mice around here?"

"He thinks that we need to go south to find mice," explained Dr. Necros.

"Where to?"

"Here look at this map, see that litt......

While Dr. Valentine is explaining to Dr. Jackson about going father south, Julie over on the northwest side of the field looking for Dr. Westchace. She stopped looking for mice and rats about ten minutes ago. She did not find any, and she is getting tired.

Dr. Westchace did not find any mice or rats ether, and is heading back to his van.

Meanwhile Dr. Peterson and George still could not catch Nicodemus, and they to are getting tired.

"Why don't we just pick up the iron box?" suggested George.

"Cause there may not be a bottom," explained Dr. Peterson.

"Just look under the box a little, and see if there is a bottom.

Dr. Peterson slowly lefts up the box and looks under to see if there is a bottom.

"Yes, it does have a bottom," said George looking under the box for him.

"That box is not havey?" asked george.

"No, not realy.

Dr. Peterson picks up the box, and walks slowly over to his van.

As he walked, Nicodemus is getting worred that he will never see his companions again. He looks for a way out, and when he finds a hole in the floor he notice that he is about seven feet in the air. He had never notice this hole in the floor because, he never had his house lifted of the ground before. Nicodemus could not jump from such a height, maybe if he was younger he would.

Once Dr. Peterson and George got to there van, George opened both doors for Dr. Peterson, and Dr. Peterson put the box inside. George closed the both doors, then Dr. Peterson and George walk to where Dr. Valentine, Dr. Necros, Dr. Westchace, Dr. Jackson and Julie are. They had all went back to there vans to rest and had found each other. By this time everyone knew that they had to go south to look for mice except for Dr. Jackson. Once they told him about it, they all got back in there vans and drove to a nearby hotel to spend the night.

"We're staying that the Woodrow Hotel," said Dr. Valentine.

Once they parked there van at the back of the hotel, they walked to the front lobby to rent a room for the night. When they were done with that, they went on the 23rd floor to there rooms. Dr. Peterson is staying in room 314, Dr. Jackson is staying in room 315, Dr. Necros is staying in room 316, Dr. Valentine is staying in room 317, George is staying in room 318 and Julie is staying in room 319. The rooms are small, but very comfortable. Each room has 1 chair, one bed one bathroom, one TV, one desk, one table, and one little kitchen. Once they were all settled they all went to sleep easily.

It is now morning, and Dr. Peterson is waking everyone one up by knocking on there doors. Once everyone got up and got dressed and ready to drive south to Garden City. They check out, head strait for there vans, got in and drove out of the packing lot. They are now on there way to Garden City, Kansas. They drove down Highway 389 south for 19 hours, and once they arrived in Garden City they notice that the town is as dark as the night sky.

"You said it would be dark when we got, and it is," said George.

"I did not think it would be this dark," said Dr Valentine.

"This is the town I think," said Dr Jackson looknig at the map.

They drove into town on Maylock St. to a rundown part of the town. They all looked for signs of mice. They did not see anything until Julie shouted

"Look over there, a mouse!"

"Where," asked Dr. Valentine.

"By that hole in the side of the building."

Dr. Valentine slowly stopped the van followed by Dr. Jackson and Dr. Necros. Julie got out of the van and slowly walked to the mouse. The mouse did not see or hear her coming until she accidentally steped on a can. The mouse ran back inside the hole that it had came out of.

"Darn," Julie shouted. "Now I need to go into this alley."

She slowly went deeper into the dark alley. She spotted another small hole that was a little bit bigger that the other one. She got out her flashlight and turned it to the hole.

Inside the hole Jonathan is looking for his mother to ask her if he could have drink from the pipes. The pipes is were The Brisby family gets there water. It is clean water, and the water is always cool to the taste. He went in front of his front door and saw light coming inside the his house.

"I must have went to sleep already," Jonathan said to hemself.

He went to the light to see if it realy is morning. He could not see Julie because of the light in his eyes. Then Jonathan was picked up by the tail, and was dropped into a small box that Julie has with her.

"I got one," shouted Julie.

Then all the scientists got out of there vans slowly with nets in there hands. Julie was looking at them, and wondering what are they doing. She only found one mouse, why are they coming over with nets, she thought. They came closer to her.

"What are all of you doing?" she asked.

"Quiet," said Dr. Necros. "Look behind you."

Julie slowly turns around to see nine mice watching her. The mice could not escape because Julie is blocking the entrance to there home, and that they are in a cornered area.

"Julie, stay right were you are," said Dr. Jackson.

As they slowly cornered the mice, Dr. Valentine said,

"Now!"

They all ran up to the mice and caught each one one by one.

"Did we get all of them?" asked Dr. Westchace.

"I thank so," said Dr. Jackson. "I caught two."

"I caught one," said George.

"I caught three," said Dr. Necros.

"I caught two," said Dr. Westchace.

"I caught one," said Dr. Valentine.

"So that makes it eleven, counting the one that Julie caught," said Dr. Jackson.

"Well... I think that we can be heading back to the institute now," said Dr Necros.

"Yeh, let's go," said Dr. Valentine.

They all went to there vans and put the mice they caught in the back of the van. Then they started the up the vans, and went back the way they came until they got to the highway.

"Where do we go now?" asked Dr. Valentine who always seemed to be in front.

"Go on Highway 54 east," said Dr. Necros.

While they went on there way back to NIMH, they continued to feed the mice and rats with small grains and oats.

These mice and rats have no idea what's in store for them," said Dr. Valentine.

Dr. Necros is haveing a little grin on his face.

"We may need a human for this experiment," said Dr. Necros on his AC radio.

"What, why?" asked Dr. Valentine.

"Having a human that knows how to deal with mice and rats could help us in taming them," said Dr. Necros.

"Like who?" asked Dr. Valentine.

"Like Jasper Goff of ALSNI."

What, do you know where Jasper is, he is in the state of Texas in Houston, Texas all the way south. Besides, he would not come back to NIMH with us," said Dr. Valentine.

"Oh yes he will. I read in the papers that Jasper has not been working with his association since the 16 of December last year.

"What, way?" asked Dr. Jackson.

"Because one day he had said some things that made the people of Houston mad at him, and they would not support his association anymore after that."

"Well... who in the world is running ALSNI then?" asked Dr. Peterson.

"Emily took over about seven days after Jasper had that fight."

"Where is Jasper now then?" asked Dr. Valentine.

"He is just staying at home until his money runs out."

"That is a shame," said Dr. Valentine.

"Yes, and that is why we are going to take him to NIMH."

"Take him, you mean ask him right?" asked Dr. Peterson.

"If he does not want to go, than we will just take him."

"Are you crazy?" asked Dr. Valentine. "We can't do that."

"Who will know, if we do it right?"

"But... but... we can't do that," said Dr. Valentine.

"Look, it will be a lot easier if you would just go along with this. Jasper may not even care."

"Ah.... all right, if we must," said Dr. Valentine.

They continued on there way to Wichita because, they have to go that way that to get to Interstate 35 south. That will take them strait to Houston, TX.

Once they got back to Wichita in about six hours, they turned on Interstate 35 south, and started driving on the long road south. They drove and drove for days, passing the state of Oklahoma, turning off of Interstate 35 and on to Interstate 45 at Dallas, and finely reaching the city of Houston.

"We most have stopped at 5 gas stations," said Dr. Jackson. "Wich is a lot for these vans."

"The gas stations sure are a lot bigger here than in Kansas," said Dr. Valentine.

"Yep, that is why they say that everything is bigger in Texas," said George.

Everyone stared laughing, even Dr. Necros who is filing very good about finely getting here.

"Where are we?" asked George."

"In Harris County," said Dr. Valentine.

"OK, where in Harris County are we?" asked George again"

It is a good thing that all the vans have AC radio, are they would not be able to talk to each other.

"I think we are in Greens Point," said Dr. Valentine.

"Oh, so we just keep going until we get to downtown Houston and turn... right, and then get on the Sam Houston Toll Way." explained George.

"That's right," said Dr. Valentine.

They drove southeast until they turnd right, and then got on the Sam Houston Toll Way. They keep going south on the toll way until Dr. Valentine notice something up ahead.

"Look, I think that is it! That's ALSNI," said Dr. Valentine.

"Yeh, but we need to get to Jasper's house," said Dr. Jackson.

Dr. Necros is just amazed at seeing the buildings of ALSNI, he really wanted to work there.

"Now, where is Jasper's house?" asked Dr. Valentine.

"He lives in Jackrock, in the Memorial District, so turn off here," said George.

They turned off the toll way and went to the light and stopped. (the light is red)

"So... now we turn left on Brier Forest," said George.

The light turned green, and they turned left at the light, going under a bridge which is the Sam Houston Toll Way. They passed another light which is green, and drives on east towards the Memorial District. Once they reach the Memorial District, they notice that the homes are getting alot richer looking.

"This is where most of ALSNI's workers live," said Julie.

"Yeh...," they all said in a sad way."

'Oh look, there's Mrs. Atoms house! Isn't she the one that Jasper hired about two years ago?" asked Julie.

"Yes, he has hired a lot of people that he has known over the years," said Dr. Jackson. Mostly over the Internet."

"Wow," said Julie in amazement.

They soon arived to a steet named Jackrock.

"Turn right," said George to Dr. Valentine.

They rurned right, and saw Jasper's house as soon as they did.

"Is that his house," asked George in amazement.

"Yep, that's it," said Dr. Peterson.

"It's so large," said Julie. "I tought that they said that his house is small."

"It is samll to the the people that live in this area," said Dr. Necros.

They slowly drove into Jasper's driveway, Jasper's has a one story all white house. With upstars balcony and two flag poles, on one pole he has the USA flag, and under that, the ALSNI flag. On the other flag pole he has the Texas state flag. His fence was knocked down by protesters a few months ago, that is how they were able to drive in Jasper's driveway.

" I guess that Jasper did not care to fix his fence back up," said Julie.

" He's smart, he could get killed if he came out here," said Dr. Necros.

They stopped there vans got out, and walked up to Jasper's front door. Dr. Valentine ringed the doorbell.

"Yeh, what do you want," asked Jasper.

"We are from NIMH, we really need to speak with you," said Dr. Valentine.

"OK, come on in," said Jasper.

"Thank you, said Dr. Valentine.

As one by one passed Jasper at the door, they all said Hi, Hello, are Good Day. Jasper stuck his head out the door looking left and right in suspicion, then closed it.

"Sit down, make your selfs comfortable," Jasper said nicely.

They all sat down on a big black and white couch that is big enough for all of them, and room for two more.

"So what is it that you need to talk to me about?" asked Jasper.

Well first of all my name is Roger L. Valentine, are you can just call me Dr. Valentine. And this is Dr. Necros, Dr. Westchace, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Peterson, Goerge and Julie.

"Hi," said Jasper shaking each one of their hands. Which is something he wasn't fond of. He did not like the idea that some people would always say that it is nasty to touch a mouse or a rat. Jasper knows where his mice and rats have been, but he does not know where a person's hand or body has been. So he doesn't really like to touch anyone.

"OK Jasper, I need to know if you would like to go back to NIMH with us?" ask Dr. Valentine.

"For what," asked Jasper.

"For you to get away from this city and to a better place," said Dr. Valentine in a caring way.

"No thanks, I don't want to leave my home."

"Well you are going to," yelled Dr. Necros.

"No I am not! What is wrong with you," asked Jasper.

"Noting is wrong with me," yelled Dr. Necros. You are coming with us, grab him!"

They all went after Jasper and grabed him so fast that he could not get away. Dr. Necros picked Jasper up and told Dr. Valentine to get the net.

"Put me down," shouted Jasper.

"Shat up," yelled Dr. Necros. "You are going to go to NIMH like the rest of the animals that we caught."

Dr. Valentine came back with the largist net he could find and through it over Jasper.

"I need to get out of here, said Jasper. "Wait, if I get out now, I will be out in the open. I guess that I will just have to wait and see what NIMH has in store for me. Better then being here I guess."

Dr. Valentine opens both doors on van unit 08, the only van that did not have any mice are rats in it. Dr. Necros puts Jasper in the back of the van and closed both doors. Everyone else is keeping and eye out for witnesses, but none seem to be in site.

"Why are we doing this?" asked Dr. Valentine.

"I told you already," said Dr. Necros. Now let's go."

"Everyone got back into there vans and drove back down Jackrock, turned left down Brier Forest, turned right at the toll way, got on the toll way, went on Interstate 45 north, went all the way back to Dallas and got on Interstate 35 north, went pass Oklahoma City, until they were back in Wichita, Kansas at NIMH. The trip back took four days of stopping at hotles, going to gas stations, letting Jasper go to the bathroom at the gas stations with his mouth gagged, giving Jasper food through the net and cleaning the cages that they had to buy for the mice and the rats because the trip took a lot longer than they thought.

On the way to Wichita, Jasper felt a sting in his mind and body. He did not know what he felt, but he soon forgot about it.

It was a long trip, but they made it. Now the vans stop in a parking lot that Jasper, and the mice and the rats of NIMH will never forget. Dr. Necros then opens the doors to the van that Jasper is in.

"Welcome to NIMH," He said. "Our little association."

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