Chapter One: "Morning Surprises"

It was still raining when Justin woke up the next morning, although not as heavily. He gazed down, finding that Cynthia was still wrapped in his arms. He smiled, and then kissed her forehead. She moaned quietly, but didn't wake up. He looked to Elizabeth, only to find that she wasn't there. Seeing the time, he realized that it was after eight.

She must have taken the older kids to school, he thought. He looked down at his youngest, who was hopefully having sweet dreams. Why would she be dreaming of Jenner so often? Could it have had something to do with what had happened? But none of the other children were having the dreams, as far as he knew. It was all one big puzzle, and one he couldn't solve on his own.

Cynthia began to stir in his arms, her hair brushing against the fur of his neck. She opened her large brown eyes, looking dazedly up at her father. She tried to smile, but it quickly disappeared.

"Have another bad dream?" he asked, brushing a tear from her cheek.

She nodded, blinking away more tears. "Only it wasn't about Jenner this time."

"It wasn't?" he asked, a bit surprised.

She shook her head, "No."

"What was it about?"

"Well, I dreamed that you and mommy had a baby, and that you forgot about me and the others."

Justin chuckled slightly, pulling her close. "That's impossible, Cynthia." He said. "We would never forget about you."

"Are you and momma going to have a baby?" she asked suddenly.

Justin chuckled again, a bit nervously this time. "Well, I'm afraid that that would be impossible,"

"Why?"

He hesitated, wondering how to explain this. "Because, well, um…"

Thankfully, Elizabeth came back just then.

"I'll tell you later, when you're older," he said, placing her on the floor. He got up, walking quickly over to Elizabeth and whispering something in her ear.

"That's exactly what mom said," Cynthia said quietly. She sighed, then walked toward the door, her tail hanging low.

After she left, Elizabeth turned back to Justin. "She really asked you that?"

Justin nodded. "Yes."

"You didn't tell her, did you?"

"No, I didn't."

Elizabeth sighed, shaking her head. "She's too young to be worrying about such things. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with her."

Justin chuckled slightly, taking her into his arms and stroking her hair. It was silent for a long time after that. Elizabeth laid her head on his chest, feeling the smooth rhythm of his heart in her ears, being lulled by the quiet sound of his breath. She looked up a few minutes later, a slightly pained expression on her face.

"What is it?" he asked worriedly.

"Nothing," she said softly. "I'm just feeling a bit dizzy, that's all."

It seemed to be more than that, but Justin was not one to probe. If Elizabeth said she was fine, then he had no choice but to believe her, until he could visibly tell that something was not right. She laid her head on his chest again, her eyes falling shut as she gave a quiet sigh. After what seemed an eternity, Justin placed his hand on the side of her face, running his fingers through the silky smooth fur of her cheek. She looked up and gave him a small smile, but he noticed that the expression did not reach her eyes.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked again.

She laughed slightly. "Yes, I told you, I'm fine." She paused, then, "Come on, we best start getting ready. Don't want to keep them waiting too long."

He smiled, but something inside was still telling him that something just wasn't right.

The infirmary was almost empty when they arrived, with Cynthia holding tightly to Justin's hand. She soon spotted a dark form near the windows on the east wall. The rat was solid black, wearing clothes that blended almost perfectly with his dark coat. She knew only one person who looked like that, and joyfully called out his name.

"Orion!"

Orion turned, and grinned widely upon seeing her.

"Cynthia!" he knelt down and swept her into his arms as she tried to control her laughter. Her parents laughed as they walked over, seeing how happy she was. Maybe this was all the young mouse really needed to get rid of her terrifying dreams.

"Hey, Justin. Elizabeth," he greeted them, still holding the giggling Cynthia.

"Hey, Orion," Justin chuckled.

"We didn't expect to see you here," said Elizabeth.

"It's Sarah." The young rat said, no longer smiling. "She's been feeling kind of sick the past month. We're trying to figure out why."

"Oh, I hope she's okay," Elizabeth replied, slightly worried.

"I'm sure she's fine," he assured her. "She's probably just got that bug that's been going around."

"I'm afraid I might have a case of it too. I've been feeling a little dizzy lately."

"That's not why you're here though, is it?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, no, no," she laughed nervously. "We're here for Cynthia. I'm sure Sarah's been telling you about her dreams."

"That's right!" he exclaimed. "I remember her telling me about it last night. Do you know what's causing them?"

"No," Justin put in. "That's why we're here. We were hoping that Ash or Alexander could figure it out."

"Speaking of which, here they come now."

Justin and Elizabeth turned, and saw that he spoke the truth. Alexander and Ash looked almost exactly the same, aside from a little height difference, and Ash's dark ponytail. Both were thin and wiry, with sleek grey fur and dazzling blue eyes. Their clothes were crisp and white with little color other than a red cross on their sleeves. Both wore glasses made of thin black wire. Sarah strode between them, her face glowing.

"Well, I take it was good news?" Orion asked.

"The best," Sarah replied dreamily. She stepped closer, and whispered in his ear, "I'm pregnant."

Orion's face exploded into a wide grin, his eyes glittering. He grabbed her waist, twirling her high in the air as he exclaimed, "I'm going to be a father!"
The others in the room smiled happily, Cynthia jumping up and down and clapping her hands in excitement. This was the news that Sarah and Orion had been waiting for, and they couldn't have been happier. After they left, Ash turned to Justin.

"Well, what can we do for you?" he asked.

"It's me," Cynthia spoke up. Ash knelt down, so they could speak face to face.

"Really?"

She nodded. "I've been having really scary dreams for a long time, and almost all of them have been…" she trailed off, burying her face in Justin's cape.

"All of them have been about what?" Ash wondered as he got to his feet.

"About…Jenner," the child said, her voice slightly muffled by the cloth. "And what he did."

Alex's eyes widened. "Oh no," he whispered. "Not again."

"What?" asked Elizabeth. "This has happened before?"

Alex nodded. "A few times, I'm afraid."

"In the past, or just recently?" Justin inquired.

"Quite recently, I have to admit."

Justin was silent, but the look on his face said it all. He wanted to know what was going on, and wasn't going to settle for excuses.

Alex gulped slightly, clearing his throat before he spoke. "This has been happening all over the colony," he began. "But it seems to only affect younger children."

"Do you have any idea why?"

Ash shook his head. "I'm afraid we don't." he said. "All we can gather is that what Jenner did last month seems to have left a few mental scars, as well as physical ones."

"And there's nothing you can do?"

Ash hesitated, terrified by Justin's harsh gaze. His leader seemed to notice this, for his softened his expression. "At the moment, no. All we can say is that these children have been through something huge at a really young age. My guess is that the dreams will fade eventually, and that we as parents should do all that we can to make sure nothing becomes permanent."

"How long do you think it should take for these dreams to fade?"

"Anywhere from a few days to a few months. It depends on the child." The doctor shrugged.

"I'm not going to be traumatized for life, am I?" Cynthia asked, lifting her head.

The adults were stunned. "Where did you hear a word like that?" Alex questioned.

"I heard it from Timmy. It's not bad, is it?"

"No, no," he smiled. "It's just a bit of a long word for a little kid."

"Timmy uses words like that all the time, unless he's helping me."

"I take it that you'll be in good hands when it's time for school then, huh?"

Cynthia nodded, grinning. "Yep!" she paused, then looked up at Justin. "Daddy, I'm late for daycare, and they're having story time!" she grabbed his hand, pulling him from the room.

The others just laughed, the sounds echoing off the empty walls of the waiting room. It was silent for a few minutes as they caught their breath.

"So, is there anything we can do for you, Elizabeth?" Ash asked her.

"Well, I have been feeling a bit dizzy lately, but I think it might just be that bug that's been going around."

"You can never be sure."

"No, I suppose you can't, but what else could it be?"

"Oh, you'd be surprised." He said as he led her away. What they would find out was something never heard of for the rats of NIMH.

"What do you mean he said that they would just go away?" Timothy asked. It was later that day, around noon, and Cynthia was talking with her brother during lunch hour.

"I mean exactly what I'm saying, Timmy," she said, exasperated. Tim may have been wicked smart, but he acted so dumb sometimes. They had gotten their trays filled, and had sat down at a secluded table. Others must have sensed the tension, for they all stayed at least ten feet away. Cynthia just sat there, spinning her fork in her pasta, looking down at the flower mosaic the art class had created on the table. She wasn't even supposed to be here.

"You know you should be back at the daycare, Cynthia," Tim was saying. "Both of us could get into a lot of trouble if they find you here."

"Tim, I've done this before, remember? Lots of times, and I've never been caught."

"I know that, but there's a first time for everything, isn't there?"

Cynthia sighed. "You can be so pessimistic sometimes."

Tim gave her an odd look. "I gotta quit doing my homework around you," he smiled, shaking his head. "Or else you'll be talking like a professor."

"What's a pro-fessor?"

"Just another name for a teacher," a third voice said. It was deeper than Timothy's, but still high enough that he knew it came from a kid.

"Hey, Martin." He said without turning. "What's up?"

"Nothing really. Mind if I sit here?"

"Sure, go ahead. We're just having a bit of sibling problem."

"About what?" Martin asked, taking a seat. He turned, and found Cynthia sitting next to him. "Aren't you a little young to be here?" he asked her.

"Maybe…" she smiled innocently.

Martin shook his head, grinning. "Cynthia, one of these days you're going to get caught, and then we'd all be dead."

"I've done this hundreds of times, and I doubt I'd be caught now. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"

"You could get suspended." A fourth voice added. It sounded like a teacher, and they froze in fear. Were Cynthia's words about to be put to the test? All of a sudden, they heard laughter, and a very familiar chuckle at that.

"Teresa!" Martin exclaimed. He gave an agitated sigh as his older sister continued giggling.

"What are you trying to do?" Tim asked. "Give us all heart attacks?"

"Can't a girl have a little fun?" Teresa questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Not if she kills her family in the process!" Cynthia shouted.

Teresa stared at her, as if she hadn't known her youngest sibling was there. "Don't you know what will happen if you get caught here?" she asked.

"Will everyone just stop worrying about that?" Cynthia growled. "I'll be fine. I've done stuff like this before, and no one has noticed!"

Her siblings noted that she was whispering, and looked around. The school's cafeteria was nearly empty, with just a few custodians left to clean up.

"Oh, crap." Tim murmured. "How are we gonna get out of here without being seen?"

"That's an easy one," Cynthia whispered. "Follow me." She tiptoed along the wall, staying completely hidden from the large windows. Her siblings stared at each other, shrugged, then followed. They scurried along the dark wall, actually thankful that the school made them wear uniforms. The brown cloth made them less obvious. In a few minutes, they had reached the doors, and just had to wait until the custodians turned their backs. One wall was all of glass, so it took all of them to clean off the millions of handprints that somehow appeared there during the day. Cynthia checked the hall while Timothy looked behind them. Only two adults were still wiping down tables, but from the looks of it, they were nearly finished. They turned their backs just as Cynthia darted into the empty hall. Martin went next, then Teresa, and finally Timothy, the door falling silently shut behind them.

Back in the cafeteria, one of the custodians suddenly turned, facing the door. His eyes grew red, face taking on an expression of evil triumph. A NIMH drone. Sent on a search and find mission.

Cynthia paused in the hall, waiting in a small cubby for her brothers and sister to catch up. The school was empty, the students all outside, but they had to get Cynthia back to daycare. They had decided that it would attract less attention if they all went as a group. Everyone knew that the Brisby children liked to stick together whenever it was possible. And if they were found, all that had to be said was that Cynthia had wandered off during playtime, and that they were just bringing her back. They had almost made it when they heard voices; two, very familiar, and very, very close.

"Uh oh," Cynthia whispered. "Not good."

"What?" Martin glanced around a bend in the hall, and his eyes widened. Standing in front of the door, were Justin and Elizabeth; talking with Sarah.

"Man," he turned back to Tim and Teresa. "Its mom and dad, and they're standing right in our path."

Teresa gasped, raising a hand to her mouth, this meant trouble.

"Double crap," Tim murmured, slapping his forehead. How were they going to get out of this one? Justin looked in their direction, making direct eye contact with them, his face growing stern.

"Uh oh," Teresa whispered. There was nowhere to hide now, nowhere to run. They were trapped. One by one, they walked slowly into the hall.

"Is there a reason you three are here?" Justin asked, staring down at them.

The older children glanced around, their eyes drifting from ceiling to floor and back again. They noticed Sarah and Elizabeth still talking behind him, laughing and giggling like schoolgirls. Elizabeth stood on her toes and whispered something into Sarah's ear. A wide grin broke out on her face, and the two friends hugged. Tim wondered what their mother had said.

"It's my fault," said Cynthia. She had been the only one able to hold Justin's gaze.

"What?" Justin asked.

"I sneaked out of daycare during playtime so that I could talk with Tim about what Ash and Alex said this morning. Martin and Teresa came by, and they were just trying to get me back here."

"How long has this been going on?"

"For weeks."

"And have you ever been caught?"

"No, never. This is the first time." She paused then, "So, how much trouble am I in?"

Justin put on a thoughtful expression, acting as if the question meant something. This had been going on for weeks? And they hadn't even noticed? He'd never known that she could be so crafty, but what to do about it. Now that was difficult to decide. He reached down and took her hand, bringing her away from her siblings as they explained to their mother and Sarah what was going on. When they were far enough away, Justin knelt down before his daughter, but she spoke up before he could.

"So how much trouble am I in?"

"You're not in trouble," he started.

"Say what?"

"One, because you were honest, but what you did wasn't wrong."

"It wasn't?"

"No. The younger children have been doing it so often lately that we've decided to just let them."

"So, what you're saying is, I can go to the big kid cafeteria, and not get in trouble?"

"Exactly. Just remember to ask first."

Cynthia blushed, then smiled as she wrapped her small arms around his neck. "Thanks, dad," she said.

"It was no problem at all," Justin replied, embracing her in return. He stood up as she scampered back to her siblings, telling them the good news.

Tim smiled, patting her back, Martin tousled her hair, and Teresa smiled. If there was one thing that all four of them shared, it was the instinct to stick together. And none seemed to disagree with it.