The Mouse Watch, Volume 1

by J. J. Gilbert

  “This is a Candroid,” said Alph.

  “You mean android?” asked Bernie.

  “Nope, I mean Candroid,” said Alph, smiling. “As in the droid ‘Can’ answer almost anything you ask it. I know the name is kind of cheesy. But Gadget came up with it, so it stuck.”

  “I voted for naming it Ann,” said Digit confidentially. “Ann-droid seems a lot friendlier than Can-droid.”

  Alph turned to the robot mouse and asked, “When do Mouse Watch agents stay indoors?”

  The machine didn’t even pause before answering, “When it’s raining cats and dogs.”

  “Ha!” Digit laughed.

  “I don’t get it,” admitted Bernie.

  “It’s not very good,” said Alph. “Jokes really aren’t its specialty. Try asking it something hard.”

  Bernie thought for a moment. “How many R.A.T.S. operatives are there in the world?”

  The machine didn’t hesitate before answering, “One million three hundred thousand four hundred and six. Not including the one currently on the premises.”

  “Currently on the premises? That can’t be right,” said Alph.

  “Must be a glitch,” added Digit. “I’ll have my guys in tech support run a diagnostic later today.”

  “We don’t currently have any R.A.T.S. operatives here at the base,” Alph explained to Bernie. “Sometimes we bring them here for processing before they head to trial, but as far as I know, we haven’t conducted any raids today.”

  “Got one coming up on Tuesday, though,” added Digit. The big mouse glanced at his watch. “We’d better get a move on. Orientation is about to start. But before we do…”

  His voice trailed off as he approached a large metal cabinet mounted on a nearby wall. After swiping his identity card, he opened the door. Bernie’s eyes lit up when she saw an array of high-tech goggles lined up inside.

  Digit removed a pair and with a big grin tossed them to Bernie.

  “Didg…I don’t know if we should yet,” cautioned Alph.

  “It’s under my purview,” said Digit. “As tech officer I get to decide when and where a recruit gets a pair of goggles. Right here is where, and when is now. Try ’em on, Bern!” he said with a grin.

  Bernie couldn’t believe it. “Do you mean…these…are mine?” she asked hesitantly.

  “Yep! Your first piece of agent gear. Those goggles are some of the best tech we have here in the Watch. I like you, kid. You remind me of myself when I was your age, except that I was, well, quite a bit larger.”

  Grinning widely, Bernie slipped the goggles on her head and placed the lenses over her eyes. She’d seen pictures of Gadget with her goggles countless times and had always wondered if there was more to them than met the eye.

  Sure enough, there was.

  Seeing the world through the glowing blue lenses was like looking into a secret dimension. Special markings became visible on Alph’s and Digit’s uniforms, denoting secret ranks and achievements. Little floating tags appeared next to them, indicating information about who they were, their standing heart rate, their individual likes and dislikes. A tag next to Digit read, Likes: Cheese of all kinds. Dislikes: Cats.

  The blue-lit, glass-enclosed rooms that she’d seen earlier were filled with digital markings and secret technology centers. She could see a virtual computer bay next to the Candroid and various notes that were invisible to anyone not wearing goggles. As she gazed at them closer, they seemed to be notes about locations of various R.A.T.S. bases.

  “This. Is. Amazing,” said Bernie, enunciating each word as she stared around herself with awe.

  “They can do tons of things. There’s a virtual owner’s manual in your room,” said Digit, obviously enjoying the young recruit’s reaction.

  “Didg, we really gotta go,” said Alph worriedly. “She’ll be late and you know how Gadget feels about punctuality.”

  As she trotted after the agents, Bernie tried not to stare around at all the amazing readouts she could suddenly see, for instance, the glowing blue line beneath her feet that showed the way. The tag next to it said “To Orientation” and had a countdown clock next to it.

  Tiny words flashed in the bottom left corner of her goggles: Covert Status: Neutral.

  “Hey, wait up, my goggles say Covert Status,” said Bernie.

  Alph and Digit stopped for a moment.

  “Does it say Neutral?” asked Alph.

  “Yeah, what does it mean?”

  “It should read Neutral when you’re not operating undercover,” said Alph. “Try placing your finger on the side of the goggles and saying, Covert Menu.”

  Bernie did as she was told. The display on her goggles flickered for a moment and then a row of pictures of different mice scrolled in front of her vision. They were all different ages, shapes, sizes, and colors. Male and female. The clothes they wore depicted different careers, from mechanic’s coveralls to an elegant elderly mouse wearing a ballroom gown. It was like looking at an entire world of mice.

  “Wow,” said Bernie.

  “Oh, wow, doesn’t even begin to describe it.” Digit chuckled. “Wait until the next part. See those code numbers listed underneath the photos? Go ahead and pick one of the pictures and say it out loud.”

  Bernie didn’t know which one to pick. But after a moment she decided on a frumpy-looking mousewife wearing a mauve sweatshirt with an iron-on duck. She had frizzy hair and glasses and made Bernie giggle.

  “Three seven two six,” said Bernie, reciting the code at the bottom of the photo.

  Her glasses flickered again and the words Covert Status: Neutral changed to Enhanced Reality.

  Bernie didn’t feel any differently. But the reactions from Alph and Digit were immediate. Both of them chuckled when they looked at her.

  “Great choice!” commended Alph.

  “I don’t feel anything,” said Bernie.

  “Come over here and take a look at yourself,” said Digit. He motioned her over to the locker on the wall. Bernie saw that a small mirror had been installed on the inside of the door. When she saw herself, she gasped and then laughed out loud. She looked exactly like the photo. She was thirty years older and at least that many pounds heavier. When she moved her head, the frumpy mousewife did, too. She tried making faces. The disguise she wore was so perfectly attuned to her face that it captured the subtlest changes.

  “This is amazing!” said Bernie. “How is it possible?”

  “Nanotechnology and motion capture,” said Digit. “The goggles emit a field of microscopic projectors that cover your entire body, fooling the outside viewer into thinking they’re seeing something else. Advanced motion-capture animation does the rest. I have to admit, when Gadget presented my team with the concept we thought it couldn’t be done. Took us almost a decade to perfect the tech,” said Digit.

  Bernie thought about how fun it would be to go home and fool her parents. She could look like practically anybody!

  “Just say, Return to Normal and you’ll be back to your old self,” said Alph. “Oh, and also, when you’re not using goggles, put them in sleep mode. If you’re ever captured or discovered, they’ll just look like ordinary goggles and nobody but you can turn them on or off once the goggles have recognized your fingerprint.”

  Bernie did as she was told and her Covert Status returned to Neutral. Wearing the goggles made her really feel like a Mouse Watch agent.

  As they continued to follow the blue light down the hall toward orientation, Bernie noticed that some of the glass offices had windows that were grayed out so that nobody could see inside. Alph noticed her glance and said quietly, “Top secret.”

  Bernie nodded. Of course, there had to be things that were on a “need to know” basis. Right now, she wasn’t someone who “needed to know.” But she vowed to herself then and there that someday she would be, someday she would be an agent who was allowed to know all the secrets.

  The blue line that they followed ended at a set of gleaming bay doors. As they app
roached, a tiny red laser scanner swept over Alph and Digit. After recognizing them as appropriately authorized agents, the white doors slid open and Bernie was ushered into a large conference room filled with other young mice. Most of them wore simple yellow jumpsuits unadorned with any badges.

  A sign that was projected above a podium read, INITIATION AND PROMOTION CEREMONY.

  Are those other new recruits? Bernie thought. She wondered where they got the jumpsuits, and why she didn’t have one. Did I miss something?

  The thought that she was not the only new recruit stung a little. She’d been fantasizing about the one-on-one training scenario with Gadget so many times that it was hard to let that idea go.

  “Well, here we are,” said Digit. “Alph and I will be around…I’m sure we’ll run into you before too long. Any questions before we go?”

  “Wait, you’re leaving?” asked Bernie, feeling nervous. “I was kind of hoping that you’d…well…stick around for a bit.”

  “Oh, we’re not invited to the Initiation and Promotion Ceremony,” said Alph. She patted Bernie’s shoulder and looked at her kindly. “We’ll catch up with you later. Don’t worry, Bernie, you’ll be fine.”

  “I…I know that,” retorted Bernie, feeling defensive. She wriggled out from under Alph’s paw, not wanting to appear weak. Then she felt bad and softened her tone. “I’m sorry. I just…never mind,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Alph and Digit exchanged knowing glances as if each of them remembered the days of being intimidated new recruits. “Right-o,” said Digit with a wink. “Keep your chin up. See ya around, rookie.”

  After they left, Bernie found a seat that was a little bit apart from the other young mice and tried to settle her racing nerves. She was both excited and nervous, secretly feeling afraid that somehow there might have been a mistake and that she wasn’t really supposed to be there.

  The Watch doesn’t make mistakes, she told herself. They’re experts. They know what they’re doing.

  But even though the thoughts were encouraging, they still didn’t calm her nerves. She still didn’t see how the lame videos she’d posted would have been enough to get their attention. She also wasn’t dressed in the yellow jumpsuits that the other mice wore, and if they were new recruits like she was, then why didn’t she have one, too?

  Insecure thoughts raced around in her head as the lights in the room dimmed, signaling that everyone should take his or her seat. Bernie scanned the crowd and figured that there had to be at least forty or fifty new recruits. Some of them, she noticed, seemed to already be friends and were chatting happily together.

  I wonder if they just met or if they already knew each other, Bernie thought.

  She didn’t want to admit it, but it was hard not to wish she had someone to share the experience with, too. A pang of loneliness washed over her, and she tried not to think about all the hours she’d spent by herself at home. The only people in her life she’d had to talk to for the last few years were her parents, and now they were miles and miles away.

  Doesn’t matter, she reminded herself, you’re here. Be tough. You can do this. You’ll show them that you’re no mistake.

  And, fortunately, she didn’t have to dwell on it much longer. A spotlight hit the podium.

  The room fell silent.

  And then, the mouse Bernie had most hoped to see, her idol, appeared as if out of nowhere on the stage. She’d seen her countless times before on the posters in her room. She’d read all the books about her adventures. She’d watched all the internet footage that displayed her incredible inventions and heroic deeds.

  It was Gadget Hackwrench!

  Only it wasn’t exactly her.

  It was a hologram. This version of Gadget glowed a faint, iridescent blue. Bernie noticed that it flickered a little bit around the edges.

  When Gadget began to speak, at first Bernie thought that the hologram might be linked to some kind of live streaming video. But then Bernie felt a little disappointed. It was obviously a prerecording.

  “Hi, everybody!” the Gadget hologram said in her chipper, always optimistic voice. She waved to the roaring, applauding crowd. Bernie was amazed at how realistic Gadget looked and felt another twinge of disappointment that she wasn’t there in real life. Before the clapping ended, the prerecorded Gadget began to speak.

  “Sorry I couldn’t be there in person,” she said, pushing her trademark goggles back on her head. “I’m in the middle of creating a brand-new invention, one that will really give us an edge on the R.A.T.S.” She winked. “Just wait. You guys are gonna have so much fun with this. I can’t tell you too much right now, but let’s just say that soon, antigravity won’t be something only seen in sci-fi movies.”

  Oohs and aahs of appreciation echoed through the crowd. Bernie could hardly believe what she was hearing. Had Gadget really done what even the human scientists couldn’t imagine being possible? Her mind reeled. Antigravity? Really?

  “Today we have the privilege of advancing a group of students who have successfully completed basic training. From this point onward, those of you who are chosen will never wear a yellow jumpsuit again.”

  Cheers erupted.

  Bernie felt a surge of relief. Evidently, the yellow jumpsuits were for recruits already in training. The fact that she hadn’t been given one yet was okay. She glanced around at the cheering students and noticed something else, something that made her heart skip a beat. None of the other mice were dressed in civilian clothes. As far as she could tell, she was the only new recruit in the whole bunch!

  “Those of you who have graduated to Level One will be receiving new uniforms that designate the department to which you’ve been assigned. As usual, it will be black for special ops, gold for research and development, and crimson for interior security. For those who will be leaving us, we thank you for the time you’ve put in and wish you well on your civilian journey,” said Gadget. “As a souvenir of your time spent with us, you will receive two items. The first one is a certificate of appreciation, celebrating your initiate status. Remember, it was no small thing to be chosen. You were singled out because you are special, and we want you to remember that. Not everyone is suited for the Mouse Watch, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t do good wherever you are.”

  Polite applause filled the chamber.

  Civilian journey? thought Bernie. So, not everyone who is recruited makes it into the Watch. No pressure…

  Her stomach lurched uncomfortably and beads of sweat popped up on her forehead. Apparently, getting a recruitment letter didn’t mean what she’d thought it meant. It didn’t mean that you were automatically “in.” It just meant you got an audition.

  What if I’m not able to make it through basic training, what then? The very thought of returning home in disgrace after everything she and her parents had been through made her feel like throwing up.

  Bernie gritted her teeth and tried to focus on the positive. That’s not going to happen. I’m going to make it. I’m not going to be a failure. No way.

  Hologram Gadget proceeded to ask all the recruits who had passed basic training to stand. As she read down the list, Bernie’s dismay grew more pronounced. Out of the assembled crowd only five…five…recruits advanced to Level One!

  Bernie could see the disappointment on the faces of the mice in yellow jumpsuits who hadn’t been chosen. They all clapped and cheered like good sports for the lucky few who had advanced. From a hidden compartment, five pedestals rose, each bearing a jumpsuit in the color of the various classifications that the Level One agents had been assigned.

  “Will Jordan Swishtail, Maggie Whiskerfoot, William Nosetwitch, Carlie Fleetbottom, and Bryan Fuzzyears, please approach the podium.”

  The five recruits were all beaming with pride as they approached the podium and received their individually designated uniforms. Bernie was filled with envy as she watched them each take the one that bore his or her name on the lapel and display it for the crowd to see.
<
br />   “Congratulations and welcome to the Watch,” said Gadget proudly.

  Several agents emerged from the back of the room. Bernie watched as they passed small, beautiful boxes to all of the recruits. As the boxes were opened, more excited oohs and aahs filled the chamber. Bernie craned her neck, trying to see what was inside of them.

  Gadget held up her wrist, displaying a glowing smart watch. Bernie could see that on its face was an animated mouse, clad in a black, silver-trimmed special ops uniform.

  “This is the second item I mentioned in addition to your certificates. The watches you have received are more than just a souvenir of your time spent with us. Each of them is equipped with many unique features, including two-way communication, defensive weaponry, and some secret features that you’ll no doubt discover soon,” Gadget said with a wink. “Study the instruction manual well.” Then she added, “Should we ever need to contact you, you’ll get an alert. But feel free to also use them to stay in touch with us and the new friends you’ve made here. We all wear them, and you will forever be part of our family.”

  Applause filled the room. Bernie felt something in her stir at the idea of being part of this family, of belonging.

  She really wanted one of those watches for herself!

  An agent wearing a red uniform stepped out from the wings and ushered the fledgling agents backstage. When the applause died down, Gadget’s hologram motioned for everyone to take their seats.

  “The rest of you might not have become agents, but you will always be remembered by the Watch. Be prepared and vigilant. Our agents might contact you in a time of need.

  “Now, one more matter of business to attend to,” she said, her eyes glittering. “Our new recruits! Would Bernadette Scampersky please join me on the stage?”

  All eyes in the room watched as Bernie, looking pale, rose from her seat and walked up to the stage. Her knees shook a little but she forced herself to look calm and resolute as she walked up to approach the image of her greatest heroine.