J. J. Gilbert - The Mouse Watch Underwater

Copyright 2021 by Disney Enterprises, Inc.

All rights reserved. Published by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Buena Vista Books, Inc. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address Disney Hyperion, 77 West 66th Street, New York, New York 10023.

Designed by Joann Hill

Cover design by Joann Hill

Cover art 2021 Charles Lehman

ISBN 978-1-368-06266-4

Visit www.DisneyBooks.com

For Olivia

T his purrrr-ticular Mouse Watch adventure was told to me on a rainy night by Jarvis Slinktail. He showed up at my house soaking wet. As we talked by the fire, I suppose all that water pouring down outside must have reminded him of one of the most dangerous adventures he and Bernie Skampersky took upon themselves in their early days in the Mouse Watch.

Being an avid scholar of all Mouse Watchrelated activities, I eagerly grabbed my notebook and scribbled down the entire tale. Of course, in order to keep Jarviss energy up (storytelling is hard work), I made certain to have a tray of assorted cheeses and a big bottle of Tabasco sauce at the ready.

It is with great pleasure that I share with you, dear reader, another exciting adventure from the Mouse Watch, those intrepid mice that keep the world safe from danger and harm. Sit back, grab a piece of your favorite cheese, and sub-merge into this one-of-a-kind underwater adventure!

J. J. Gilbert

B ernie Skampersky raced down the gleaming white corridor that led to the Secret Watcher International Subway System. She checked her watch. The display showed a cartoon version of herself running next to a countdown clock. The clock was synched with the S.W.I.S.S. station terminal.

Two minutes to the next train! she thought. Id better hustle!

She doubled her speed, calling back to her fellow agent Jarvis Slinktail to try to keep up. Jarvis, in spite of being much taller than she was, preferred sitting behind a keyboard rather than doing anything physical whatsoever. The lanky rat was her best friend, and she noticed that his shock of blond hair bounced comically in his eyes as he huffed and puffed, trying to keep pace with her.

Last one there is a R.A.T.S. agent! Bernie shouted.

Not... (huff)... fair! Jarvis called back. I had a... (puff)... huge breakfast! Cheddar-cheese waffles!

Bernie chuckled. Jarviss appetite was becoming legendary at Mouse Watch HQ. It had gotten so bad that the cafeteria mice had been known to panic and lock the cafeteria doors when they saw him coming.

Bernie was a short brown mouse with a haystack of blue hair and long eyelashes. Joining the Mouse Watch had been her dream, one that had actually come true when shed been accepted to the elite band of agents six months ago.

As she ran, she noticed how much steadier her breathing had become and that her legs were much stronger than when shed first joined up. With the rigorous training exercises she did every day, she was starting to gain athletic abilities shed never known, and clad in her official Level One agent uniform, a black jumpsuit with silver trim, she looked every bit a part of the illustrious team.

Bernie ran toward the secret area indicated on the map on her goggles screen. The smart goggles were one of the Watchers most important instruments, a hi-tech piece of enhanced-reality gear that allowed an agent to do countless useful things, including, as Bernie was using it for right then, consulting a highly accurate mapping system. Shed only used the S.W.I.S.S. station once before, and because Mouse Watch HQ was such a vast, sprawling warren of glass windows and mazelike corridors, the map was quite helpful.

She scurried past the locker room that led to the gym and reached the drinking fountains well before Jarvis did. By the time he caught up, she remembered to use the switch behind the fountains to open the secret door.

What took you so long? asked Bernie.

Jarvis was huffing and puffing so hard that he couldnt answer for a full thirty seconds. T-... too...

Too? Too what? asked Bernie. Too far to run?

Too... basco sauce, wheezed Jarvis. I forgot to grab some on the way out. Just give me a second to run back....

No time! Bernie cried. Were on a schedule! Somebody needs rescuing and we have to go!

Jarvis shrugged and held out his paws in a helpless gesture. What if I need a snack? Nothing tastes good without Tabasco anymore! he exclaimed. I even put it on my cereal this morning!

You have a problem, said Bernie. Come on, someones in serious danger!

The secret door behind the drinking fountains led to a very old stairway in a crumbling, brick-lined tunnel. Bernie found it interesting because it was very unlike the rest of the conspicuously clean, futuristic Mouse Watch headquarters. She had no idea what the old tunnel had been used for originally. But, seeing how ancient and crumbly the bricks were, Bernie wondered if it was part of a much older building that had once stood where HQ now was. Apparently, sometime in the distant past of Los Angeles, someone had needed a stairway to access the old tunnels beneath the city.

It was very mysterious.

But Bernie liked to imagine that a secret society used to meet there, making plans to take over the world, or that it was possibly a hideout for robbers while they plotted some kind of bank heist.

It was impossible for her not to feel daring and adventurous when descending the rickety stairs.

When she reached the bottom, Bernie checked her watch and was happy to see that theyd actually arrived with two seconds to spare. Despite the Tabasco-related slowdown, their training was paying off.

Grinning, she showed Jarvis her record time. The lanky rat nodded but looked wholly unimpressed. Good for you, he said, sounding tired.

If you put as much effort into physical training as you do into eating, next time we can make even better time, said Bernie.

No thank you, said Jarvis. Running through obstacle courses

Is a fun challenge? finished Bernie, grinning.

No, said Jarvis. I was gonna say, is my least favorite thing in the world to do. Besides, he added, glancing at her through his blond mop of hair, I say anybody who wastes their time running around when they could be thinking or playing video games has a misplaced set of priorities.

Jarvis was brilliant with computers. Bernie was good at solving puzzles, but there had never been, in Mouse Watch history, anybody better at it than Jarvis. He was the most natural code breaker the Watch had ever seen. Theyd made an exception for him to join up with them, in spite of the fact that he was a rat and had once (even though he hadnt wanted to) worked for R.A.T.S.the Rogue Animal Thieves Society.

The group had a dark reputation. They knew how to take advantage of every angle, how to manipulate and exploit anybody who was weak and vulnerable. Jarvis had needed help and theyd offered to take care of him... for a price. R.A.T.S. was the most corrupt gang of evildoers ever assembled, and they worked tirelessly for their own selfish purposes.