The Fourth Gateway to NIMH

Here is an outline to my fan fiction, The Fourth Gateway to NIMH. I apologize if this is not the right place to post this, as I just wanted to share a part of it. I’ve had the idea for a storyline for many years now, but because this storyline was envisioned many years back, there are lots of refinements that have to be made if I am to eventually craft it into a script one day.

So anyway, I’ll give you a basic insight into what it’s all about. The story carries off from the first Secret of NIMH movie, but it introduces a lot more science-fiction. If you have any suggestions, ideas or whatnot then feel free to share them.

I’ve written quite a lengthy context for the story, but I’ve cut it down to a slighty shorter version to post here, and left out what I feel are extraneous details. So here is a history of what happened after the rats abandoned the rosebush, having been compelled by Mrs Brisby.

On their journey, the rats decided to migrate further away from the rosebush colony as far as they could, having seen for themselves the humans taking an interest in the rosebush as they left just in time. The rats had travelled far enough to encounter small settlements of mice on the outskirts of the farm, many of which were the original subjects of the NIMH experiments. The rats told many stories of their experiences living in the rosebush, and advised the mice never to venture to it because it had been discovered by humans, they extended this advice to keeping clear of the farm area altogether. They also took heed of the warning never to steal electricity from the humans, nor to try to advance to a level of technological development that would attract humans to them. Thus, technological development slowed down for the next hundred or so years in the rat and mouse settlements, while Human development went on as before.

As the centuries elapsed, the intelligent creatures who had inherited their ancestors’ intelligence and slightly longer lifespan continued to develop their own settlements. Independent nation states between the mice and rats gradually became more concrete over the centuries, and the story of the migration from the first rosebush colony was becoming more of a legend to the descendants of NIMH. Technological innovation was increasing again, as the rodents were impressed by the magnificence of humans and their achievements. The old legendary advice of not meddling with technology became irrelevant to advancement. This time however, the rats and mice had no intention of stealing technology from humans and arousing suspicion, so they still followed the old stories of migration on that accord. The rats and mice burrowed deeper into the ground, and formed their own networks of colonies, so as to keep their growth even more hidden from humans. Living underground would become the norm for the rats and mice of NIMH, only venturing onto the surface for reasons other than building settlements. Eventually, the intellectually gifted individuals of mice had managed to manufacture the first electrical energy source, which numerous colonies used to power their infrastructure. The secret of the technology became widespread among the rat and mice communities.

Going further in time, almost a few centuries since the first energy source was invented, a period of almost a thousand years had now passed since the migration from the rosebush, and the descendants of NIMH had reached an unprecedented level of advancement, certain aspects of which relate to a human level of technology in the early 21st century. The Borthalis Confederation, a union of nations of both mice and rats has been financing multiple corporations within its sphere of influence, corporations that dedicate themselves to the discovery of new technology, discreetly observing human culture and contributing to the overall advancement of society in infrastructure and military defence. The more recent endeavors of the corporations include the study of an advanced device, discovered after an excavation at what is believed to be the first rosebush colony.

Of course, many artifacts were discovered years before by archaeologists when they finally dared to re-enter the rosebush colony of their ancestors after so many years. Even Nicodemus’ electrical surveillance machine had been discovered many years before, but its function could not be understood by the descendants at that time. Nicodemus was familiar in the minds of many of the descendants of NIMH as a mysterious figure, who according to legend was said to have had unimaginable telepathic powers. It was told that he oversaw the creation of many magical devices and items in the first colony, and this developed a following that based its primary belief in him being the first great leader of all the descendants of NIMH. Of course, as time went by and the descendants continued to advance, many started to disbelieve in the great powers attributed to him by the more religious, but still recognized him as an important historical figure.


Not until many years after the discovery of the surveillance machine, along with the improvement of the descendants’ power sources and super computers could they actually make the machine perform its function. It baffled the descendants silly as to how their ancestors were able to meet the large power requirements of the machine, as there was no evidence of any visible power source in the colony. What baffled the descendants even more was how their ancestors were capable of engineering such advanced technology, which was far greater than their own. Many started to hypothesize that the existence of this piece of technology might be due to their ancestors possibly learning the advanced technology of humans at that time, and that the legends of their ancestors stealing power from humans in order supply the rosebush with energy could be true. Nothing was certain to the descendants as to how their ancestors were capable of such a feat in technology; nevertheless, they were determined to find the answers to their many questions, and in the process try prove the legends right or wrong, once and for all.


The most interesting discovery at the rosebush was the latest, something which had apparently not been found by previous archeologists. Upon further excavation, scientists and archeologists of the Borthalis Confederation stumbled upon a large hidden chamber, and within it they found a strange console. The research team thought that the device must’ve been engineered by their ancestors because of its stylistic markings and construction, similar in design to the surveillance machine. It took some time for scientists to comprehend exactly what the machine was capable of, because like the surveillance machine it was obviously another piece of technology far more advanced than anything they had. After careful research the machine was finally tested. Like the surveillance machine, the power necessary to activate the device was enormous. After activating the machine the scientists stood in amazement as they witnessed the seemingly impossible. A large, bright green sphere appeared after a quick flash of light, and hovered about a couple of feet off the ground in the middle of the chamber. Whatever this device’s purpose it definitely garnered the interest and respect from scientists to progress with further study. Thus authorization from the Borthalis Confederation for more funding went ahead. The device was classified top secret and became known as The Nicodemus Project.

Over the next several years breakthroughs were made. At first, the scientists noticed characteristics that the green sphere was an entry point for a worm hole. This was pure theory based on the observations that the scientists had made up to this point, but they decided to test their theory by sending an automated probe through the sphere. Unfortunately the probe could not negotiate with the sphere and disintegrated upon contact with it. More study was conducted to better understand the material of the worm hole, which ultimately enabled engineers to fit the probe with a device to enable it to travel within the passage. After much testing, a model probe was built and sent through the sphere successfully, bringing back video surveillance of a chamber on the other side of the passage exactly the same as the chamber on the home side. The same sphere console was also discovered on the other side. This made the scientists wonder if they could possibly send rats or mice through in the same manner, using a transportation vehicle as a safe vessel. Upon further analysis of the probe's data the results showed unexpected evidence of reverse time travel, which was calculated to almost a thousand years back in time. The scientists reported their findings with immense excitement, thinking that they had possibly stumbled upon a means of meeting their ancestors in the first colony.

Somewhat recent to before to this discovery, war had broken out between the Borthalis Confederation, and its allies against the formidable Verathess Empire and its allies, the latter belligerents starting the war as a result of political concessions and old hostilities. Finding out a means of sending a team of explorers through the sphere was still financed, after the decision for continued funding was reached after much debate. The Confederation and its allies were on the losing end of the war after almost a year, and they stayed optimistic that there may be something useful on the other side of the sphere that could turn the tide of the war. Over time, the Verathess Empire won more decisive victories and it was now edging dangerously closer to the rosebush colony. Through interrogation and espionage, the location of the rosebush and its purpose as an important site of research eventually became known to the Verathess Empire. The underground networks close to the rosebush however were still heavily fortified, but that still didn’t alleviate the urgency of the Confederation’s scientists to get a team through the sphere. Much to the anxiety of the Confederation, the enemy was still managing to take some of the underground posts near the area of the rosebush. The Nicodemus Project now had time constraints, and much testing and research had to cut short if they were to quickly get a team through and find a means of winning the war.

The construction of four time-travel vehicles were finished that would allow a team of four to go through the sphere. The target of six vehicles could not be met under the constraints, and many felt not enough testing had been undertaken to make sure the team members would not disintegrate upon entering the sphere, regardless of the safety the vehicles seemed to provide. No more can be done it though, the enemy is almost upon the rosebush, and having defeated many of the Confederation’s forces in the area, the enemy now controls a little more than about half of the underground networks. The team comprised of three mice and one rat has been briefed on their mission to travel through the sphere. One of those mice, Michael Wahlström, is a gifted strategist and a fresh officer in the armed forces, also having a knack for ancient history and languages has made him a suitable member to serve as an escort on the team, alongside the commander.

Looking at his watch, Michael realizes it’s almost time to leave. The Armoured transport is on its way. He reluctantly puts away a book into his backpack entitled “Nicodemus, the father of modern civilization”, a book that is mostly mythical in nature, without any hard facts, but interesting nonetheless. Michael takes a last breath for a moment, then grabs the rifle on the bench and leaves the dorm. “Finally, the chance to see if this guy is all he’s cracked up to be.”

This actually looks pretty interesting. I'd be obliged to kind of look at your chapters before you post them and suggest things. (If you're taking that route.)

Sounds great! But what will their relations with the human community be like over the centuries? Obviously they can't stay separate and hidden in all that time. Definitely looking forward to the results.
As a totally irrelevant aside, my own fan-fic includes a character named Kimball.

From what I've read of your storyline, it sounds very intriguing. However you seem to have either missed or totally forgotten a very important detail. That is the fact that there were only 11 mice that were the original subjects of the experiments at NIMH and of those 11, nine were "Blown away... Sucked down dark airshafts to their death... All but two, Jonathan and Mr. Ages." Two male mice at that. So how can two male mice go on to found the mouse settlements that you say were encountered by the rats in their journey from the rosebush? Especially when we know that Mr. Ages for one, became something of a recluse, preferring to delve into a world of potions, herbs, and medicine after he, Jonathan, and the Rats made their escape from NIMH. Jonathan as you know went on and eventually met and married the heroine of our story... None other than Mrs. Brisby herself. Please let me know soon.

Peace :)
NIMHmaniac