Gerbil came in Comets across the fathomless depths of the universe came they, - to conquor and destroy the Earth, and the Solar System, and the Galaxies and everything!!!!

This is how Gerbil came to Earth.

Through space the small comet journeyed, shards of light and gasses spinning off it. Deep within the comets core, the race of Gerbil chattered incessantly, discussing the planet to which they were travelling. They had been journeying for a few weeks, and although they knew there were many light years to go, they were incredibly excited. What would this planet be like? Why was Gibbs taking them there? What was their destiny? Many of the older ones spoke of the times spent on their old planet when they had first arrived there, and of the race of Agillons who had finally forced them to leave.

Gibbs stood up and addressed the multitude.

“Fear not, small friends!” He began, his voice ringing out loud and clear over the assembly. “We are Gerbil and our dominion shall increase! The planet to which we travel is inhabited only by hamsters, mice and rats. We shall hold sway in their courts, and shall command them to our Empire. The tail of the Gerbil shall continue to lengthen!”

There was much cheering and shouting from the crowds.

“The Grand High Beastie may think it fit to rob us of our former dwellings! May His will be forever perverted by the race of Gerbil! Let not one of us seek to quell the fire within us. Be united therefore, and hold fast. Our Destination approaches!”

Once the Gerbil had landed upon the planet, they began to seek out those places which were not inhabited. Over the years their numbers grew into a race of indomitable foes. They paid no heed to the mice, hamsters and rats as their number increased, until one day, Gibbs spoke to the crowds.

“My friends, the time has come. Let us go and make peaceable war with the Rodents of this fair planet. Remember, we are The Gerbil our will shall not be thwarted!”

And so Gibbs organised meetings with the leaders of the races of Hamsters, Mice and Rats. With each he romanced them, and courted their favour. Flattery and wealth were his main weapons.

“My Lord, you have been a Hamster for some time now, going peacefully about your work and your burrows. Let not the worries of time fall heaftily upon your brow. Imagine the benefits of sitting by this quiet lake, sipping some elderflower wine, and spending all day with those whom you love. Would this not be wonderful?” said Gibbs veritably skipping round and dancing in circles by the large lake.

The fuzzy and mild mannered Hamster blinked in the bright sunlight.

“Really Gerbil?” he asked “you mean you would give all that to me, if I would just sign on this line here?!”

“Yes Hamster. That is all you have to do!”

“Right-oh!” said the Hamster, and he put a badly drawn X on the page where the Gerbil indicated.

“Well done!” said Gibbs, rubbing his paws together mischievously, “now for the Specialists,” he muttered.

“Wise and clever Specialist, see here, this grand building” said Gibbs, waving his arms expansively about at a large and clean looking building.

The Specialist squinted at it. He swiffled his whiskers, and pushed his glasses further up his waffle

“What of it? The Markinger Institute has stood for many years, but it is nowhere for a Rodent, surely of this you are aware, graciously Gibbles.”

“Ah, I see you speak of the spells which keep those who are long of tooth and claw away! Well, this was a small triffling matter for us. As Gerbil we work with what we have, and we have much knowledge of Alchemy and the Dark Shapes, so we have undone the spells which once kept our kind out. This place I can give to you and your kindred for all eternity. All you need to do is to confirm your ‘friendship’ with me, and this place is yours.”

The Specialist was not as easy to convince as the Hamster. Gibbs clasped his paws in front, to stop himself from doing something rash. The Specialist continued to read the piece of paper. The mouse could not help but be seduced by what the gerbil offered, there was all manner of scientific equipment within the Markinger Institute, and for many years he and his fellows had been attempting to find a way in, but to no avail. And here, this Gibbles fellow was offering it to him, so long as he agreed to be friends. Specialists are by nature a law abiding race, and so naturally, being friends with someone would not be difficult. Yes, it would make all the difference if they could work at the Markinger, and not in their underground burrows. The Specialist signed, and handed the piece of paper back to Gibbs.

“Thank you,” said the Mouse, “for all you have done for us already. I am forever indebted to you.”

“Kind Specialist, it is I who should be thanking you. “said Gibbs, the glint of his power extending showing in his eyes. “and now for that fool Wesley. Should not be too hard to win over that nomadic and barbaric rabble!” he squeaked manically to himself.

The Gerbil stood at the edge of the cliff. He and Wesley had been talking for some time. No conclusion that suited the Gerbil could be reached. The race of Rats were proving more difficult that he had anticipated. Once more Gibbs tried:

“All this could be yours if only you would commend yourselves to the race of Gerbil.”

Wesley surveyed the scenery before him, the sea shore, the rolling hills bursting with seeds, the distant mountains covered with snow, and the River.

“This is not yours to give away,” said Wesley slowly,” This land belongs to The Grand High Beastie, you have no say over it’s usage.”

“Of course, such talk of Him is required, it is only proper, etcetera etcetera, nevertheless, imagine the quietitude, the peace, the security from having your own valley. No more wandering from place to place. Instead, somewhere that you could bring others to for security. Imagine, the Rats as defenders of the people!”

They talked like this for some time. Gibbs was growing impatient. Stupid Rat! He thought, So much are you missing out on! ‘All I ask is a small favour! Stop mentioning the Grand High Beastie! For the sake of seed, will you just agree?’ However, instead of saying this, he merely continued his line of argument,

“But, fair Wesley, do you not think that this is what The Grand High Beastie would have wanted anyway, to see you and your kind with a place of their own? Look, to those fields, see how the wind ripples the corn, see how the corn stalks bend, woefully ripe and ready for the harvest. Can you not comprehend what wonders would await you, if only you would do this one thing?!”

“Kind Gibbs, we have talked for long enough, I have made my position clear, I cannot and will not accept from you something that it not yours to give. It makes no sense. These fields belong, as I have said, to The Grand High Beastie, forgive me, but they are not yours to give away!”

“Fool of a Rat! You think that I cannot give this away? What cares the Grand High Beastie? He has not been seen nor heard of for the whole of our times. Noble Wesley, would you let your belief in a creature who cares not for your Fate decide whether you and your childrens children are safe secure and warm? Let not your belief blind you.” Said the Gerbil, trying to be reasonable, and trying not to get angry.

“Nevertheless,” said Wesley, as placid as ever, “He is not governed by our time and by our ways, you know Gibbs that He is beyond our reckoning. I will no longer listen to your talk. I must leave you, the Widget is calling me!”

“PLAGUE!” screamed Gibbs “One thousand fleas to bite your neck and ears! May not a day go by when you are reminded of your foolishness this evening. Come the Morrow, you shall witness the might of GERBIL. Disaster and calamity be upon you and your childrens children. I curse thee to wander through towns and villages, always chased, always killed, never loved, and never the Chosen. Plague you carry, and PLAGUE you are. A pestilence on you and your kind!”

Gibbs rose up to his full height and glared at Wesley, looking him straight in the eye, as he muttered a strange language, and screamed once more“PLAGUE! RECEIVE YOURS!” a crack of thunder rolled overhead, lightning split the sky, and a sheets of rain began to fall. The lightning grew ever closer, as the Gerbil loomed higher and higher into the darkening sky. 

Wesley looked about him, wondering what was happening, trying to make sense of the Gerbil that towered above him.

“Gibbs!” he cried “Do not!”

But his words were drowned out by the oncoming storm. Gibbs continued to darken until he too was a huge black cloud covering the edge of the cliff where they had stood. The lighting was almost upon him.

“Prepare to feel the Wrath of GERBIL!” came a booming voice from within the clouds.

“High Beastie!” cried Wesley “Save me!”

All of a sudden, as if from nowhere, Eye Birds came swooping to the cliffs edge. Wesley tried to duck and escape them but one of them, a particularly stern looking Kestrel, clamped his claws around Wesleys waist and drew him off into the night sky.

“Oh, High Beastie, what shall become of me?!” whiffled Wesley, before he fell unconcious.