CHAPTER ONE
May, 1790...
Dr. Franklin had passed on, and in his will he left James Hiller and his wife Sarah the print shop for their very own. It had become quite different without Dr. Franklin around anymore.
James felt really hurt when Dr. Franklin had died, for he was like the only one who ever felt like a family to him. Taking him in and giving a home and shelter after the death of his parents. Raising him as if he were like his own child, and giving him a job as a journalist.
Luckily James wasn't completely alone; he did have his friends Sarah and Henri by his side.
Sarah Philips, the same British-girl, who came to as Dr. Franklin's guest. Like most British girls, she was a High-class lady with a very high class, yet stubborn personality. She usually complained a lot about the way James used to act, even though it wasn't as if he had much of a choice.
James however did prove to Sarah that he did have a soft-side, by Taking his mothers ring, his only remainder of his family, and used it to make a copy of a locket she'd lost. He also was able to help open her eyes to the perspectives of the colonies she had never considered before.
As time went on, Sarah and James found themselves getting closer and closer together. Eventually, they fell in love and got married.
Sarah's Mother and Father, Elizabeth and Major. Samuel Philips, were very delighted for them both.
Now that the war was over, as promised. Sarah's famliy moved to america, just a little ways away fromt he print shop, and Samuel had come home for good so he could stay close to his daughter and his new Son-in-law without ever missing them as much.
Elizabeth, Sarah's beloved mother, shared a long relationship with her daughter during the war sending letters back and forth from America, to England, and back.
Now they lived close together, but they still wrote to each other. Elizabeth was especially looking forward to hearing from James. The Day James became her Son-in-law, brought tears of joy to her eyes, Elizabeth and her husband had always wanted a son like James... but sadly couldn't have their wish.
Henri, who was now 13, more taller and mature, had been living with the Marquis Lafayette for years now, and was even growing a soft spot for the Marquis' daughter.
They didn't see much of him these days, but did write letters to him back and forth.
As for Moses… He moved out of the Print-shop and pursued in his boyhood of becoming a school teacher. Now he had a job at the school in town, but did drop by once in a while to the Print-shop to visit his friends. Not to mention, see if James had knocked Sarah up yet.
"We were just married Moses." said James, "Were not ready for children yet. His wife nodded, "Besides, were too busy right now to even have time for each other." she said, "It's hard, but duty calls."
There was suddenly a knock at the door. It was Sarah's parents. They told everyone that they were heading for a conference that evening and thought they'd stop by for dinner. "Won't you join us tonight Moses?" asked Sarah.
"Don't mind if I do." He answered.
Everyone shared polite conversations while they feasted on stew and butter bread, made by James himself. "I must say dear." Said Elizabeth, "For a journalist, you certainly know how to prepare meals."
James bowed his head slightly, "Thank you, Elizabeth." he said kindly.
His mother in-law rolled her eyes and sighed "James, we've been through this before. We are family now, and you need not have to address me by my name."
"I whole-heartily agree." said Samuel, "James, we know how you've never had a family to call your own before. We are reaching out to you, you may call me "Father" if you wish, and you may address my wife by as your "Mother."
James re-bowed his head, "In that case, thank you both…Mother and Father."
"Oh really dearest," said Sarah, "Now you're sounding like me." James laughed and kissed his wife on the cheek.
After dinner, Samuel stretched back and rubbed his stomach. "I've not had such a warm hearty meal in days." He said.
Sarah noticed on the floor, a piece of paper and small picture on top of it. They must've fallen out of he father's pocket. She handed him the paper, but questioned him about the picture of two boys in school standing side-by-side, "Father, what is this?" she asked
Samuel took the picture and held it forward for everyone to see. "Oh... oh dear." Samuel said sounding a little embarassed. "I was hoping no one would ever see this."
Elizabeth looked puzzleded. "You may as well tell us dear... I'm really quite interested in knowing myself." she said. Samuel knew he was stuck, and he decided to come clean.
"I never told anyone this before... but, that's me when I was nine, and the boy standing behind me... is my half-brother."
Elizabeth and Sarah's eyes widened. "Father. You have a half-brother?" asked Sarah. Samuel nodded.James stared at the picture, "He was taller than you were?" he asked, "Oh indeed he was." said Samuel.
He told them the story...
His half-brother's name was Edward... Their Mother accidently had far too much to drink one evening out, and one bad thing lead to another. She conceived herself to a commoer who died the same night after they had conceived.
She got pregnant, and she had Edward. When her husband found out that the child was not of his own, he was very outraged, and at that very moment had become a changed man.
Grouchy, mean, and very ill-tempered toward his wife, and especially to little Edward. He only favored Samule from then on, only because he was the eldest over Edward, and what he called. "A True Phlips!
He was only willing to let Samuel be entitled to the family fortune, and as for Edward, well... Eventually he learned the truth about being a half-wit, and he was also forced to abide to his Step-father's Strict-Orders.
First of all, he forbidded Samuel from ever speaking or even going near his Half-brother... And porr Edward was worked hard day and night, much like a Cinderella, on porjects, and journals, documents, and many more.
He was not to leave his room under orders, not permitted to join in parties, and even not given as much food as the rest of the family. He was locked in his room and put down even harder to work than ever.
Edward hardly ever went to bed, but rather just continued to work. Which started him on the road to where he was able to finish in only a few days and nights, would've taken others months to complete."
For he had a goal to prove to his Step-Father he was not all the mean and horrible things he was called, and that he would one day be seen differently in his eyes... but that dream remained a dream.
"Father never did approve of Edward. I begged him to let him at least be entitled to share my future earnings, but he wouldn't listen. To make matters worse, when I turned 19, and was engaged to marry Elizabeth. Edward was only 17, but Father was forcing him to leave home for good."
"You are not my son... and therefore you have no place in this family!!"
"It was at that point that all three of us had seen Father for the monster he had become all because of a boy who had no fault what so ever in being born."
"He defied father with all his rage. Father was most upset, and finally lost his temper, and began to beat him silliy. Edward was braely able to defend himself. He even forced the nanny's to lock me in my room so I could not interfere."
"Finally, when I had managed to break out of my room, but I got downstairs too late. Father was lying dead, and drecnch in blodd on the floor. Mother was merely out-cold with a big lump on her head, possibly courtosey of Father... and Edward was nowhere to be found."
"Father was gone, mother laid bed ridden, and Edward... my dear half-brother whom I always had wished to have in my life as family... he was never seen or heard from again."
Everyone wiped their eyes with their spare napkins, for that was a very sad story. "Not that this'll matter, but what happened to your brother?" asked Moses.
Samuel looked up."Well, some say he was believed to have been killed. For it was true he was indeed the one who killed Father. But I say that is all Stuff and Nonsense in my opinion I say."
"No… I believe he is still out there somewhere. Without a friend or a family in the world." He shook his head sadly "I just wish I had a chance to tell him about my brotherly feelings for him."
Sarah never knew such a tale existed in her family. "Uncle Edward was such a torubled, mistreatd young man. Whatever could have happned to him?"
Somewhere in the sky...
A Gigantic, monsterous ship was soaring high above in the night sky. (Like Count Dregon's Spider Base from Masked Rider)
Now stuff like this in the 18th century was entirely impossible, for not even the most primative of computer technology had been invented yet. Whic could only mean someone had created it... but who?
Inside on the bridge, a small group of other mistreated people, wearin aromerd suits, and holding powerful weapons... which also had never been invented yet, were vewing a large computer screen of a the town hall where the peace conference was going to be held that night.
Just then... two large doors opened and a little girl was leading a larger, dark looking man into the room. "Behold the future King of the world... Lord Edward is on the bridge." she said.
Everyone bowed to the man who was dressed in golden armor, and a big red cape on his back (Much like Count Dregon himself but not really) and around his neck was a large pink crystal.
"What have you to report?" he asked his number two man.
Number-Two looked up and said. "The plan is proceeding as expected... according to the schedual, Lord Edward."
"And what of people in the town hall highness?" asked a teenage girl.
Lord Edward looked at the screen. "Rob them of all their money." he said. "And if you cannot get them alive... Kill them!"
END OF ACT... NEWS PAPER SCENE ZOOMS OUT!