As promised in the Halloween Spectacular, here is my new story, Eureka. Enjoy!
Chapter One: There's Gold in Them Hills!
The Crown Colony of Nickelodeon, 1851.
The great explorer, James Isaac Neutron, walked through the trees and bushes in the highlands of the colony. He had left the colonial Capital three days ago on his expedition, to open up the new grazing land for the British Empire.
Personally, he'd rather be surveying for an independent nation, but he enjoyed his job, so he didn't complain.
Behind him, his companions (Carl Wheezer and Sheen Estevez) were arguing.
"…there's no gold up here, Carl!" Sheen snapped.
"Yes there is," Carl replied, "There's gold everywhere!"
"There is not!" Sheen cried, exasperated, "If gold was everywhere, we'd be rich!"
"Actually, if gold was everywhere it would have absolutely no value," Jimmy explained, "Everyone would have it, so no one would want more of it."
Carl and Sheen blinked.
"What did he say?" asked Carl.
"I had no idea," replied Sheen.
"Wait guys, what's that?" mused Jimmy.
Jimmy peered through the trees, making out a sparkle next to a dead trunk. He walked carefully over to it, and found the source of the glow. It took his breath away.
It was gold.
A reef of surface gold stretched around the area for several metres, up to a river which ran at a steady pace. Deep below there must've been huge nuggets, just waiting to be found.
"G-guys," he gasped, "We've struck gold."
Carl turned to Sheen and grinned.
"Told you."
Governor Eugene Krabs sat in his office, reading a document.
The colonies were in a bad state. Convict transportation from Britain had ended, and now there were very few free workers left to keep the economy going. There were few profitable goods to trade, recent rains had destroyed much of the crop harvest, and a strange illness was killing livestock. It was also killing the government's income.
Governor Krabs was getting very sweaty.
The door creaked open. Governor Krabs' aide, a boy with a giant boil on his left cheek, walked into the room.
"Sir, a guy with funny hair is here to see you," he explained.
"Bring him in, Elmer."
Elmer nodded, and left. He soon returned with Jimmy in tow.
"What is it?" Governor Krabs snapped, "I'm very busy!"
"I under stand, Governor," Jimmy replied, grinning, "But I've got some good news."
"This better be about money," Governor Krabs growled.
Jimmy's smile grew larger.
"It is," he nodded, "I've discovered gold."
Governor Krabs' eyes expanded in surprise. He let out a creaky whisper.
"G-gold?"
Then he fainted.
Colonial Decree Twelve, in the name of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, VR.
All potential gold miners must pay ₤4 to receive a mining licence, which will be regularly inspected. It must be renewed every three months, repeating the ₤4 payment each time. Payment can be made no earlier then the ninetieth day of issue. Failure to present a licence will result in one month's incarceration, two weeks of that hard labour. On a third offence, the punishment is one year's hard labour and no chance of a new licence. Attacking or otherwise assaulting a licence inspector will result in the punishment your magistrate feels appropriate, and repeated offences of abuse to police and soldiers will result in deportation from the colony.
Hereby signed on the date of twelfth of May, Eighteen-Fifty-One,
Eugene H. Krabs, Governor.