A/N: This was an idea that just popped up into my head and I just had to jump on it. I will not be discontinuing Lost Meaning, in fact look for the next chapter to be up in the next few days. Warning: I say again, Warning: This chapter, and indeed, much of this story will feature scenes of slavery as well as racially sensitive speech and situations. This is to give the story an increased sense of historical accuracy. If such things will offend you: do not read. I do not want to be flamed.
The Flames of War
July 10, 1774
A lone rider approached the Sank Manor near Charlottesville, Virginia anger strewn on his face. He clenched his fists. There would be hell to pay. The British had gone too far this time. It was quite obvious how far they would go to suppress the rights of the colonists. The rider rode up to the front door, numerous slaves working in the field had taken notice.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, the owner of the plantation, twenty-year-old Milliardo Peacecraft, was eating lunch with his sixteen-year-old sister Relena, who lived with him there. They tried to refrain from talking about politics, for politics was ubiquitous throughout the colonies now.
"I'm glad to hear your courtship of Miss Noin is going well." Relena smiled at her brother.
He gently smiled back at her. "I'm going to call on her again this evening."
"Evening ride under the stars?" Relena said with a romantic expression on her face. "I wish someone would do that sort of thing with me..."
Milliardo raised a platinum blond eyebrow. "I don't think so."
"It's not like there aren't any suitors..." She trailed.
"Yes, there are too many suitors. And they are all scumbags."
"You're right..." It was true. Relena Peacecraft was one of the most desired young women in Virginia, not only because of her wealth, but also because of her astonishing beauty.
"Miss Relena's suitors are all questionable men." Their cook, the aging slave Tabitha interjected. "But that Lucrezia Noin seems like such a fine lady, Master Peacecraft. I swear though, if you and your friends wouldn't chase those men off with your guns I'd take this knife and chase them down myself!"
"I'm sure you would Tabitha, thank you." Relena giggled.
Milliardo just smiled and closed his eyes. He generally did not like his slaves talking to him and his sister while they ate, but he usually made an exception for Tabitha, she had been inherited from their late parents and had served the two for their entire lives. Suddenly, loud footsteps were heard as one of Milliardo's field hands, Ben, entered the kitchen.
"Master Peacecraft! Master Khushrenada is here to see you!"
Upon realizing his best friend was there, Milliardo opened his eyes and replied. "Send him in."
"I didn't know you were planning to do something with Treize today, Milliardo."
Milliardo's face looked puzzled. "I wasn't."
Relena's eyes widened in question. Her thoughts were soon interrupted by Treize waltzing into the room, slamming a few papers onto the kitchen table.
"The king has gone too far!" He seethed. "This is OUTRAGEOUS!" He took his tricorn hat off and put his hand through his hair.
"What is it?" Milliardo asked.
"Just...read it." Treize took a seat, trying to calm himself down.
"Tabitha, you are dismissed." He waved her out as he crinkled the paper and began to put his eyes on it.
Relena sighed in sympathy as she watched the old woman leave. She, unlike most other ladies of her standing, and indeed, her own brother, was very much against the institution of slavery and thought it deplorable and inhuman. She saw no reason why blacks could not take care of themselves in freedom just as whites did. Her thoughts were again interrupted, this time by her brother's raised voice.
"WHAT?! THE KING HAS ABOLISHED THE COLONIAL CHARTER OF MASSACHUSETTS!"
Relena's eyes widened as she took the papers from her brother's offered hand and began
to read them for herself.
"First, he bleeds us white with his taxes." Treize stated angrily. "Then he closes the port of Boston, punishing the entire populace for the actions of a few."(1)
"Although from our point of view, those actions were clearly warranted." Milliardo stated.
Treize smiled. "Yes, but forcing the entire population to pay for that destruction of property is unjust. Then, on the very same day he passes the Administration of Justice Act, or what I like to call, the Murdering Act!"
"Unbelievable!" Relena replied, referring to the new law. "The King, at his whim, can transport offenders to any place he desires for crimes committed in the colonies?!" She was clearly getting as angry as her brother and his friend were.
"And then he commits the most egregious act of them all: The Massachusetts Government Act." Treize continued his rant.
"Towns can only have one meeting per year?!" Relena read on. "All other meetings require the permission of the governor?!"
"Who is appointed by the king. Along now, with all other executive officers, sheriffs, justices of the peace, and judges." Milliardo stated smugly.
"THIS IS ABSOLUTE TYRANNY!" Relena's face began to redden with her anger. "If he can do this to Massachusetts, what's to stop him from doing it to Virginia, or New York, or any other colony?"
"Nothing." Treize answered her. "Milliardo, the House of Burgesses(2) is having an emergency meeting tomorrow, I've been called, and I assume you have been as well."
Milliardo's eyes widened. "Ben!" He called to the field hand who Treize had sent into the parlor upon his arrival in the kitchen. The young man ran in upon hearing Milliardo's voice.
"Yes, Master Peacecraft?"
"Get my mail." He ordered.
"Yes sir." He nodded and ran outside, delivering the mail about five minutes later.
"I've indeed been called." Milliardo read. "Treize, you are welcome to stay here for the night, tomorrow we'll take the short ride to Monticello to meet my uncle, and then we'll go to Williamsburg."
"Sounds good, thank you for the hospitality." He smiled.
"And Anne will be fine with that?" Milliardo referred to his friend's second wife, Anne Khushrenada, formerly Anne Une.
Treize smiled again. "She was expecting it. Your house is, much closer after all."
"How is Mariemaia? You don't bring that cute little thing around here enough." Relena smiled, referring to Treize's daughter by his first wife, Leia, who had died in 1767, two years after Mariemaia was born.
"And allow you to spoil her?" Treize smiled back. "I wouldn't think of it."
Milliardo sighed. Treize immediately knew why.
"Were you planning something with Lucrezia?"
"I was…but it seems bigger things have come up." He sounded dejected. "Ben, I'm going to write you a pass, proceed to the Noin Plantation and tell Miss Noin that I, unfortunately, won't be able to make it. Then I want you to ride to Monticello and tell my uncle that Treize and I will be journeying there tomorrow morning."
He nodded. "Yes sir."
"Then you can take the rest of the day off."
The slave's face lit up upon hearing the words. "Thank you kindly master!" He said as he received the pass permitting him to get through any slave patrols. Milliardo just grunted, signaling him to be on his way.
"Since when did you start treating your niggers so well?" Treize asked.
"Honestly…I don't know." Milliardo answered. "All I know is that if the King has his way, we'll be niggers soon."
Treize grunted his agreement.
Relena sighed, running a hand through her honey blonde hair. The whole thing was pathetic, on both sides of the Pond. Tyrants, in varying forms, littered Britain and America. The King and his Ministers there, the slave owner here. She was ashamed to be taking part, however passive, in such an activity.
July 10th, 1774, New York City.
Heero Yuy, and his best friend, Trowa Barton rode through the streets of New York, having just returned from their appointed surveying trip in the Ohio Territory for the State of New York. The two 16-year-old youths had performed exceptionally well on their first government assignment and learned much in their four months on the frontier.
They owed the prestige that came with a surveying assignment in large part to Heero's father. Cornelius Yuy was without doubt the wealthiest merchant in New York, and indeed, one of the richest men in British North America. A widower, Cornelius Yuy was also a leader of the New York Sons of Liberty, who Heero learned would be gathering tonight to respond to the Intolerable Acts.(3) Although Heero was the one who was officially given the surveying job, Cornelius insisted he bring Trowa and other armed men along for protection from any Indian attacks. Heero did not complain.
Trowa was apprenticed to a Yuy employee when the two first met at the age of ten. They were very much alike and became fast friends. Once Trowa had mastered his craft (in this case blacksmithing) he grabbed a job in the Yuy-owned metal shop (one of the many products the Yuy Company offered). The two came upon the Yuy Company headquarters in lower Manhattan and dismounted, heading up to Cornelius' office.
"You two came back just in time." Cornelius said without looking up from his papers.
"Father, is this outrage true?"
"It absolutely is, and if the King thinks we won't put up a fight he's got another thing coming."
Heero's Prussian blue eyes hardened. "The King really believes we're second class citizens doesn't he? That pompous royal bastard."
"Worse, he believes we're slaves. He seeks to enslave all of the colonies. We won't let him."
"We'll show him that we are free men, and what free men will do to protect their rights!" Heero growled.
Cornelius smiled. "Yes we will. It is good to have you back, Heero."
Trowa turned and began to walk out.
"Not even a word, Trowa?" Cornelius asked with a small smile.
"I'm going to see my sister."
"Will you be coming to the meeting tonight?" Cornelius' smile widened, already knowing the answer.
"Of course. I'll be there." He then walked out.
"Enough about politics." Cornelius said as he walked over and put a hand on his son's shoulder. "It's depressing. Come, tell me all about your surveying trip. Is Ohio, indeed a good place to invest as I suspect it to be?"
Later that night, a gathering of people met outside the Yuy Estate, which was situated just outside of New York City.
"Which is why I guarantee much more accurate and powerful fire." The old man told Heero, who was listening intently.
"Always involved in your projects, aren't you Doctor Jay?" Heero smirked.
The old man, who was a dear friend and colleague of Heero's father, smirked. Doctor Jay was also Heero's godfather. "Yes, and once I work out the breach loading kinks of the damned thing I can have a working prototype in order. The new musket will be just perfect for shooting game…and redcoats." He chuckled.
"I hope it doesn't come to that, Doctor Jay, I really hope it doesn't."
"No one wants it to come to that, my boy. But the King is growing more aggressive every day. And I suspect he will sooner or later have a full-fledged military force committing aggression on our fellows in Massachusetts, and that we cannot allow."
Heero nodded his agreement. Trowa showed up then, accompanied by Daniel Bloom, his sister's husband. He was another Yuy employee, and member of the Sons of Liberty. Heero nodded at Daniel and they shook hands, listening in as Cornelius began to speak.
"Sons of Liberty and fellow free men!" Cornelius got their attention. "You, as well as I, know of these arbitrary and atrocious actions of the Crown. It is quite obvious that the King wishes to raise the sword against our brethren in Massachusetts!"
"BURN KING GEORGE!" A man below interrupted, burning the King in effigy on a liberty pole. The crowd cheered him on.
"That man, who claims Divine Right, believes that he can infringe upon the liberties of the colonies! Tonight we are going to show that an attack on one colony is an attack on all of the colonies! Who next? It could be us for all we know! Free men of all stations, let us proceed with our intended demonstration!"
The Sons of Liberty below cheered and began to march toward the city.
"It is going to be a very hellacious night." Trowa observed with only a hint of amusement.
"They work for the King, they deserve it." Daniel replied as he walked out.
Cornelius gave his son a pat on the back as he and Trowa walked downstairs.
"Not coming, Doctor Jay?"
He laughed. "Oh no, my boy. I am way too old and out of shape to be doing any of the things I know you all will be doing down there tonight. I will be with you there, in spirit."
"The reports on Ohio's climate you requested." Heero handed the papers to him.
"Thank you, Heero. I will go over these carefully."
Heero nodded and walked out, mounting his horse. He quickly caught up with his father, Trowa, and Daniel.
The night was indeed hellacious, as the Sons of Liberty gathered outside the Crown courthouse and the offices of the British East India Company in lower Manhattan (indeed, not very far from the Yuy offices) with lighted torches, shouting down and taunting British tyranny, protesting the Intolerable Acts. Windows were broken, a few Crown officers were beaten, and several Tories (those loyal to Britain during the Revolution, also known as loyalists) were tarred and feathered, Trowa gleefully joining in on one such act.
A British officer came out of the courthouse. "Disperse at once!" He commanded, coming down the porch and pushing Heero, the first person he came in contact with.
Heero immediately punched the man in the face, then swept his leg and slammed him on the cobblestone road, punching him several more times for good measure, to the delight of his cheering colleagues.
"That's my boy!" Cornelius Yuy shouted proudly. "You sure showed that smug bastard that a free man will not tolerate an unwarranted assault on his person!" Cornelius complimented as Heero joined his father's side.
Trowa gave a rare smile at Heero, who replied with a rare full smile of his own. "You tarred and feathered that Tory good."
Trowa's emerald eyes glinted, signifying his contentment.
"BURN IT! BURN IT DOWN!" One of the men shouted.
"No!" Cornelius responded, trying to calm the enraged crowd down. "I think we've proven our point. I believe that this was a sufficient first response. Let us see how they take our grievances. I am quite confident that Parliament will do the right thing and repeal the acts once they see our response. Come, let's enjoy the rest of the night and celebrate our resolve! Drinks at our pub for everyone on me!"
The crowd cheered and followed Cornelius as he walked off. Heero, Trowa, and Daniel were the last to follow.
"I think I'll skip this night out." The older man stated. "I'm going back to my Cathy. I think she will be pleased with me." He chuckled.
Trowa gave a genuine smile to his brother-in-law. This man took excellent care of his sister; it was all he could ask for as a brother. Daniel waved his good-bye and rode toward his home. Heero and Trowa nodded at each other. They were satisfied. They had made their position clear: they would not allow the King's arbitrary acts to infringe on their rights. Nothing was more important.
July 11th, 1774, Monticello
Milliardo and Treize approached the mountaintop home; each dressed in velvet suits, Milliardo in red, Treize in blue. It was quite a beautiful place. Milliardo's uncle was many things, and a brilliant architect was one of them. The slaves took notice and made way for the two men to ride through.
Thomas Jefferson walked out the front door and went toward a horse prepared from his stables. He was wearing his finest black velvet suit. He mounted and smiled at his nephew, and greeted Treize with a handshake.
"I've received your notice." He said to Milliardo.
"I trust my nigger didn't give you too much trouble." Milliardo stated with light disdain.
"No, he did not." Thomas answered. "How is Relena? I haven't seen her in some weeks." He asked as they sped up to a canter.
Thomas' sister, Katrina (I made this up for purposes of the story, Thomas Jefferson had no sister named Katrina, as should be obvious.) had met and married a wealthy, yet lesser nobleman who emigrated from Scandinavia, Bartholomew Peacecraft. Bartholomew fell severely ill and died in 1765, on the eve of the Stamp Act Crisis, with his wife Katrina meeting a similar fate in 1770. Upon Katrina's death, the property was split between Milliardo and Relena, but he legally controlled Relena's estate until she married.
"She's fine, but very angry at the Intolerable Acts."
"Who wouldn't be? It is quite obvious that the King is enacting arbitrary laws, and neglecting ones of pressing importance."
"In a word: tyranny." Treize entered the conversation. "We have to respond."
"We will." Thomas answered Treize. "There are plans for a Continental Congress to meet later this year. I believe we will be choosing Virginia's delegates today."
"Like the Stamp Act Congress." Treize answered.
Thomas nodded. "We will have a continental response to these egregious acts."
"But that might not be enough. We must protect Virginia should the British try lifting a sword."
"Well, you boys are both captains of the local militia. And I trust you have your OZ boys ready, Treize." Thomas referred to the subsidiary of the Sons of Liberty that Treize had organized. Milliardo was also heavily involved with OZ.
"Can we expect your continued support, sir?" Treize asked.
"I will contribute what I can." Thomas answered. "I am currently working on my latest pamphlet, I call it 'A Summary View of the Rights of British America.' I intend it to be an instruction manual of sorts for Virginia's delegates to the Continental Congress."
"Please tell me when you are finished, I always love to read your writings, uncle." Milliardo smiled.
"We use the talents that Providence grants us. But I see a stormy horizon ahead. Be prepared, my boys, every lover of liberty will have to use his talents to fend off this present crisis."
1. The Boston Port Act in response to the Boston Tea Party of 1773.
2. The Virginia state legislature until 1776.
3. The previously described laws.
A/N: Reviews? Anyone? Some of you may wonder why I put Trowa as Heero's best friend when it's mostly Duo. I think that if Heero was the type to have a best friend, it would be Trowa, as they seem much more similar in style and temperament.