[I've got 2 points to make:
1) I hope my research here is accurate... Sometimes I can't find info I need.
And 2) I purposely didn't make Hercules introduce himself in Chapter 1, because, well... he needs no introduction. :)
Well, hope y'all enjoy!]

"Marcus, I'm worried." Gretchen stared at her daughter, who was drawing absentmindedly on the chalkboard with several girls her age. "What if it doesn't go well?"

"It'll be fine, Gretchen. If it goes well, she'll stop shaking and be able to digest her food. If there's a mishap—"

"Marcus?" A doctor arrived into the waiting room. The girl snapped to attention, shaking out of fear.

Fifteen minutes later, the operation was going smoothly, the surgeon murmuring under his breath and reaching for necessary tools. But his hands were trembling a little.

He looked up and took a long breath, and made another incision on her stomach.

And then the sound came. It wasn't ear-splitting, but terrifying all the same.

SQUELCH!

Blood spurted out onto the surgeon, and he looked at the girl, horror-struck at what he had done.

He had ripped open her stomach.

The surgeon reached quickly for the needle and thread. His hand groped for the anesthesia. He inserted it quickly and dug the needle into her side, tears starting to wet his mask—

I shook myself out of my stupor and took a deep breath to calm myself down.

"Katherine? What's troubling you?" Eliza asked over her plate.

I sipped some water from my goblet. "Nothing, Eliza... Everything's fine."

It was dinnertime and I was at Schuyler Mansion. Mr. Philip Schuyler had agreed to let me stay over for a week after hearing from Angelica about my "highly intellectual mindset." I had correctly answered nearly every question that she had thrown at me. When I told her I didn't exactly have a place to stay here, she took me in.

Hamilton (very flustered around the girls) hung around long enough for Eliza to lose the ability to speak for a solid minute, so I eventually let him go back to his classes.

Emphasis on let. I had grown to somewhat admire the guy in a couple of hours. But by the end of it, he did seem pretty keen on getting back to the University.

"Father, you did hear about the South's interest in moving West?" Angelica prompted. I looked up from my food, suddenly interested.

"Yes. Apparently they wanted to acquire new land in order to 'prosper', as they say."

"What do you think of it, Father?" Peggy asked curiously.

"I am a little surprised they've started thinking about it so early. They should be focusing more on the Revolution. But... I'm not as eager to go West as they are. We should develop the East first."

"Besides, there's the problem of the Indians," Eliza mused.

"Ah, yes, the savages."

"With all due respect, sir, the Indians are still human," I said calmly, though I felt a small stab of annoyance inside.

"I say the Indians are savages because they would, most probably, react violently if we try to claim their land."

"Does that necessarily mean they're on the side of the British after the Royal Proclamation of 1763, sir?" I wondered.

Eliza looked impressed. "How do you know about the Royal Proclamation?"

"You are certainly very knowledgeable." Mr. Schuyler peered at me curiously. "I do not pretend to know that the very idea of Westward expansion had sprung from the fact that our colonies won the Seven Years' War, and that we should have a right to claim the land we won. The South is more interested in making farms and destroying villages."

"Yes, that's all well and good, but how does Katherine know about the war? According to her, she's lived in a different place, yet her accent is from around here." Eliza furrowed her brows in confusion.

"I suppose since she lived in a different place, the press didn't spread the word about the Proclamation..."

Oh, it certainly did, Angelica. It sure did.

Meanwhile, Mr. Schuyler was focusing on the topic of finances with Peggy.

"Speaking of finances, Father, have you heard about Alexander Hamilton?"

"Certainly. The man is gaining popularity, although slowly, and yet he's still in University! His writing is beyond remarkable, I'd say. Very reckless man, though," Mr. Schuyler added.

"That's funny," I piped up. "I was talking to him earlier today, and he warned me not to be 'too harsh about my actions'. And even then, he took down Samuel Seabury by almost shouting at him."

"Why would he warn you about your actions?" Eliza asked. "You're a woman, and I have quite a reason to believe you're just as gentle as any other woman in the town."

"Well..." I hesitated. "I accidentally... erm, grabbed Thomas Jefferson's coat and said some things to him..."

Everyone turned silent. I blushed. Mr. Schuyler broke the silence.

"Miss Katherine, none of us very much support Mr. Jefferson's beliefs, but tell me this: Is there a... custom in your country where your people are allowed to commit such... reckless actions without being thrown in jail?"

Yes, actually! I call it a bad high school.

"Not—not really, sir. My apologies."

"No need to apologize to me, Katherine," Mr. Schuyler responded. He stood up from the table. "Maybe he thinks you were influenced by his Declaration of Independence?"

"Particularly how it did not include women created equal to men!" Peggy's eyes were suddenly narrowed, and she stood up abruptly, frowning down at her plate. I followed suit, but much more worried than Peggy. My new green dress the sisters had given me suddenly felt a lot tighter around my midriff.

"You must apologize to Jefferson."