Derse – Throne Room – 3 and ¼ days Before The Meteor's Arrival
The Condesce sat on her throne. Flanking her on either side were her two new power slaves. Jade and Jane stood motionless but alert, adorned head-to-toe in their new scarlet uniforms and each ready to lay down their lives for their sovereign. Additionally, all of the girl's so-called friends were now in custody, Human and Sprite alike. Each one inhabiting a new high-security Derse jail-cell courtesy of Jade's teleportation ability. All that was left to do was capture the second group of interlopers, who were soon to arrive any day.
Soon, with her own power combined with those she could sway, she would finally be able to turn against Lord English and take control for real. In fact, she would have started to do so already if it hadn't been for the fact that Gamzee had found a way to outmaneuver her yet again. She'd changed her mind, she was definitely going to kill him when the opportunity arose.
The throne-room doors opened suddenly; causing the two girls to involuntarily clench their fists as, despite her outward calm, the Condesce's fight-or-flight response kicked in and broadcast across her link with them. It appeared she was going to need to fine-tune her control over them in the future. But she pushed the thought aside as her guests entered her sanctum.
Gamzee and another stood in the vestibule beyond the open doors. A nervous Dersite secretary watching the affair from even further back. Gamzee came in first, striding in purposefully. A few steps in he moved off to the side and swept an arm back to the entrance, where the second figure marched in behind him.
"ANNOUNCING!" Cried out Gamzee in a formal tone. "THE NEW HERALD OF LORD ENGLISH; SPEAKER IN HIS WORD AND NAME. JACK SPADES!" He then had the gall the bow towards the new figure, prostrating himself on one knee.
Jack walked past him without so much as a glance. The Condesce's one-time servant and failed assassin. Imposing despite his relatively short stature; Lord English's power apparent within him even as it lay dormant for this meeting. He stared at the Condesce, his bloodshot eyes meeting hers, and in a moment of fear she felt her resolve crumble in a wave. Hurriedly, she dismounted her throne and likewise knelt prostrate, her two Human puppets mirroring her own movements.
A sneer came across Jack's face at her two-faced duplicity and false subservience. "Rise." He said, and the four of them returned to standing. Facing him to receive further orders.
The new herald turned his head first to Gamzee. "Leave us. The affairs of this court no longer concern you. Close what loops you have left and prepare for my arrival."
Gamzee bowed at the waist and spread out his arms. "As you command my Lord." Walking backwards out the doors which he grabbed and closed as he left. Leaving, for all intents and purposes, the Condesce alone with Jack.
Jack, or rather Lord English through him, returned his attention back to her. The Condesce stood frozen in fear as he watched her, regarding her as if she were an insect he was unsure whether or not to squash.
"Now then. You and I have business to attend to. Hear me and hear me well…"
END OF PART 2
Cue Derse Dreamers