Station, стр. 59

"And you had that in the Before?"

Ego downed his drink in one extended sip. "Yes,twice. First, as a military soldier. After I put in my ten, I gotout and applied those skills to the streets. Within a few years, Ihad my city on lock, and my name echoed from coast to coast. And itwas known, if you stepped in my city, you paid tribute, or you gotgot. Simple as that."

"Sounds like you had everything you wanted. Whathappened?"

A heavy sigh spilled from the heavy man. "Mychildren. I never wanted them to follow in my footsteps. My baggageof dark needs was my own, and I didn't want them to carry it aswell. When Charles Jr. got shot in a nightclub over some bullshit,it hurt, but I thought I could move on. But when my baby girl gotcaught up, was gunned down with this piece of shit drug dealer shewas with, the fight I had for that world flamed out."

"But you found it again in Station."

"I did."

"And now you want to destroy the city."

"No!" Ego slammed a meaty hand down on the table,his metal knuckles catching light from above and sending refractedrays around the table. The Caesars at the table over stopped theireating, waiting for a call to violence. "That's where the fuckingSetters have me all wrong, have lumped me in with that psychopathThe Krown, all because they cannot understand what it means to livea life of consequences."

Hadder was honestly confused, and it showed clearlyon his face. "Then what is it you want, Ego? I crossed the bonesand ruins up north. I've seen the effects of the Riser Wars. Lookslike destruction to me."

"Nas said you have to destroy and rebuild." Anotherconfused look from Hadder. "I am pleased with the way things are,Hadder. I don't want Station destroyed. In fact, right now, I'm theonly thing preventing its annihilation. I want my half of the city,the Rising, to control it as I wish. I have no desire to take moreor harm any Setters. I like playing games of strategy and violence,where losing means the forfeiture of lives. I was the best in thestreets and I'll be the best here. But as I did in the streets, Ionly want to play with those also in the game. Shoot an enemy ondisputed ground and you're a gunner. Shoot a woman on the way tothe store and you're a murderer. I love my gunners, but I won'ttolerate murderers."

"I still don't understand."

"Rott wanted to create a utopia, but he thought onesize would fit all. It wouldn't. But two sizes will. I want theRising to be that other size, for those who are willing to pay theultimate price for living the ultimate life."

"And The Krown?"

Ego's face darkened, something Hadder thoughtimpossible. "Ronald Cronowski. Juice head. Woman abuser. Dogkicker, for all I know. Rumors are he had it rough growing up, witha dad who kicked the shit out of him on the regular and a motherwho turned tricks while daddy was at work. Sometimes, the young boyat home was thrown into the deals. As he got old, he got angry. Ashe got angry, he got nasty. As he got nasty, he got violent. Gym,juice, and violence was all he engaged in. He was in and out ofjail before he found his way here. And once he discovered that hecould inflict pain with Elevations, there was no stopping him.There were many reasons for the raising of the Skirt, yours trulyincluded, but none played a bigger factor than Ronnie, who nowcalled himself The Krown."

"You obviously see a difference between the two ofyou. Maybe I don't. Help me see."

"I want to control the Setting. I want it to playout like the streets. I welcome little factions or crews to springup, try to usurp my control. I want smaller Bars to jostle forpower, I want to move them around like chess pieces. My dream is tomake the Rising an alternative to Station's floundering existence,where stakes are high and decisions always come with drasticrepercussions. But most importantly, I want it to be achoice. You want to experience this life? Cross the Skirtand it's yours. Sounds horrible? Fine, stay in the Setting andenjoy the luxuries that soften your muscles and dull yourminds."

"And The Krown? What does he want?"

"He only knows carnage, only wishes to invoke pain.The Rising is just a stepping stone for him."

"Stepping stone to where?"

"First to the Setting. Then, my guess is he wantsout."

"Out? Out of the city?"

Ego leaned in and his eyes flashed in seriousness."Yes, Hadder. Think about it. Think about the damage he could do inthe Before. He has a head full of rage and an army of disciples,all with combat Elevations. Right now, the walls of Station, theCaesars, and yours truly keeps him confined, but out there they'venever seen a monster like him. His fire will rage unchecked; hewill destroy all in his path."

Hadder finally understood. And it terrified him. "Hewants revenge against the world. For what it did to the boy hewas."

"Not just him, Hadder. Many in Station want thesame. We've taken bad chickens out of the coop, tied blades totheir claws, and could now place them back among the group. I seetremendous blood ahead if that happens."

"One thing I don't quite get; how do I fit in allthis?"

Ego took another drink, handed another to Hadder."We've reached an uncomfortable stalemate. The Krown and I areequally matched. While he has many more followers, my men and womenare much more organized and disciplined. Likewise, he doesn't havethe numbers necessary to simply power through the Skirt. Remember,Risers are homicidal, not suicidal. The Caesars are beyondformidable, and Albany Rott hasn't begun to show his real power,much less where his loyalties lie. However, if The Krown were todefeat me, absorb my army and resources, he may have what he needsto overtake the Skirt, run ramshackle over the Setting. From there,he may have what he needs to bring the Wall down."

"Usher in the Fall."

"Yes, you know?"

"I heard it spoken of. But this still doesn'taccount for