Station, стр. 94

Hadder smiled at both men, shook their hands. "Justhappy you're here, Lester. Good to see you, Gondo." The bone-hawkedman nodded in return as he took off his suit jacket and let it dropto the ground, showing almost a dozen daggers tucked into his belt.In his right hand, the large man expertly held a metal policebaton. True to form, Lester Midnight carried the most fancifulscimitar Hadder had ever seen. Hadder forced himself to look awaylest he got caught up admiring the inlays and scrollwork. "Thanksagain for the weapons, Lester. Beautiful work."

Lester smiled broadly. "Oh, just wait until you seethem in action, darling."

A voice from across the Grasslands demanded Hadder'sattention. It seemed The Krown tired of the dramatic standoff."Marlin Hadder! Brave of you to join us. I must admit, I thought wewould waste months ripping coward Setters from their Bars. Iappreciate you expediting the process. Your recognition of theinevitability of the Fall pleases me. Not as much as your headhanging from my neck will, but still." The Krown kept his eyessquarely on Hadder but spoke to his followers. "Risers! Noprisoners. No survivors. No mercy. They are all that stand betweenus and these walls, which will crumble soon. Go take your freedom!It can be found in the chest of a Setter!"

The Risers released a loud, singular roar thatripped across the Grasslands; Hadder could almost feel theirunified breath on his cheek. Riser captain Wagner stepped out fromthe screaming mass, walking forward to stop in the center of thetwo groups, a long saber dangling from his right hand, trailing thetusked man. "Which of you weak men will taste my blade first? Cometo me. Don't worry about the women you leave behind. I will tonguetheir cheeks before I take their heads."

Wagner's words rang hollow to Hadder, but theydeeply triggered something in his friend Jonny VV, who sprintedforward, a primal cry emanating from his soul. Hadder tried to grabhis fragile friend's shoulder, but reacted too slowly, catchingonly air in his gloved hand. Instead, he watched wide-eyed as Jonnyran towards the Riser, rapier cocked back in his right hand,quickly covering the seventy-five feet.

As he neared Wagner, Jonny thrust forward with hisslim rapier, putting all the anger, fear, and sorrow he had intothat blinding lunge aimed for the Riser's chest. Unfortunately, thetip of Jonny's blade caught only air as Wagner pirouetted in theblink of an eye, pulling his long saber behind him. Jonny flew pasthis intended target and hit the brakes, intending to spin back toface his enemy. But it was too late.

As Jonny slid to a stop in the grass, Wagnerexecuted a perfect backhand that sent the devilish saber directlythrough Jonny's waist, neatly cutting the fashionable man in half.As Jonny's bottom half froze immediately, the upper part of theSetter's body flew forward, rolling to a gory stop several feetfrom the man's legs. A geyser of blood flew upwards from what wasleft standing of Jonny VV, creating a macabre statue that stolenoise from the battlefield.

From behind him, Hadder could hear Lester Midnightcomment. "Beautiful."

Seconds later, Jonny VV's legs gave way to gravityand collapsed to the ground, offering the first of what wouldbecome many stains on the grassy turf. Hadder held his breath,worried about the effect that Jonny VV's death would have on hisarmy.

His concern was misplaced.

As one, the Setters howled in rage, furious at thedeath of the well-liked Jonny VV. Hadder released the last fewthreads of control, allowing the Rage to guide him, drive him. Hemerged his Rage with that of the group, drew his samurai sword, andheld it up to the Idol Moon. "For Station!" Hadder screamed, andthe Setters moved forward as one. The Risers met the roar with oneof their own and launched their assault.

The Battle for Station was on.

There was no thinking, only reacting to the chaosthat surrounded Hadder. Red mist hung on each breeze through theGrasslands, forcing Hadder to continually wipe his eyes. During onesuch wipe, a knife flew from the mass of fighting, aimed forHadder's throat. He lurched sideways at the last second, and theblade cut a deep chasm in Hadder's neck, narrowly missing hiscarotid artery.

"Fuck!" Hadder yelled, his hand reflexively going tohis wounded neck. When his hand returned wearing a crimson glove,Hadder's Rage rose a level, forcing him to wade into a trio ofRisers. The first Riser was trying to communicate with hercompanion, working to refine their fighting strategy. Hadder'ssamurai sword sliced downward angrily from the side to land justbehind the forehead, and the woman's face slithered off her head,leaving the other Riser to stare into an open nasal cavity. Theshocked male Riser tried to react, but Hadder had already begun abackswing that tore open the man's throat and created a waterfallof blood that cascaded down his bare chest.

The final Riser moved in quickly, swinging an armthat had been transformed into a wicked-looking blade below theelbow. With Hadder's sword out wide from the vicious backhand, hewas utterly exposed, unable to get his weapon back in time to parrythe strike. Hadder tensed, waiting for the cold steel to penetratehis body.

Instead of stabbing pain, however, Hadder felt onlyswift air as something flashed before him too quickly to register.The Riser howled, and a moment later, Hadder was hit with a streamof warm blood from the stump of his arm. Both Riser and Hadderlooked down to see the arm-blade on the ground, then looked againat each other. Hadder shrugged, and the Riser's head flew from itsshoulders as Lester Midnight completed his kill. "Stay sharp,darling. I may not be there next time." Having saved Hadder's life,Lester rejoined the battle, moving like quicksilver as he floatedfrom one Riser to the next, giving out five wounds for each one hereceived.

With some space now around him, Hadder took a momentto evaluate the battlefield. Lester Midnight's cache of weapons washaving a more substantial impact on the battle than Hadder hadanticipated. Although more aggressive and experienced, the Riserswere enduring an unforeseen disadvantage in that many of theirhomemade weapons were shattering when encountering LesterMidnight's superior craftsmanship.

Unfortunately, only about fifty residents werewielding Lester's creations. Where they didn't have that advantage,the Risers were decidedly