Station, стр. 97
"People of Station," Albany Rott cried out, hisvoice booming across the Grasslands, forcing Hadder's chest totighten. "I gave you paradise, and you turned it into Abaddon. Letme be the first to congratulate you on proving me correct. Yourprize? Obliteration." As Rott completed that final word, the eyesof all the manikins changed suddenly, trading in their milkynothingness for the fires of Rott's red orbs. Rott motioned forwardwith one of his crystal axes, and the manikins poured into theGrasslands, moving with impossible speed, eyes ablaze with unknownanger.
They tore into the Risers, fighting like mechanizedzombies, ignoring cuts and stabbings to rip the eyes from heads,throats from necks. Albany Rott followed after them, his twin axesa blur as he dispatched three Risers in the blink of an eye.
For a moment, Hadder's heart swelled, thinking hehad reached the enigmatic Mister Rott; thinking they had proven thelove many residents held for the city; thinking Rott had come intheir time of need to save them.
Hadder was wrong on all accounts.
Manikins attacked Setters as readily as they didRisers. Hadder watched in horror as Gondo's body was ripped intofour pieces by a group of manikins, who took no time to admiretheir handiwork. Instead, they ran off to leap upon the CaesarAugustus. Unable to tear apart the Caesar, like a mere resident,the manikins instead held on tightly to the giant before exploding,sending fiery manikin parts flying while opening smoldering holesacross Augustus's body. With white bone and pink muscle peering outfrom four craters, the Caesar let out a roar before falling to thewet ground, an unmoving pile of scorched flesh.
Explosions went off around Hadder as Setters andRisers both ran in fear and confusion. Thunder continued to shakethe ground, which eventually opened small crevices across theGrasslands from which fire poured out, engulfing resident, Caesar,and manikin alike. Hadder stumbled around the shaking ground, theflames lighting up the battlefield as if it were a stadium. Redrain continued to fall in sheets as manikins, even those on fire,persevered, killing all in their path.
Hadder looked on as Titus batted away a dozenmanikins with his war-hammer before three took hold and detonated,sending the Caesar to his knees to be swarmed by more manikins. Tothe left of that, Hadder found Coral sprinting west, two manikinsclosing quickly. Hadder moved to follow but was sent flying to theside as something smashed into his ribs, breaking most of them. Hissword flew off into the crowd.
Hadder sucked in deeply, trying to breathe inthrough broken bones, and flipped over onto his back. He cursedunder his breath as The Krown stepped out from the sheets ofcrimson rain, looking like a demon of the apocalypse. He stalkedtowards the fallen Hadder, his face twisted in anger, his usualcruel smile firmly in place.
"It's over, Krown," Hadder said breathlessly."Rott's had enough of us. There will be no Before for you."
The Krown continued to march forward. "I can seethat, plain man. But I am nothing if not a man of my word. Have Inot proven that? I promised I would kill you, promised that youwould kiss my crown. Now come to me!"
Hadder pitifully attempted to scoot away from theRiser leader but ate the sole of The Krown's oversized boot for histroubles. His head lolled to the side as The Krown took Hadder'sface in his large hands, pulled him up to his feet. The Krown'sserpentine jade eyes burned brightly as he stared down at Hadder,the sad little man who thought he could best a king. "And now,Marlin Hadder, you may kiss my crown." The Krown slammed his headdownward, his central spike aimed directly for Hadder's forehead.Hadder felt the spike pierce his skin a moment before theirforeheads clashed together angrily, and stars erupted acrossHadder's vision. The two men held that position for a moment,darkness threatening to overtake Hadder, before The Krown droppedthe smaller man and staggered backward, a dumb, baffled look pastedon his face.
Gone was the central spike, and Hadder laughed fromthe blood-soaked ground, a tiny trickle of his own blood runningdown his face, mixing with that which fell from the sky. The Ragewas back, and despite his wounds, Hadder got to his feet, movedtowards the wobbling king, who reached up to feel for his centralspike. The one that had been driven back into his own brain.
Hadder limped over to The Krown. "Not a plain mananymore, Krown," said Hadder as he pointed to the small hole in hisforehead. "Diamond-plated forehead Elevation; just got it done lastSolay. Just for you, you predictable fuck. Now die for me."
With that, Hadder pushed The Krown in the chest andwatched in delight as the former king fell backward into a pool ofblood on the Grasslands turf.
The moment of elation passed, taking with it thelast of Hadder's Rage, leaving a void that was quickly filled bythe effects of a severe concussion. Hadder's head spun like a top,forcing him to bend forward, hands grasping knees, and puke allover The Krown's lifeless body. As the world circled around him,Hadder fell to his backside, watching the city explode and burnthrough bleary eyes. Darkness again crept in from the edges of hisvision, telling him that the last sands of consciousness wererunning down the hourglass.
Hadder sat helplessly as four manikins ran at him,said goodbye to the two worlds that he failed, and waited to beripped apart, unable to even bring his arms up in defense. Just asthey were upon him, though, the manikins broke off to either sideto attack a Setter woman to Hadder's left and a Riser male to hisright. Hadder was disregarded completely.
What the fuck, was the last thought thatpassed through Hadder's mind before it shut off completely, sendinghim careening to the Grasslands floor, ready to accept his thirddeath.
Back in the void again, Hadder feared that this wasbecoming a habit. Although he was unable to open his eyes, move hisextremities, or even mouth words, Hadder could still hear the citycrumbling around him. The screams of men