For a few days following Dakota's services, Chris and Bonnie personally worked on renovation of the abandoned hotel and concepts of their uniforms. It was agreed by Chris, Bonnie, Sierra and Rose that they would rename the hotel the Cyprian Tower, which would be slightly designed as a religious building as a front. To hide the fact that it was a hideout, it would offer confessional services to people. The four of them sat around on Dakota's laptop at dusk, working on blueprints of a secret underground bunker that served as a garage, shelter and storage.
"This is pretty basic. Nothing to it at all," Rose said.
"Would you keep your guns up here?" Sierra asked.
"Some of them. We need a flow of munitions. Chris Carrington can't, as that'd be skeptical, but Red Wrath needs to have some ties to somebody," Chris replied.
"Ammu-Nation is the best source. I don't know what you ordered that one day, but it may not be a good idea to do business with someone states away," Bonnie said.
"Ammu-Nation it is. Now I just have to find some way to make a deal with them as Red Wrath," Chris said.
Amber was in her room at the time, but rushed into the living space. She almost tripped over new drapery laying about, which drew attention to her. Since it was sudden, her heart rate shot up, and she had to catch her breath before speaking.
"You okay, sis?" Sierra asked.
"Yeah. Shouldn't have ran, but something is happening. There's like, a huge standoff with gangs and cops," Amber said.
"And I'm assuming the cops are yet again getting their asses handed to them," Chris replied.
"Of course. They're asking for Red Wrath, pronto. The news is already on it, so that's how I know," Amber said.
"Looks like we're needed, Rogue," Chris said.
"Using a gun still feels problematic for me," Bonnie replied.
"Come on, Bonnie. There may not be another way," Chris said.
"Bonnie, just do it. You'll be saving lives in the long run. I'm not saying be a maniac like a typical LSPD officer, but if there's no other option, it will be for the best," Rose suggested.
"We'll go in the Avenger. Me at the controls, basically doing all the fighting," Chris said.
"Fine, but the way you said that makes me feel worthless," Bonnie said.
"Not trying to. Okay, we'll talk about it after we deal with this. Can't let any more cops die or get injured," Chris said.
Chris and Bonnie separated to get into their respective uniforms. Since they were now at a shortage of house guests, Bonnie and Nessa were sharing Rhonda's room, and Chris was using Alonso's. Since Chris' advanced Red Wrath suits hadn't been developed, he got into what he last wore to appear as Red Wrath. Bonnie dressed in a custom-made gold metallic skirt, red leggings, futuristic biker boots, a long-sleeved carbon fiber armored top, and one of her red hooded capes. They met up in the living room, said goodbyes, and used their grappling hooks to get to ground level via the balcony. Chris took her to the truck with the Avenger, activated it to get the car, and got in with her.
"Emerald done some great work on this," Bonnie said.
"I know. It has an advanced GPS, installed minigun, you name it," Chris replied.
"Speaking of which, where's this incident happening?"
Chris turned all of the systems on and activated the police scanner to listen in on crimes in progress. It took moments for a call to come in, which made Chris almost grow impatient due to Red Wrath being needed.
"We have a large-scale gang shooting in the middle of Red Jersey Street. Available units, please respond urgently," Dispatch said.
"Sounds like us. Lock and load!" Chris said.
Chris started the drive to Red Jersey Street. He made it to the vicinity as quickly as he could, seeing many police cars brutalized by bullets. His presence gave the remaining cops hope and joy as he turned on the car's red ground effects and activated the minigun, which popped out from the trunk. He wasted no time to fire at the enemies, who started going down in countless numbers. Many waves of what appeared to be Blue Bloods got more challenging with each round, with a few final gangsters possessing rocket launchers. Chris quickly took out RPG-toting enemies, then hopped out of the car when he drove it behind enemy boundaries. He saw that there were quite a mix of gangsters – twenty of them being affiliated with Slow Ryde, and all the others from the Blue Bloods and Love Loathers. Shocked, Chris grabbed an injured gang member for interrogation.
"What happened here?!" Red Wrath demanded.
"It's called war, you idiot!" the gang member replied.
"No shit! What was the motive?!"
"Man, twenty-something Slow Ryde members tried to make an alliance. Those motherfuckers are supposed to be ghosts! We wouldn't having it. They old news."
"You're a Blue Blood, I see. Listen, this is my town, and I'm not having any more zoo play!"
"War's broken out between many factions already. Red Wrath? Pathetic! Nobody's seen you in days. Innocent people have died, more factions are moving here, even."
"Which ones?"
"Some Lupicino, even though they damaged. Also, some Armenians. You should kill us all while you can. I, for one, think you're just a phony-ass in some SEIGE armor and mask. You couldn't even stop two Armenians from killing an innocent dude. Read about it to find out how useless you are."
At that time, a gunshot to the gangster's head killed him. Chris quickly turned around to see King Blake slowly walking toward them with a Pump Action Shotgun. Chris drew one of his pistols and aimed it at Blake's head because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
"Put the gun down!" Red Wrath demanded.
"This is my goddamn block! I'm sick of these punk-ass bitches rioting on it! Here people are, talking about how good you is, but yeah, nobody's seen much of you in days! If you aren't gonna do something about it, I will!" Blake preached.
"He was a key suspect. You just ruined potential incriminating evidence!"
"Why don't you take off that mask and show the world who you are. This city is so full of nerds! Virgin-ass nerds! Superhero wannabes who are nothing more than humans in costume! I said this to a small group of folk before, and I'll say it to you – stay the hell off my block! I catch you here again, I'll kill every single one! I'll kill everybody!"
"You need help. Get back inside before I end you! I have a clean shot right between your eyes."
"This is my only warning, freak! I mean it!"
Blake walked back into his house, and Chris put the gun away. He punched one of the Blue Blood cars hard enough to dent it, then went to check on the cops. Some were slightly grazed by glass, so he stayed until paramedics arrived. Afterward, he returned to the Avenger after giving a thumbs up to a news chopper that was high in the sky. Sierra, Amber, Rose and Nessa were watching when the news crew had a zoomed shot of this and the Avenger speeding away from the scene. Once Chris arrived to the truck and drove the car in, he sighed in frustration.
"Well, what was it all about?" Bonnie asked.
"Slow Ryde isn't wiped out. They're extremely crippled and desperate, so they tried making an alliance to rebuild their gang, but the Blue Bloods wouldn't have it. Apparently, we lost some Love Loathers that still remain in town. They must've intervened during my absence," Chris explained.
"Rhonda didn't tell them she's back home? Damn, that's kinda low. Then again, so are the three of them."
"Hey, are you disrespecting Lilly and Alonso? They haven't done anything to you."
"They act weird, is all."
"Lose your entire family, and see if you don't."
"I like Lilly and Alonso, but I don't like Rhonda,"
"Rhonda's okay, but I doubt she'll be in the long run. She and Dakota were close. That guy back there got to me a little. He mentioned how Red Wrath hasn't been in action. Due to that, he said some more factions are trying to use all this power struggle as a way to make a move on Anywhere City."
"What kind of factions?"
"Some Armenians and the Lupicino. Man, those Lupicinos! I guess they're figuring they can rebuild here. No way!"
"Let's just get inside, Chris."
"Hey, I'm sorry I didn't let you do anything. You saw how crazy it was."
"It's fine, but I don't want it to be a habit. We're a team for a reason."
Chris nodded and got out of the car with Bonnie. He locked the truck up before walking to where the balcony was. The both of them used their grappling hooks for a quick boost up. Bonnie put her hood down, and Chris took his mask off while confronting the group, who had looked to them for news the second they heard Chris' and Bonnie's grappling hooks.
"We're falling behind. Two minor crime factions are trying to muscle in amidst the chaos with the other gangs," Chris informed.
"You done an awesome job staying with those cops until help arrived," Nessa said.
"It's what I do. Obviously, not enough. Apparently, two Armenians killed an innocent boy for whatever reason," Chris said.
"I read about that. Would you like to see the story?" Rose asked.
"Yes! Please show us right away," Chris replied.
Rose sat down on the couch and logged onto the Internet with Dakota's laptop. She went to the Weazel News page and clicked on the story, which was titled Young Man Killed In Cold Blood By Apparent Armenian Gangsters. Chris' heart sank upon reading the title, but he waited for Rose to give them details.
"It says 19 year old Jacob Rancid was brutally shot to death by suspected Armenian mobsters, whom police are still searching for. According to his girlfriend, Hanna Flack, two men were arguing with two others when she says she was struck in the face by one of them, apparently accidental. Her boyfriend then proceeded to beat them, running the other two, suspected Lupicino mobsters, away. After the two suspected Armenian mobsters got up and ran a few meters, they both pulled handguns and shot Rancid to death, running in a panic and leaving a frantic Flack to call 911," Rose said, reading the main report.
"I could've stopped that. I didn't even know other factions were in town," Chris said.
"It's not your fault, dad," Sierra replied.
"Yeah, let's not let all that spiritual training go to waste," Bonnie said.
"Play time is over, guys. We have to focus on these gangs. Nothing more," Chris said.
"Maybe we could've gotten more done without your other three friends. Well, at least without Rhonda," Rose said.
"Alonso and Lilly are not to blame! This is exactly what I mean by play time being over. We sit here and talk all the damn time, sometimes even unknowingly repeat each other, and innocent people die because we don't have enough surveillance," Chris said.
"Dude, I like Al and Lilly. It's Rhonda that has problems. I'm so not worried about that, though. I'll help in any way I can," Rose assured.
"No more people can die. If criminals question Red Wrath's absence, then soon enough the people will as well," Chris sighed.
"I know how you feel. Even a hero feels worthless at points, but even I knew about Red Wrath before meeting you. He's already popular, and he's a good person," Rose said.
"Thanks, Rose. I appreciate the support, but we really do need to step up our game. Speaking of Rhonda, she left some of her men high and dry. Never told them she was going back to Liberty City, so now some of them lay dead with the other gang members. I assume Tarban is still in town, so I have a great assignment for him. Excuse me," Chris said.
Chris dismissed himself into the hall and got his phone out. He called Tarban, hoping the latter was still in town. After a few moments of ringing, the call was answered.
"Hello," Tarban said.
"Hey, you still in town?" Chris asked.
"Yeah, but not for long if somebody doesn't give me a damn job."
"Good thing I called, then. I have an assignment for you, since Rhonda and Loony Toon are back in Liberty City."
"They have some balls. Loony Toon was in with one of those gangs here as an undercover thing, right?"
"As a matter of fact, he was."
"I had a fallout with Rhonda. I got onto her about leaving some of her guys here. I know one of your own just died and all, which I offer my condolences to, but she should remember her own gang. I mean, common sense tells you that. She's not a very good gangster or gang leader. I said to her, I say, that her ugly ass would get killed, then we got into a cursing argument."
"Probably shouldn't have done that."
"I'm not scared of her. She's lucky the FIB didn't find out about her during all that HALO shit in Vice City."
"Yeah. Listen, enough talk. Will you meet me somewhere, please?"
"For a job, anything. Cluckin' Bell in The Rectangle, okay?"
"Be there when I can."
Chris hung up and walked back into the suite, where he changed into jeans and a striped blue polo shirt. He gave a brief to the gang before walking back out and using the elevator to get to ground level. Chris got into one of his sedans and made good time to the Cluckin' Bell in The Rectangle, a district slightly mimicking The Strip in Las Venturas. Once he was there, he got out and went into the restaurant, seeing Tarban sitting alone. Chris sat down with him and sighed.
"Greetings," Tarban said.
"Hey, man. No time wasted. I want you to infiltrate Club Pain. It's supposedly a legitimate biker club, but it's just a front for an underground fight club. I assume you can fight well," Chris replied.
"I can, yes. I first enrolled in hand-to-hand combat courses at age 5. By the time I was 13, I was basically a champion. I never really fought unless needed, but if it's to help you out, I gladly will."
"I want information on them. Get close enough to the chapter president to find out as much as you can. I'm surprised all-out war hasn't torn the streets apart, seeing as they're fighting with the Yakuza. I hear this Matt Dixon is way worse than Taylor. They're vengeful because the Yakuza were set up."
"Thanks for details. If you want, I'll go there right now. Due to the time, it should be fight hour."
"Please look into it. I'll pay whatever it takes, but God knows I can't do this one."
"I understand. I am loyal, and for payment, I'll stick my neck out however far it needs to be. I'll batter them like a ProLaps punching bag."
"You set your price, man. Thanks a lot."
"Want to order anything?"
"Nah, I may eat at home. I could use some rest, because it's been a rough night already."
"Don't let setbacks get to you. You know what you're up against, my friend."
"That I do. A little rest will have me feeling good as new. Again, thanks."
"Hey, it is me that should be thanking. I need this opportunity, and if I go to Liberty City, I just may kill Rhonda. Since she's your friend, I'd have to hold back, so she'd probably kill me first."
"Whatever happens, happens. I'm just worried about this city because of the oath I made to Mayor Cunningham."
Tarban nodded and shook Chris' hand. The two got up and walked outside, then went separate ways. Chris got back into the car and started it up, but hesitated to drive. Everyone told him not to soak in self-pity, but the only way to end his mood was by getting sleep. He put the car in gear and headed to the hotel, avoiding any kind of thought. Despite his sense of humor and good nature, hearing about the senseless violence ending in the death of a young man bothered him enough to put all of that aside and purely focus on annihilating gang life in Anywhere City.