THE NEXT DAY;
''He said for me to meet him at a warehouse. But me alone.'' Niko revealed, upon meeting Carly some corner near Romaan's cab depot. Niko is still wearing his original leather jacket and sweatpants. Carly wears a black hoodie with Liberty Rock Radio's logo attached, and old grey sweatpants like Trevor's but cleaner, it's a lot colder in LC over LS. Her tattoos are covered by the clothes. She still wears sandals however. brown birkenstocks most likely.
"I don't like that idea." Carly replied, worry heard in her voice.
''Well guess you can come, but remember to bring your gun, and maybe a vest.'' Niko said, almost like a parent like.
"We better call Jacob too." Carly replied
''Why, you into weed now.'' Niko teased.
"He's a good backup in a gunfight." Carly replied. Niko nodded in agreement, he knew what she meant but was teasing her.
They approach the warehouse, some big empty building filled with large piles of wooden planks, and an upper level that already has armed men watching from. Jacob and Carly had MicroSMG's on them, Niko seemed to buy the other SMG off a gun store, he likes that one better. The one most swat teams use.
''Oh.. Hello Carly.'' Dimitri said in surprise, he wasn't expecting her and did his best to stay friendly, but as usual, it was noticeably an act. Also as usual, Carly quitely saw through it.
"Hi, Dimitri." Carly responded, pulling Jacob closer to her in nervousness.
''I was hoping not to involve you in this part.'' Dimitri admitted to her.
"And why is that?" Niko asked.
"Because she's still a kid. Yes, she doesn't act like a kid but she is..." Dimitri responded.
''Just tell me what you want.'' Niko growled, already losing his patience despite only being there half a minute.
''Fine.. You are Niko Bellic, correct?''
''What is this?'' Niko asked, rather dryly, Carly looks back as she hears the garage closing behind them, making her grip her MicroSMG a bit tighter.
''And you used to work the coast in the Mediterranean, smuggling people into Italy?.. But you messed up... and left a lot of bad debt. You left a good friend of mine out of pocket, big time.'' Dimitri explained. And suddenly Ray Bulgarlin came out of a dark corner.
"Ray?" Niko respondes, Carly and Jacob both noticing Niko showing legit fear for the first time since they've known him, so they nervously glance at each other and step closer together.
''Where's out money?'' Ray asked.
''I don't know, I didn't rob you.'' Niko said dryly hiding his fear of this man.
''That so?'' Ray asked, just as dryly, with a hint of tranquil fury.
''We were busted a mile off the coast. I had to swim for my life. I don't know what happened. I nearly drowned.'' Niko explained.
''My heart is bleeding.'' Ray said sarcastically.
''I did my best! I didn't fuck up!'' Niko suddenly exploded.
''[translated] Remove him.'' Ray is heard saying, suddenly a goon goes behind Niko who elbows his face and jumps into cover Jacob shoots at said man as Carly also jumps into cover, and so it began. They fought their way to each plank pile, as they fought the russian goons. Carly shoots at those above, getting at least 3 before reloading, Niko shoots the other 2 left up there.
"Who the hell is that angry bastard, Niko?!" Carly responded, shooting again, killing a goon who tried running over to the planks shooting a MicroSMG at Jacob who was ahead of them.
''I'll explain later.'' Niko said, reloading. Jacob throws a grenade he had, killin at least 2. Niko shoots at Dimitri and Ray as they flee, but he misses and gets nearly shot by a combat shotgun sniping above, but ducks in time. Carly shoots the goon, and he falls off after a clean headshot. So if he was somehow alive, he dies anyway.
Fighting through the warehouse, the three managed to get to an abandoned 4 person car, after a long police chase they lived to fight another day.
"Now will you tell me?" Carly asked.
''Fine.. Ray Bulgarin. I did some work for him in Europe, smuggling people onto a ship. But when the ship sank, he blamed me. There was no avoiding him, life was impossible. I had to leave.. I don't know how he found me. But he's a dangerous man Carly, he honestly scares me.''
"If he tries to kill you again, you've got us to help you." Jacob responded, surprisingly clearly and understandable.
''I once saw him cut a man's head off.'' Niko warned, again hinting his fear of the man.
"I saw that happen once but back in North Yankton. A family friend named Trevor went off on someone during a fight." Carly responded.
Later that same evening Carly and Niko call Roman and end up helping Roman out of his car's trunk. Roman noticing Niko actually is 'scared' when telling about Ray.
"The guy you said lives by the Adriatic Sea?" Roman responded
''Yeah Yeah, he's here, he found me.'' Niko said worriedly.
"We need somewhere to hide." Carly responded.
''Fine, but I must stop by my apartment first.'' Roman said.
The three got into Niko's car, a grey painted version of Roman's cabs. He simply kept one as a personal car, Roman had more than plenty, and considered it a returned favor. He even kept one himself originally and still has it, the standard black though.
They drive to the apartment but turns out Dimitri and Ray lit the place up and it's burning down, this horrified and panics Roman.
"Holy fuck, it's fucking burning! I've got to go get something!" Roman responded frantically, Niko having to physically force him to stay in the car. Carly helps.
''I must get in, I must get something!'' he cried, Niko pulling him back into the car. ''Forget it Roman, this place is gone.'' Carly warned.
''They burnt it! They fucking burnt it Niko!'' Roman cried.
The three drove to the cab depot. it's also ablaze. This leads to the first time Roman had completely lost his positive attitude, and you can actually hear him start crying.
"Goddamn bastards!" Carly responded angrily. And they begin a long drive to Mallorie's apartment. Roman gives an actually heartbreaking angry rant about how proud he was of both things that were just got burnt down and about having a wedding ring in the apartment and this being why he wanted to run in. The conversation doesn't change from the game, Carly not even adding anything, just sitting in the back of the car.
Eventually they arrive at South Bohan, a small private part of Liberty City which is it's own separate island. The three enter the apartment, bigger than Roman's, but not exactly nicer. It had one small bed in the middle. A pull out couch by the looks of it. In the back is a small box shaped TV with a lover couch near it, a small kitchen in the back near the lone bathroom and the whole room is grey, moody looking and even has some girl pinups despite being owned by Mallorie, who's clearly straight. Rock Radio plays quietly in the background as the three quitely stumble in, Carly noticing a weed bong sitting behind the TV, hinting Mallorie smokes.
"Well... This is quite enough. Mallorie said that she'll bring some things by here for us." Roman responded.
''Does it include pizza?'' Carly asked.
"Yes. You're hungry too?" Roman responded.
"Yes." Carly replied.
After this Niko and Roman fall into another argument before Mallorie finally arrives, breaking the tension and sure enough she's holding a pizza. Carly goes for a slice but is instead pulled into a hug by Mallorie. Carly smiles at the hug, returning it.
After eating, she took a shower and Niko went out for a walk.
Things have finally slowed down from here, they had no more problems for the moment. Carly spent the next few days relaxing at the apartment as she decided to stay there rather than deal with her parents, and she spent most of it watching Ed, Edd and Eddie and texting her father Michael about everything with Dimitri.
Carly slept on the couch next to the TV as Roman and Mallorie used the bed. Niko was stuck with the floor, but despite never complaining he instead ended up renting a hotel, doing the Manny missions to pay for it, all while the others stayed and relaxed at home. Carly and Mallorie get along quickly as they only barely knew each other originally.
Mallorie doesn't appear to own a car, as she usually cabs to places, so they used Roman's car. Roman gets to use Carly's blue doubleT whenever he's heading out at the same time. But has to promise to be careful as Carly is attached to it very greatly, which he does. I should probably mention again, Roman simply has one of the cabs as his actual car.. Heck so does Niko, who simply painted it grey to stand out, and removed from anything resembling a taxi, Roman did the same but kept it black.
2 weeks later. Mallorie eventually introduces Carly and Niko to Elizabeth Torris at Torris's apartment. When they arrive they find Liz talking to Packie McCreary on her couch. Packe chopping some cocaine rails with her. Yeah, sometimes we forget Packie is a cokehead.
''… So all I'm saying is she couldn't even rob a drug store properly.'' Packie said, referring to Dashlene Lucia, who isn't in the room, though does stay at Elizebeth's apartment, being Dash's only friend in this city so far Liz just thanks him for not killing Dash, rather than any other kind of reply. Before getting to know her, Packie originally saw Dash as just a pathetic drunk.. A view that didn't last more than 2 days. But it still existed.
"Who's the kid?" Packie asked, upon turning and seeing the new arrivals.
''They're with me. They're here for work. This is Niko, Roman's cousin, the one that beat up Bleeder and Dalton'' Mallorie said.
"Ah, alright." Packie responded
''We'll see how you guys do.. This is Packie, Packie McCreary, he's part of the irish mob, and he's here shopping with my roommate, who does some work for me. Anyway I don't trust the people they buying off, and I can't, in good consciousness, help them... unless he's got some extra insurance - you.''
''And that's why you're the best, darling.'' Packie chuckled, getting up to shake their hands. He notices scars on Carly's right hand.
''She seems like she already been through a lot.'' Packie said.
"That's what I thought when I first met her. I dropped her off at her house one time and her mother threw an empty wine glass at me." Niko responded quietly.
''Speaking of. Dash lets go.. (no reply) Dash!''
''Shut up, I'm watching poker!'' came a female voice from a closed door.
Packie annoyedly goes into said room, revealing it to be a guest bedroom. ''We are going Lucia, come on'' Packie said now off view. the female groans, picking up a bottle and out she stumbles, dropping a FN-P90 Lizzy gave her from the flashback in the other chapter.
''damn it.'' the girl groaned, picking it up, spilling some of her red wine onto her already dirty grey sweater, she's shown with a full bottle, well half full, of red wine. Despite the already mentioned dirty grey pullover hoodie which has the Nirvana band name and that weird smiley logo, she's aldo wearing blue jeans, brown boots, and a dirty green beanie hat over messy unkempt dark black hair. Yeah, she's definitely going for a messy unkempt look. Along with gothic black nail polish and lipstick. She also has neck tattoos and many arm ones which are covered by the sweater though. She's average height and somewhat tanned as she's originally from San Andreas, but Liberty City paled her out as it's less sunny and more gloomy. Getting up, Dash spots Carly, who shyly waves.
"Liz, someone left their kid here!" Dash drunkenly slurred, Packie pulling her up, sighing in annoyance as he's still yet to actually care about her, instead feeling stuck with her.
''She's coming with you, apparently she can handle herself okay.'' Elizebeth replied.
''She better. I -I'm not dying for no child.'' Dash slurred, not really showing empathy in her drunken state. Her gross warm breath even invades Carly, who covers her nose.
''Is she drunk?'' Carly groaned.
''Alcoholic.'' Packie groaned, holding Dash up straight. Dash would be about 21 by now. ''Come on.'' He tells her, heading out the door. Dash suddenly sees Niko and seems immediately smitten, especially in her drunken state.
''Heeey, hottie.'' Dash slurred at Niko.
''Uh, okay.'' Niko blushed.
''Dash!'' Packie annoyedly called out, already outside the apartment room.
Dash groans. ''Meet me at th- at the bar later.. I. I'll date you at the (burp) bar.'' she tells Niko and stumbles out to Packie, even is heard falling down the stairs, somehow coming out no worse for the wear. Carly and Niko reluctantly follow shortly after.
They arrive at a meeting. Niko actually was there for it this time instead of on the roofs as sniper support. All of them have machine guns, except Packie who has a basic Glock17. Dash managed to sober up by the time they all arrived at the meeting, she rode her blue OracleXS, likely stolen given her money problems, behind them as she prefers RadioBroker, while everyone else rode in Niko's car, listening to rock radio.
The group go to a back alley to meet the client, but Dash suddenly stops in her tracks. ''You.'' the sobered Dash snapped, seeing Tom McKenny in the middle.
"Who's he?" Carly asked
''He ripped me off, killed my friend.'' Dash growled.
Tom just smirks. ''missed you two.''
Dash actually pushes Carly behind her, which Carly takes notice upon, getting a little worried.
"Look Tom.. Just give me my money." Dash said, calmly.
''It's right here.'' Tom said, raising a fist and suddenly one of the other men fires a shotgun, not only hitting Dash but knocking her onto Carly. Packie retaliates by shooting Tom, who screamed as a bullet pierced his left leg. Niko fires his SMG at the others as Dash gets up, revealing body armor, as she grabs for her dropped P90, Carly firing her MicroSMG before even standing up, killing the last one.
"My leg!" Tom yelled in agony, falling over as blood spilled out of said leg.
More come from behind, shooting AK47's. Dash takes back the P90 opening fire. The others see this and join in, including Carly who's now on her feet. But that was it, that was all Tom had, which disappointed Carly a little, she was just starting to get into it.
After clearing all the men Dash stomps on Tom's wound. ''Where's my money?'' Dash asked dryly.
"I lost it." Tom admitted.
''found it.'' Packie suddenly said, having found a travelbag of money hidden behind a dumpster. He also took one of the AK47's, which became his main gun from most of that point. Even the bank robbery.
''Thank you Tom.'' Dash said dryly, and suddenly shot him with the P90's last two bullets, hitting his face twice. Niko calls Elizabeta, Dash reloads.
"Those dealers doublecrossed your friends. The dealers are dead." Niko explained.
''Mallorie was right, you are good. Come back soon.''
LATER THAT EVENING;
Niko is seen with Dash at a local cafe, getting her to drink coffee instead of alcohol for once. But the cold turkey just leaves her miserably hungover and holds a water bottle to her forehead. Despite her clear love for the punk rock genre, she clearly is just as crazy for Metallica as her favorite t-shirt is a black one with the band's name written on it. And her right arm covered by a large Metallica tattoo, the cover for RIDE THE LIGHTNING. Plus she has the Metallica ninja star as one of her neck tattoos. As well as the logo for the band Offspring on the green beanie she always wears, her other arm has shooting star tattoos, and her neck is surrounded by many tattoos mixed together. She later gets ''Dash McCreary'' tattooed when she starts becoming a member of the McCreary family, living on Maureen's couch basically, and likely having a mother figure as Maureen later teaches Dash to speak the Irish language. By 2013 she had ''Kate R.I.P''. Unsurprisingly she also learns Niko's language once they become a couple. Her future daughter Ariena is very fluent in it.
"You need to calm down the drinking down." Niko tells her, despite barely knowing her. But technically this is a date. Carly happens to be at place two, and overhears, drinking some green tea.
Dash seems to get visibly annoyed at the comment. ''Why, what do I have to be sober about, I have nobody, my life sucks and I hate myself.'' Dash groaned.
'And I thought my life was messed up.' Carly thought. Finishing her tea and going over, as she was only one stool down.
''I drink to forget Niko.. Forget about my father molesting me.. My sister is miles away.. Everything.''
"Can't kill bad memories with drinking" Carly said, startling the other two. Dash barely says hello though, just continues.
''You guys are wasting your time with me. I'm bad company. All I do is drink and complain about myself.''
Carly walks closer and suddenly hugs her, which startled her, not used to getting them.
''I spoke to Packie, he said he misjudged you and wants to be your friend.. Frankly so do I.'' Carly explained.
"You're a sweet kid." Dash responded. ''So what the hell are you doing out here, in this.'' she added.
"I really don't know. I live over in Middle Park with my family but haven't been there in days." Carly explained
''I should drive you back while I'm sober.'' Dash insisted, finishing her coffee. And suddenly leaves with her. Confusing Niko, as she straight up just left, during a date no less. He shrugs it off though and asks for some soup.
They walked into the De Santa house... seeing Amanda throw a wine bottle at Michael.
''Oh my... You guys have boes.'' Dash said excitedly, Carly chuckled at that being her first reaction.
Dash immediately runs inside from the open doorway, zooming past Amanda.
"Who the fuck are you?!" Amanda yelled, Dash not even acknowledging her and running straight to the liquors, chugging them down.
Amanda gets mad and tells Dash to leave. Dash grabs her shirt ''interrupt my boes, I break your neck.''
Amanda nervously backed away. Carly goes to find Michael, leaving Dash to it as she falls onto a chair, drinking away.