Marvel's GTA: San Andreas
Chapter 1
„Big Smoke, Sweet & Kendl"
[Francis INTL. Airport, Liberty City, September 12, 1992]
'After five years on the East Coast, it was time to go home.' -Carl Johnson, better known as CJ, thought after putting down his baggage for inspection. He watched as it vanished behind a curtain and let out a tired sigh.
On his way to Los Santos International Airport, CJ thought of what Sweet, his brother, told him two days ago. He remembered how he called him and how much was he surprised to hear his brother again. But what he said to him made his heart sink.
[…Carl, it's Sweet. It's Momma… She's dead, bro…]
Not only did he miss his brother's funeral, but now his own mother. He wiped the tear that run down his cheek. Why were all the bad things happening to his family? His mother nor his little brother deserved it. Maybe if he didn't leave, then his Mother would have still been alive. He made a lot of mistakes and it all started when he let Brian die. Perhaps it was karma, trying to get back at CJ for his sins.
'If it's Karma, then what is this supposed to be?' -He thought as he glanced at his right hand. A small spark of orange electricity danced between his fingers.'A blessing? Give me a fucking break!'
Before he knew it, CJ's plane landed at Los Santos Airport. Without wasting time, he called a taxi and told the driver to go to Grove Street. He looked around and was surprised at how little did hood change. It was as if nothing happened throughout these five years.
As the Taxi stopped at the red light, CJ got that weird feeling again. His head was pulsing again.
It happened a few times already and it could only mean one thing.
CJ suddenly heard a police siren. He cursed to himself as he turned his head. Knowing who it was, he started to regret not calling Sweet to pick him up.
Two policemen walked out of their vehicle with their guns pointing at the Taxi. The third one, who was sitting on a passenger seat, slowly walked out and looked CJ in the eyes.
„Fucking Tenpenny…" -CJ muttered to himself.
„Passenger. Show us your hands." -Tenpenny said through the speaker. Not wanting to make trouble, CJ complied and walked out of his vehicle with his hands up. He walked backward until Tenpenny told him to stop."Stop. Get down on your knees." -With a sigh, he did as he was told."Now down on your stomach." -One of the officers walked up to him and cuffed him. He also took his money from his pocket and gave it Tenpenny."I'll take that, Hernandez."
„Hey, that's my paper man. That's money!" -CJ snapped, as Hernandez picked up to face Tenpenny.
„This is drug money." -Tenpenny proclaimed.
„Hey don't worry, I'll fill it out later." -Pulaski said casually. CJ knew him as well. He and Tenpenny always had a bone to pick with Grove Street Gang.
„Welcome home, Carl. Glad to be back?" -Tenpenny asked mockingly."You haven't forgotten about us, have you boy?"
„Hell no, Officer Tenpenny" -CJ replied calmly. He really wasn't in the mood to be dealing with them. Hell, he wanted to kick their asses, but that would only involve more police forces. For now, he had to play along."I was just wondering what took y'all so long."
„Get in the car." -Tenpenny ordered.
Without another word, they got into the police car. CJ watched as the Taxi that had his stuff squealed away. He let out an annoyed sigh and dropped his head.
'Great…First my money and now my baggage. Could this day get any worse? -He thought as the car moved forward.
Tenpenny and his partners have decided to take a scenic route. They moved through Vagos territory in Las Colinas.
„How you been, Carl? How's your wonderful family?" -Tenpenny asked with a smile. CJ just glared at him.
„I'm here to bury my Moms. You know that." -He replied. Tenpenny nodded.
„Yeah, I guess I do." -Tenpenny agreed as their car moved to Idlewood."So what else you got shaking, Carl?"
„Nothing. I live in Liberty City now. I'm clean. Legit." -CJ said with confidence. Tenpenny only laughed.
„Nah, you ain't never been clean, Carl." -Tenpenny said. CJ suddenly saw as Pulaski pulled out a plastic bag with a gun in it.
„What've We here?" -Pulaski said out loud. Tenpenny took the bag from Pulaski and inspected the weapon.
This is a weapon, Officer Pulaski, that was used to gun down a police officer not ten minutes ago." He explained and turned to CJ."Officer Pendlebury. A fine man, might I add." -CJ knew where this was going."You work fast, nigga!"
„We both know I just got out of the plane." -CJ said with an annoyed tone.
„It's a good thing We found you and retrieved the murder weapon." -Pulaski said with a smirk.
„That ain't my gun!" -CJ snapped.
„Don't bullshit me, Carl." -Tenpenned snapped back.
„What the fuck do you want from me now?" -CJ asked while shaking his head. He saw how they passed the local church. Right now, they were in Ballas territory.
„When We want you, We'll find you." -Tenpenny explained. The car took a sharp turn to the right."In the meantime, try not to gun down any more officers of the law." -He chuckled as they passed a small group of Ballas gang members. They entered a small alleyway and kicked Carl out of the car."See you around like a doughnut, Carl…"
CJ landed hard on the ground. He groaned while getting up. Looking down he saw that he was still cuffed. Cursing to himself, he felt his head pulsing again. CJ heard voices coming his way.
Out of the corner, a group of Ballas from before entered the alleyway. They looked around and got confused.
„Wait… Didn't the poppos kick that nigga out of the car?" -One Ballas asked."You heard that too right?"
„Jeah, but I don't see nothin'." -The other replied with a shrug."C'mon, let's go and grab some bear or something."
With that, the gang left the alley. Cj left out a sigh of relief. To them, the alley was empty, but in reality, CJ was standing the middle of it. His body suddenly reappeared as he looked down at his cuffs. With no effort he pulled his arms apart, ripping the cuffs in the process. Looking at the empty alley again, CJ groaned.
„Aw shit, here We go again." -CJ said as he began walking down the alley. He saw a blue bike parked and without thinking, he hopped in."Worst place in the world." -He added as he started pedaling toward Grove Street."Rollin Heights Balla country. I ain't represented Grove Street in five years, but the Ballas won't give a shit."
It didn't take him to get to Grove Street. He looked at the familiar house in the cul de sac with a sad smile. It brought him memories, both good and bad.
„Grove Street – home." -He said to himself as he parked the bike."At least it was before I fucked everything up." -He opened the doors to his former home with a heavy sigh and then entered it.
He immediately paused as soon as he saw the inside of the house. It's been five years, but nothing has changed. He moved around the living room and picked up the picture of his late brother that was lying on the floor. The memories of that night came back to him.
[…Stop it! What are you doing?! Carl, Brian, stop it!...]
[…Quit it! Moms will hear!...]
[…Mom! They are up to something!...]
CJ sat down by the dinner table, putting his brother's photograph before him. He stares at a picture with sadness in his eyes. He touched the photo as if trying to believe that he could pull Brian out and put everything back to normal. Then he felt it again. His was pulsing again. Stronger on the left side of his head.
„You picked the wrong house, fool!" -CJ knew that voice. It was Big Smoke!
CJ turned and quickly got back up. He took a few steps back as he saw Big Smoke with a metal bat.
„Big Smoke! It's me, chill, chill, chill!" -CJ said quickly. Smoke paused for a second, eyeing CJ from head to toe.
„CJ…?" -Smoke said, slowly lowering his bat. With a big grin, he throw to the table and pulled CJ into a big hug."OHHHH….MY DOG! Whassup?!" -As they broke the hug, Smoke looked at CJ with worry."Hey baby, you okay, man?"
„Nah, man, it's my Mom's homie…" -He said while looking around. His home was… empty. Empty and cold.
„Hey, I don't know why this had to happen, but I promise you, I'm gonna find out who killed your moms!" -Big Smoke promised with a serious expression."The streets is cold, Dog. Like it says in the book, we are blessed and cursed." -CJ looked at him puzzled.
„What fucking book?" -He asked.
„Same things make us laugh, make us cry." -Smoke explained and looked at CJ's wrists."What happened to you, man? Did you run from cops?"
„Nah. Tenpenny and Pulaski found me and cuffed me." -CJ explained."They took my money and I lost my bag. After that, they left me on Ballas turf."
„Motherfuckers…" -Smoke hissed."But how did you break them?"
CJ was contemplating whether to tell Big Smoke what happened to him in Liberty City. He wanted to go and bury his Moms first. He wanted to see Sweet and Kendl too.
„Weak as cuffs, homie…" -CJ chuckled. It was best to leave that part for later.
„Seems like East Coast feed you good!" -Smoke laughed and patted CJ on the back."C'mon, let's go see your brother at the cemetery. C'mon, let's bounce!" -Before leaving CJ gave one more glance at the living room.
[Los Santos Cemetery, a few minutes later]
CJ's heart was pounding hard as he and Big Smoke walked through the Cemetery. He hasn't seen his brother or sister for five years. He was worried that they would lash out at him.
„I've missed you these five years, man – they gonna be real happy to see you." -Big Smoke promised, but CJ didn't listen. He saw them up ahead, staring down at their Moms grave. CJ also noticed that Ryder was with them."Hey, what's up, y'all? Look who I found hanging around?"
They all looked away from the grave and saw CJ. Kendl smiled at him gently, while Sweet and Ryder stare at him blankly. CJ and Kendl embraced each other and then looked at each other.
„Carl, it's good to see you." -Kendl said with a small smile. Then they both looked back at the grave of their mother.
„I can't believe she's gone, man." -CJ said while glancing at Sweet.
„That's another funeral you ran away, fool." -Sweet reprimanded."Just like Brian's…"
„Hey, she was my Momma too." -CJ said with annoyance. Sweet had the right to be angry at him, but it didn't hurt CJ any less.
„Not for the past five years she wasn't, nigga!" -Sweet snapped. Kendl got angry and decided to leave the boys. She didn't want to hear them arguing."And where the fuck do you think you're going?!"
„What? Get out of my face! I'm going to see Cesar." -She said while flipping him off.
„The hell you are, girl!" -Sweet ordered and Kendl turned back to face him."You ain't messing with them eses, you know we beefing-"
„Look, I love him!" -She declared angrily."And what the fuck you are?!"
„At least I got principles!" -Sweet snapped at her.
„Oh, and I guess that makes you an upstanding American." -She scoffed."Carl, tell him!"
„Carl don't tell me shit, bitch!" -Sweet sneered, while CJ gave him a hard look.
„Hey, this our sister, man. Stop calling her a bitch!" -CJ demanded while pulling Sweet away from Kendl. He was surprised how Carl pulled him back with just one hand. Kendl on other hand was happy that CJ got her back."Listen, as long as he treats her right. Disrespects her and he's dead."
„How are you gonna say that?!" -Sweet shouted."Like it's any business of yours."
„Well, it ain't your business either Sweet." -CJ said with confidence."We ain't kids no more! She can make her own decisions."
„Finally! Someone got back for one!" -Kendl said and turned to Sweet."Fuck you, Sweet!"
„Aw shit, here We go again…" -CJ said as Kendl turned away and left them.
„This shit's real fucked up! Everything!" -Sweet hissed, turning his back on CJ. CJ raised his eyebrow at Sweet.
„What do you mean?" -CJ asked and Sweet turned to him with a glare.
„Apart from your mother being dead?" -He replied and looked around him."Things are going real bad. Let me show you, running man. Tony buried over there." -He pointed at a grave near a wall to their right."Little devil over there." -He pointed to the left."Big Devil over there." -He pointed near the exit."Man, it's just crazy – everybody blast on fools first then ask question second."
Without saying another word, the Grove Street boys decided to go back to the hood. As they exited the cemetery, CJ suddenly stopped. He felt his head pulsing again. Whatever it was, the danger was coming from the right.
„Look out!" -CJ warned and took a cover. Everyone looked at him dumbfounded.
„Are you tripping, CJ?" -Smoke asked while scratching his head.
„Ballas! Drive by! Incoming." -Ryder yelled as Ballas's car appeared out of nowhere.
Everyone jumped out of the way as Ballas shot at Big Smoke's car. Within seconds, the car exploded.
„Awww, motherfucker, my car!" -Big Smoke groaned. As Ballas was reversing, the boys dashed toward parked bikes in front of them.
„We gotta get back to the hood, man, it's too crazy round here!" -Sweet yelled as they hopped on their bikes."Hope you haven't forgotten how to pedal, CJ!"
The gang quickly went to the streets, gaining as much distance from Ballas as possible. Unfortunately for them, it didn't take Ballas long to catch up to them.
„Takes you back CJ, huh?" -Sweet called as CJ caught up to him."Yeah!
„Things have changed around here!" -CJ exclaimed. He felt his head tingling again. He turned his head and saw Ballas behind them."How did it get this bad? I thought this was family turf!"
„Yeah, it's Temple Drive Families – We don't roll with them no more!" -Sweet shot back."Watch out, CJ! Behind you!"
CJ's eyes widen as his head pulsed violently. He heard Ballas's car right behind him. They were going to ram into him at any moment. CJ wasn't even thinking at that moment. He instinctively jumped backward, shocking not only Ballas but his homies as well. He landed on the car's roof and quickly grab onto it. Ryder, Big Smoke, and Sweet's jaws dropped while looking at what CJ just pulled. Ballas quickly regain their composure and started aiming their guns at CJ. CJ found it easy to dodge the bullets. He smirked noticing that the driver was not paying attention to the road at all. It wasn't long before the car started heading toward oncoming cars. At the right moment, he jumped out and rolled down the road. Ballas looked back as CJ rolled down the road. Then they crashed into a car that was trying to avoid them.
„My Dog! That shit was tight!" -Big Smoke exclaimed as he stopped by Carl. He helped him get up and grinned at him."I see that East Coast taught some nice tricks!"
„Not bad…For a Busta!" -Ryder said, trying to hide his amazement.'How the fuck this Busta pull that one out?!'
„That was some crazy shit, but We better go!" -Sweet exclaimed."CJ, go and grab your bike! Quick!"
„Let's split up, so Ballas won't try to cap us all!" -CJ said and everyone agreed.
„Be careful, CJ" -Sweet said as he, Ryder, and Big Smoke went in a different direction.
As soon as Cj got back on his bike, he noticed that Ballas was still kicking. They turned back and went after him. CJ quickly turned back and pedal as quick as he could. He was going through every corner, hoping to find one that would be tight for them. Still, there was a chance that they would find him. So he decided to ditch the bike and for a car nearby. Luckily for him, it was unlocked. With the skills he learned back in Liberty City, he was quick to turn the car on and get onto the streets.
The Ballas actually went past him without noticing him at all. He laughed to himself as he was zooming past the cars in front of him. Within a few minutes, he was back in the hood. He saw that Sweet, Big Smoke, and Ryder were waiting for him.
'Aww shit… Now they gonna nag me to explain how did I pull that stunt.' -He thought with a groan. He didn't feel ready to tell them about his secret yet. As he pulled over he saw Ryder doing circles around Smoke and Sweet.
„I get with them motherfuckers though – showed them niggaz who's gangsta, Ryder nigga!" -He boasted as CJ left his car and walked up to them.
„So when are you leaving, Carl?" -Sweet asked.
„I ain't sure. Thought I might stay." -CJ replied."Things is fucked up."
„Well, the last thing We need is your help." -Sweet chuckled.
„Aw man, I won't let you down, I swear." -CJ promised and Sweet nodded.
„Hey, We're gonna call up some hood rats and chill the hell out." -Sweet said."Want some?"
CJ really wanted to spend some time with his brother and his homies. But after traveling by plane and almost being run over by Ballas, it depleted his energy completely. He just wanted to go to bed.
„I gotta whole lot going on, and I'm tired." -CJ admitted with a yawn."I'll catch y'all later."
„Hey yo, just drop in. We all hangin' out." -Smoke said with a big smile.
With that, the group split apart and CJ went back to his old house. As he entered, he got this sudden feeling of emptiness again. The house was just too quiet. He took off his shoes and run up the stairs. He was wondering if his old room was still there. Much to his surprise, it was. But now there was only one bed. He used to share his room with Brian before his death. As he went to his closet, he noticed his old clothes.
„Aw shit…My bag." -CJ remembered. That Taxi he got in still had his stuff. He wondered if he should contact them and ask if they didn't throw it. He also remembered that Tenpenny stole his hard earn cash. Looking through his pockets, he only had 350 dollars."Great….Just great."
He rubbed his eyes, feeling tired more than ever. He slummed down on the bed and drifted into a deep sleep.
After a few, CJ finally woke up. Groaning, he looked at the clock and saw it was 6:00 pm. CJ slept for almost seven hours. He heard a sound coming from downstairs. He wondered if it was Sweet. His 'danger' sense didn't go off so that was good.
Quickly getting back on his feet, CJ walked down the stairs and saw Kendl in the kitchen. She turned to him with a smile.
„Hey, Carl. Had a good sleep?" -Kendl asked and returned to cleaning the plates.
„Yeah." -He nodded and entered the kitchen."You've been with that Cesar guy, right?"
„Yes, We went on a small date." -Kendl replied."You should meet him. He's a great guy."
„He's treating you right?" -He asked. While he trusted his sister, he was still her older brother.
„Of course he does." -Kendl rolled her eyes."Wish that Sweet would see that. But he's way too stuck up with that hood bullshit."
„Which gang does he belong to?" -CJ asked curiously."Vagos?"
„Nah, Varrios Los Aztecas." -He replied and CJ nodded.
„Well, last I remember We did have beef with them." -CJ said, causing Kendl to groan.
„C'mon, Carl. I'm going to have this conversation with you." -Kendl turned to him with a clean plate in her hand."I don't care about your hood thing. I can see whoever I want."
„I know, but I and Sweet are only worried." -CJ said calmly. He didn't want to argue with his sister on this.
„I get it, but why can't Sweet just give Cesar a chance?" -She asked.
„Well, he is stuck up." -CJ agreed with a chuckle. Maybe Kendl was right. You should always give someone a chance."Hey, you said I could meet him. Is he free right now?"
„He's busy tonight. But tomorrow there is a lowrider competition at Unity Station." -Kendl explained. He was surprised that her brother actually wanted to meet her boyfriend."The meeting is at 12 am."
„Got it. I'll be there." -CJ said and then his stomach grumbled. Kendl chuckled.
„Someone's hungry I see." -She commented."C'mon, I'm gonna fix you somethin."
„I'll help you out then." -CJ said with a smile. He was happy that he could spend some time with his sister. He really missed his family.