I'm Gonna Run Ya Punk $$ Down!
Interlude
Six months have passed since Mr. Blue Eyes led his first assault against Goro Takemura, V, and the Aldecaldos. All leads in Hong Kong returned nothing useful on the whereabouts of his cloning laboratories. The main headquarters was completely abandoned, and swept clean in every forensic sense. It was as if the Blue Eyes Foundation completely disappeared over night. Their stock market presence, their employees, all seemingly vanished.
While Goro and the Aldecaldos would continue to search for their foe's base of operations, Jackie Welles would return to the Valentinos, taking David Martinez with him and under his wing to show him the ways of the Solo.
Meanwhile, a certain truth had consumed the former Mafioso. Tobias Binotto knew the truth about Andrea-Milena Saurez's mother. She was not a doll, she was not a whore, rather an assassin who was always on the run. And more than that, one of his fiercest and deadliest adversaries in his years soloing.
The recently wed couple returned to Tobias's hometown of Atlantis City, Florida, where he would be close to his former Mafioso brethren.
Chapter Three
In the basketball courts of Vista Del Ray, Sebastian "Padre" Ibarra had an appointment with Jackie.
He smiled at the young man. "The rumors are true, you did survive."
Jackie firmly shook the elder's hand. "Si, senor. I would have paid my respects sooner, but I was caught up in something."
"I heard from V. The Devil is literally coming for us."
While Jackie's religious sentiments were not nearly as strong as Padre's, he could not help agree. "Si."
"Jackie, I did call you here for a reason. Not just to catch up with an old friend."
"Padre, what did you need?"
"With the Ortas out of commission, the Valentinos have become fractured, disorganized. Many of the senior members have become loose canons and mounted several failed attacks against 6th Street, Maelstrom, and even the Mafioso. Even though I am no longer part of the Valentinos, I have always been here to advise."
"I got you, but there's only so much I can do. Hell, I don't even know who the leader is these days since all the vets are bent on doing their own thing!"
"Jackie, don't be such a cabron! You, and you alone, should be leading the Valentinos. You possess the strength, the courage, and have even defied death… Twice."
"Senor, are you serious?"
"Si, Jackie. You are the only one who can bring strength and unity back to the Valentinos. So what say you?"
Jackie didn't have to think about it. "I will do what I must."
Meanwhile in Atlantis City, Florida…
It's been a couples years since Tobias has faced his boss, Don Josef Giovanni, face to face. Despite him being on an extended leave, he was relieved to see he was still met with a warm welcome.
Josef has seen better days. He was wheelchair bound, but at least he was rocking in style with a shimmering, burgundy suite and tux.
"Tobias, my ragazzo!"
Tobias knelt infront of him and gently tapped his shoulders. "Don Josef..."
"You returned at just the right time. They are like vultures, the lot of them."
"Sir?"
"I don't have a natural heir, so the family has been in a civil war of sorts to determine the best successor. It's gone completely downhill since the Blue Eyes Foundation did not honor our prior agreement with Arasaka."
Tobias had a sinking feeling in his gut. "And what say you?"
"Tobias, you are the only one qualified to succeed me!"
"Are you certain, my Don?"
"Yes, Tobias. You are the only one wise enough, efficient enough, cutthroat enough, to lead the Mafioso in my absence."
"If you honestly believe that, then I will accept."
"I would never mislead you, my bambino."
"Then I accept."
The older man sighed in relief. "Praise God. We can hold the ceremony later, but let's talk business now. Do you have any suggestions?"
"I have a few, all of which our survival depends on."
"Well then, I would like to hear them."
"For one, the rivalry with the Valentinos. I heard just a few minutes ago that they will soon be under new leadership. I know their new leader personally, and unlike the Ortas he is an honorable man. I suggest we end all hostilities with them, and form an alliance, as to stabilize our Night City operations.
"An unorthodox suggestion, however one that certainly is with merit. If you truly believe that, I will stand-by your decision."
"Thank you, Don Josef."
"Just Josef will suffice. You, and you alone, are the Don now."
"Of course, Josef."
"Anything you have planned?"
"Yes. A nation of nomads known as the Aldecaldos. I suggest we formally align with them as well, as I have interacted and fought along them against a common enemy, a powerful enemy that will wipe us all out unless we work together."
"And who is this enemy?"
"The Blue Eyes foundation."
"Are you sure? I heard the corporation when defunct several months ago."
"The publicly traded Blue Eyes Foundation has gone defunct, though they themselves are just a puppet organization for something far more sinister."
"And you say you new contacts and yourself went to war with them?"
"Yes, and an even bigger war is on the horizon. Something far bigger the Fourth Corporate War, something that threatens the planet as a whole."
Josef could not help but smile at his former pupil. "You have grown so much in the past few years, Tobias. There's a certain glow about you that you did not possess before."
"Indeed. I have found true love, and with it an innate desire to protect her from the evil that has this world in its stranglehold."
The former Don's eyes widened. "A woman?"
"Yes, we even wed in Cancun a year ago."
"That is unexpected, though a most welcome development, my ragazzo. Can I meet this creature who has liberated you?"
"Yes, but fair warning… She is the daughter of Jacksimar Chavez."
"Your most bitter adversary?"
"Indeed, although I did not realize it at first when I originally started courting her, despite the obvious physical similarities between them."
Later in the evening, Don Josef would throw a banquet for the passing of the torch from himself to Don Tobias. Naturally, Tobias wanted Milena there, as his Mafioso family would soon be her family as well. However, before the celebrations could begin, Tobias would have to disclose the truth of Milena's parents.
"Milena…"
"Si, papi?"
"I have something I need to tell you."
"Si?"
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but… I've done some digging on your parents."
She shrugged it off. "That's okay, Tobias. They mean nothing to me."
"Well, it's important you hear this. Your father was murdered, by your mother."
Milena froze.
"He was cartel, and your mother, Jacksimar Chavez, a Venezolana orphan who became a pet of the NUSA, enrolled into the black ops program at the age of twelve."
"By Sante Muerte, she was an assassin?!"
"Yes, and seducing your father, and zeroing him, zeroing his associates was part of her assignment."
"Tobias… Is she still alive?"
"I believe so…"
Milena shrugged it off. "Well, she chose her career over her kids, so fuck that puta."
"Milena, there's one more part of this story, one that involves me apologizing to you."
Her eyes briefly went wide. "Si, papi?"
"Given your mother and I were both in the business of killing people, she and I naturally crossed paths several times, as adversaries. I thought you resembled her quite profoundly, but I didn't bother looking into it, at least not until after the wedding."
Milena sighed. "It's okay, Papi. As I told you, I can't be inclined to give a fuck about her."
"Milena… Despite the fact Jacksimar and I were bitter enemies… She and I slept together, on more than one occasion."
"I see, papi."
Tobias was taken aback. "That's it, Milena? That's all you have to say?"
Milena smiled before she approached him and kissed him on the lips. "As I said, fuck that puta. And you being an extremely attractive and powerful man, it's only natural you've had many conquests before meeting me. All that matters to me is the here and now." She gently caressed his face. "Tobias Binotto, you are the only man for me. The sins of your past do no matter to me, as long as you are good to me." They then kissed again before delving deeper.
After a tender love making episode, they got ready to attend the banquet.
A bit later, Milena was quite flabbergasted at the palatial size of the Don's villa, which was even bigger than the already obscenely large villa owned by her husband. I never imagined people actually lived in such opulence, she thought.
"Milena, this is Josef Giovanni, Don of the Mafioso and the closest thing to a father I ever had. Josef, this is my wife, Andrea-Milena Saurez."
Josef was taken back by Melina's ethereal beauty. "So this is the girl that reformed our Tobias! Bellisimo!"
Milena dawned a proper pink gown, matching shoes, and matching gloves for the occasion. Given her formal attire, she formally bowed. "You flatter me, senor!"
"Did Tobias ever mention the truth regarding your parents?"
"He did, but that matters not. My father is dead, and my mother abandoned my brother and I when we were kids."
"Unfortunate you had to grow up without a parent's love. Shame that your mother was so… Evil."
"You knew her as well?"
"Why yes, she tried to assassinate me on several occasions, I only survived because of Tobias here."
Milena waved it off. "Can we please… Please, refrain from talking about her anymore? I only want to focus on the positive vibes right now."
Tobias and Josef agreed to her terms. "Of course, where are our manners?" Josef offered.
Before dinner, which consisted of many varieties of pasta, calamari, caviar, prosciutto, bread and olive oil, and served with merlot, Josef proposed a toast, where he announced the emerging war, in which Tobias partook in the early stages, and subsequently announced Tobias as his successor. As he foresaw, no one objected, his ascendance was met with unanimous approval.
The evening was largely uneventful, which consisted of Tobias catching up with old friends and introducing his new wife, which made him quite the target of their envy. After they returned to Tobias's massive villa after midnight, Milena embraced him yet again. "Thank you for inviting me to your mafioso ball, papi!"
"You're my wife, Milena. Thus you are family. You are invited to all family get togethers by default."
Her eyes teared up. "You made me so happy, Tobias. A year and a half ago, I never could have ever imagined I'd find this."
"We're not in the clear yet, Milena. The threat of Mr. Blue Eyes still looms above us."
"Yes, but as you said, we now have the Mafioso, the Aldecaldos, and the Valentinos as allies. We have a fighting chance!"
The former hitman did not share her enthusiasm. "I hope so."
Later in the night, Milena could not sleep. Despite her proclamation of not caring, she was more than a little disturbed by the nature of her mother's lifestyle, and that included the fact that her mother slept with her own husband before they ever met.
And then in happened. Coincidentally, she received a hollow call from an unknown number.
"Santa Muerte, at this hour?"
Curiosity got the better of and she answered. However, what she saw terrified her. It was as if she was looking into a mirror.
"What the fuck is this shit?"
"Come now, Milena. You don't recognize your own mother?"
I don't believe this… She looks as if she could be my twin! How does she look so young still? She pushed those thoughts aside as she inquired. "It's been over a decade and a half since you abandoned us, so what the fuck do you want?"
"For one, someone offered me over a Billion Eddies to kill that husband of yours!"
"You mean Tobias?"
"Two, don't fret, for I will kill you when I am done with him, so you won't have to worry about being alone!"
"You won't succeed! Even if you could take him, we have powerful allies!"
"You're wrong, my sweet, misguided child. My benefactor has granted me post human powers. Wiping out entire armies is trivial for me at this point!"
"Blue eyes!"
"Si! You're not as estupido as I figured you'd be. Anyhoo, Adios!"
"Tobias!"
He groggily awoke from his slumber. "Yes, Milena?"
"My mother just called me…"
He quickly jumped out of bed. "What?"
"She's working for Blue Eyes, and she plans to kill us both!"
"Yep, that's the evil, pragmatic bitch I remember."
"She also said he granted her his post human powers!"
Tobias froze in utter terror. Jacksimar Chavez was the most brutal, sadistic person he's ever crossed. A celestial beauty which hid a demonic spirit deep within her. To have such an evil entity granted the god-like powers of a post human turned his veins to ice.
Milena noticed something about her husband was off. "Papi?"
"Milena, you have no idea how evil that woman is, and if she's truly a post human… If that's true, we're so fucked!"
