CJ walked through the hallway on the search for his brother.
"Hey Sweet!" CJ called.
"Wassup?" Sweet said, emerging from the bedroom.
"It's time for Smoke," CJ told him.
"Alright," Sweet agreed, packing his tech nine. "Let's roll."
"The Johnson brothers fittin' to take that fat fool down," CJ replied as he and his brother walked out the door.
This was it! CJ was finally going to confront his former friend in the crackhouse. He had already eliminated one traitor of the gang, and now it was time to give Big Smoke a piece of his mind. He and Sweet hopped inside the car as CJ drove slowly through the anarchic streets of Los Santos. It has been seven days, and nothing has changed since then. But hopefully, CJ, Sweet, and the rest of the Grove Street Families would change that once they finally got back at Big Smoke and Tenpenny, especially the latter.
"So I just got info that Smoke's now in East Los Santos, right?" Sweet asked.
"Yeah," CJ responded. "Me and Bear confronted the high-ranking member of the Russian Mafia and he gave me the info, right on the edge of Los Flores – some old apartments and a warehouse."
"Well that fool's as good as dead then," Sweet said.
"Yep," CJ replied. He then looked around the vehicle as he continued driving. "Damn Sweet," he complained. "Can't believe you bought that same bucket ass car, man!"
"Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it," Sweet replied.
He then looked around the riotous neighborhood. "So this is it huh?" Sweet asked his brother. "Grove Street here sorting this shit out. You nervous?"
"Yeah!" CJ admitted.
"Me too, bro," Sweet replied. "Me too."
CJ didn't even try to hide it, as he heard his heart thumping hard. Not only was he nervous of what was going to happen to him, he was a bit hesitant that he had to take on his former friend, the guy he considered one of his closest friends. He continued to drive through the streets and finally made a right turn to East Los Santos. The memories brought everything back. He thought about driving Big Smoke to Los Flores to collect some weed from the Vagos. He thought about how he helped OG Loc chase down Freddy, who apparently raped him while he did his stint in prison. The riots were still going on around the area, and CJ finally spotted the warehouse up ahead.
While preparing to take out Big Smoke, Sweet pulled out his Desert Eagle. CJ then turned to Sweet.
"Look," CJ told Sweet. "I know you down for this, but I gotta go face Smoke myself."
"What?" Sweet asked.
"That fat sucka played me, Sweet!" CJ told him. "Looking back at our misadventures since the day I returned, it all became crystal clear to me – the way he was in Moms' house while you, Kendl, and Ryder were at Moms' funeral, how he moved into Idlewood, that long order at Cluckin' Bell to give the Ballas enough time to ride to the hood while we was away, C.R.A.S.H. in and out his house, that ambush at the meeting to reunite Seville Boulevard and Temple Drive at the Jefferson hotel, and none of that even mention the bullshit he was talking to me. Those hints were thrown in our faces, and like a bunch of dumbasses, we let it all fly over our heads. To find out he organized the hit on our Moms was what really hit me. He played me. Along with Tenpenny, he played us all."
"I know, bro," Sweet replied.
"So I have to do this," CJ told him. "I fucked everything up. I let Brian die. I ran out on my family when they needed me the most. So this is not just for you or the rest of the Grove, but for Brian and Moms too."
"You right, CJ," Sweet told him, giving him a handshake. "Good luck in there, bro."
"Sure thing," CJ told him, exiting the car.
"Hey," Sweet called out to CJ, "if you need me, you know where I'll be."
"For sure," CJ replied. "You've always been there for me, man."
Just then, they heard a gradual rumbling behind them. Sweet then looked back to see what it was. "Speakin' of being there for someone..." he said.
The two brothers turned to see a tank driving right behind them. It pulled right beside the Greenwood and came to a stop. The top came open, revealing Ryder inside, who popped his head up from the top.
"Need a lift, fool?" he asked.
CJ laughed in gratitude. "Ryder, man!" CJ called out, grinning. "You's a crazy ass nigga! Always got these crazy ideas! Me and Sweet both got love for you!"
"No kidding," Sweet added, chuckling. "What would we do without you, Ryder?"
"You got that right, homie," Ryder replied. "If you gonna survive in this riot, you'll need some heavy ass artillery. Now listen. Security in Smoke's crack fortress is tight, so the doors inside are locked. That's why I took this tank with me, so we could ram into that building and go find Smoke ourselves! You down, CJ?!"
"I'm always down, Dog!" CJ responded.
"Well get in, fool!" Ryder demanded. "It's time to pay that fat fuck an impromptu visit!"
CJ then ran to the tank and hopped inside along with Ryder.
"I'll let you control the tank, CJ," Ryder told him. "Just take this damn thing and ram it through the entrance of the crack palace!"
CJ had finally gotten the hang of driving the tank and rode it around East Los Santos. He wanted to get enough speed before he rammed through the entrance. After a few seconds of driving the tank around the block, CJ finally rammed into the entrance, running over everyone inside.
"Damn, those punks got owned!" Ryder shouted. "We in, fool. Now it's our chance."
CJ and Ryder slowly exited the tank and got their weapons prepared. "So how's the shoulder?" CJ asked Ryder.
Ryder pulled his shirt to the left side to show CJ that he had his shoulder wrapped in a medium gauze. A bloody spot was sported in the middle. "It'll heal," Ryder told him. "I ain't gonna let no motherfucking bullet impede my rampaging spree. I'm a true kung-fu warrior, my nigga."
"You sure are, Ryder," CJ said, laughing. "It's great to have you around, homie. Seriously, what would I do without you?"
The two gangsters crept through the door and came across a set of stairs.
"So the Russians told me that Smoke is hiding on the fourth floor," CJ told Ryder. "So we gotta scale the building and be prepared for any gang member that might ambush us."
"I hear ya, CJ," Ryder replied. "I got yo' back, homie. Grove Street 4 Life!"
So the two walked up the stairs and hid behind the walls. They took a quick peak from behind to see if any of the gang members were going to come out of nowhere to catch them by surprise.
When they both stepped through the hallway, a couple of Vagos had popped out from the right of the hallway shooting at the two Grove Street gangsters. CJ and Ryder did not hesitate and fired back at them, killing them both.
"Watch yo' back, CJ," Ryder warned. "These marks pop out like kernels!"
The two gangsters crept through the hallway, preparing themselves for the next gangsters that attack them. One by one, several Ballas and Vagos members tried to kill the two. But CJ and Ryder were too quick for them and gunned them down instantly.
"Eat metal, motherfucker!" Ryder shouted at the gangsters. "Okay, CJ. Let's keep going. Smoke's waiting for us!"
So CJ and Ryder continued to navigate through the place and entered the generator room, where they found a number of Ballas and Vagos shooting at them both. They both ducked behind the crates in front of them.
"Take cover, CJ!" Ryder warned as he and CJ pulled out their weapons. They shot back at the gangs, killing each of them one by one.
"Prepare to get obliterated, punk ass pushers!" Ryder taunted as he killed two of the Ballas at once.
As everyone in the room was dead, CJ and Ryder continued walking through the room and walked through the doors, where they ducked behind more crates to find more gang members behind the crates. The Grove Street gangsters fired back at the gangs and killed them one by one. The two then continued to make their way through the hallways and came across another set of stairs.
They crept up the steps and made it to the left, where they made it to the second floor. CJ and Ryder crept up the stairs and made their way through the doors. They navigated through the hallways and made it inside the second floor drug lab, where more gangsters shot at them.
"I'm too peerless for you to handle!" Ryder shouted. "Y'all gettin' split!"
CJ and Ryder hid behind the pillars and shot back at the gangs. Their foes were shot and killed one by one. CJ and Ryder continued their navigation inside the crack palace and headed to the hallway, where they shot more gangs after them. They then walked through the office and walked through the doors, where they came across yet another set of stairs.
"We getting real close to Smoke," CJ told Ryder. "So let's continue our search and kill anybody who gets into our way."
"I got it, CJ," Ryder told him. "We'll school those fools like a couple of samurai warriors!"
"Honestly, Ryder," CJ said, "I think you been watching a little too much anime."
The two continued creeping down the stairs and went through the doors, where more gangs shot at them.
"Taste the heat, punks!" Ryder shouted as he and CJ killed the gang members.
They walked through the doors and came across a lounge, where more gangs shot at the two gangsters.
"Shit!" Ryder shouted as he and CJ hopped behind the counter. "Smoke got a fancy ass crackhouse!"
The two Grove Street gangsters shot back at the gangs, killing them each, and continued making their way through the lounge. They walked through the door and shot at more gangs that fired bullets at them. But the Grove Street gangsters were too quick and killed them all one by one.
Ryder then stared ahead to find a statue of Big Smoke armed with a shotgun. "Shit, Smoke done got a statue carved of himself?" he asked. "Man, what a narcissist."
CJ looked back at Ryder, the guy who always bragged about how much of a genius he was. But he didn't care. He was still satisfied that he still had his childhood friend by his side. The two continued through the hall and went through the other set of doors at the end.
When they found another set of stairs through the doors, CJ and Ryder finally surmised that this was where Big Smoke was hiding in.
"So this must be Smoke's room," CJ said.
"Jeah," Ryder muttered. "And now, it looks like it's up to us now, homie."
"A'ight, listen, Ryder," CJ told him. "I understand you down with the Grove, but I gotta handle this on my own."
"By yo'self?" Ryder asked. "Why?"
"Because, Ryder," CJ told him, "I gotta get back at Smoke. He organized the hit on my Moms, man. He played me as if I was a video game. I want to settle this on my own, okay?"
"Alright, CJ," Ryder said. "Handle yo' business. I'll be here to watch our backs."
"Cool," CJ said, and he turned to enter the room.
"Yo CJ," Ryder called.
"Yeah, Ryder?" CJ told him.
"Blow that fat fuck's head off!" Ryder urged. "He the real busta!"
"Oh I'll blow off more than that!" CJ replied.
"Gyeah," Ryder replied.
CJ then stepped inside the room and looked around to find a vending machine, a trampoline, a small kitchen set, and of course, a set of video screens on the wall in front of the sofa.
Who the hell this dude think he is, the black Scarface? CJ thought.
There on the sofa sat Big Smoke, who was playing video games, not noticing CJ standing right behind him. He was wearing a bulletproof vest around his fat torso. A white flask was sitting on the table in front of him. CJ walked up to Big Smoke armed with a pistol.
"Hey Smoke!" CJ shouted at the fat man as he pointed his pistol to him.
"Hey CJ," Big Smoke replied, uninterested, not bothering to look back. He didn't sound very surprised at all to discover CJ was after him. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
"How'd you know it was me?" CJ asked, slowly lowering his pistol to his side.
"Knew it was my old dog, CJ," Big Smoke answered coldly, still not bothering to turn back. "Knew you was coming and I don't give a shit."
It was now clear to CJ. Big Smoke was now on crack. He had never heard him sound so sullen and displeased. It really impaired his mind and emotions. "I'm here to take care of your fat ass," CJ barked at his former friend. "And then take care of your friends in the police department."
"Man, fuck this shit!" Big Smoke muttered, slamming his controller down the ground. He picked up the flask and smoked a sip. He took a deep breath of the smoke and let out a cough. "Man, that's some good shit," he said.
Big Smoke then gradually rose out of his seat to face CJ. "Man, you and Tenpenny..." CJ started to say.
"Man, fuck Tenpenny," Big Smoke growled, "and fuck his Polish lapdog, and fuck the police, man! All that's old shit. Look at you, you got the whole world! I ain't got no regrets man!"
"Smoke you had a... " CJ began to say.
"I made it CJ, I'm a success!" Big Smoke roared as he walked over to CJ's face and thumped his chest repeatedly. "I CAN'T BE TOUCHED!"
He then walked a few inches away from CJ. "I don't give a fuck," he muttered. "Fuck the whole world."
CJ shook his head in disbelief. His childhood friend had really snapped. The crack had really made his behavior worse, and there was no telling what his next move was.
What happened, Smoke? CJ thought. What you get yourself into? What has this crack done to yo' brain, homie?
"What happened to you, man?" CJ asked somberly.
"Man, what the fuck do you care?!" Big Smoke snarled. He then turned to the corner of the wall and grabbed his shotgun. "Ahh, guess we better do this shit then..."
And it was on! CJ was now taking on his former friend in a gun battle. CJ noticed Big Smoke's bulletproof vest as the latter fired at CJ.
"You wearing body armor, Smoke?" CJ asked during the battle. "I'm disappointed in you, I thought you was gangsta."
"Hey, I am a motherfucking celebrity!" Big Smoke bragged. "All kinds of crazy cats want a piece of me! Somebody save the Smoke. SHOOT HIM! Help me!"
CJ then turned in surprise to find many of Smoke's allies shooting at him. CJ didn't hesitate as he killed many of the allies and fire at Smoke. He never would have seen the day where he would battle for his life against his former friend.
Just then, the lights turned out, and it was now dark. CJ couldn't see a thing, and Big Smoke was still firing his bullets at CJ. Luckily for CJ, he found a pair of night vision goggles on the floor. He picked them up and put them on his face. As he activated them, he saw a green tint through the goggles and Big Smoke firing at him. CJ ducked behind the pillars and shot back at his former friend. Some of the bullets hit Big Smoke's body armor. It was life or death between both of them, and only one of them would make it out alive.