Few days later
North Holland - Algonquin
Algonquin, one of the most popular tourist destinations for anybody both in and outside the United States who wanted to visit the Southern part of the island that was commercialized, known for its hotels, historic presence and a center of the economic world.
But the focus wasn't on the Southern, rich and more known part of Algonquin, instead its up to the north. Where a Dominican-American man in his mid 20s named Luis Lopez was seen walking down the streets.
North Holland, East Holland and Northwood were dubbed the complete opposite of their southern counterparts. Often low-income, high-crime and predominantly minority communities that have frequently been intentionally and unintentionally segregated from the opportunities from the richer neighborhoods south of Middle Park. While places like the Exchange and City Hall were busy with trade wars between countries and economies, while small scale real wars would be fought in streets just fifteen minutes up north by gangsters over corners.
For its unfortunate history of violence, these large neighborhood blocks often are some of the most diverse communities, where African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans, Mexicans and Dominicans lived as some of the bigger groups in these parts.
And the last group was where Luis belonged to. Having lived these streets, survived through it and fought in them for survival and retaliation, as he and many other youths were often forced to go and up to fight against others.
He was an former affiliate of the Northwood Dominican Drug Dealers, also known in short as the ND3, a gang in Northwood that was built up from the Dominican community, brought up to defend themselves against the larger groups like the Puerto Rican Spanish Lords or the Black Hustlers.
He had his fair share of beatings and rumbles in school yards, shootouts in the streets and dealings on the corners, by seeing also many die at an early age and carrying caskets out of churches…
It was to say he came from a single-parent household, with a brother and sister. Both of whom got better off and moved out of Liberty City while he stayed behind to look after his mother, who was clearly disappointed in his mistakes from the past. For the good reasons or wrong ones, she feared he'd turn up like his father. And that almost became true, after having been booked by the LCPD for a auto theft case.
But while doing time in the Penitentiary down in Alderney, he managed to get a job working for the infamous nightclub owner 'Gay Tony' who started him out as a bouncer working at the gay club Hercules, to be now the business partner Tony Prince and his nightclubs.
Well, if you'd look at it from the outside, it was a great improvement, but from the inside….it was still an upgrade from the street bullshit.
Now sitting on his sofa, Luis was lounging in his own apartment, which was an historic building located on Galveston Avenue south of Wardite Street, it was bit or less in the center of the neighborhood, and only a foot distance away from his old home or wherever he would go up on the North side of Algonquin. He was wearing his casual outfit black and white letterman jacket with blue jeans and white tennis shoes, the set he often wore while not being at work.
What he was watching was, and yes, Princess Robot Bubblegum, a Japanese Anime that could best be described as….odd.
"All this time, you never told me about my parents. You kept this secret from me Master Hentai, how could you?" Princess Robot Bubblegum said to her sensei.
"It was for your own safety. Claiming your birthright would have been dangerous…especially since you are nowhere ready for the Wolf of Westeros." Master Hentai said as there was a chill in the air.
"Seriously, why's this show so popular?" Asked Luis, having seen the overused tropes of the old guy humping the girl alongside the dog and the oversized chest the girl has.
Of which his younger self wouldn't be bothered by it….neither the current one.
[Cues: Code Lyoko OST - William Action Theme]
Speaking of themes, it was starting up as Master Hentai looked completely terrified as she crashed through the window. Luis grinned like an idiot seeing Roslyn finally appear in front of the heroes. Roslyn slashed Master Hentai who fell to the ground and he screamed for the princess to run before dropping a flash bang.
[Music Ends]
The episode abruptly ended with Luis on edge over the cliffhanger. Leaving Luis to rub his head in confusion as he then talked to himself.
"Man, wonder if I am the only freak who watches these shows."
*TRIIIIIING!*
On the small table lay Luis' phone as it was vibrating. He picked it up and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Luis, where you at, bro?" The voice over the phone was his childhood friend Armando. "Me and Henrique are waiting for you outside."
"Wait, you're waiting outside my place?" Luis stood up confused after hearing that. "Why?"
"You forgot already, Mr. Downtown? Come out!"
"Hold on." Luis said, ending the call before then walking up the door, leaving his apartment.
Once outside, Luis indeed saw that an black Albany Cavalcade SUV parked in front of his door, where two light-skinned Dominicans were seen sitting and awaiting him.
"Get in." The one wearing a gray jacket with blue shirt in the driver's seat, Armando called him in. "We're going."
"Bro, what the fuck?" Luis asked confused while holding his phone. "Couldn't you call me beforehand? It's my day off."
"Good, that means you're free to help us out with something, man." The black and red jacket wearing guy with glasses named Henrique sitting in the backseat replied. "Now come in, we've got places to be."
Seeing he had no other choice but to go along with his two childhood friends/chumps, he walked around the car and took the driver's seat, just when Armando went to the shotgun seat.
The car soon left, making Luis already ask.
"Where to?"
"The Rubin Swinger Basketball Courts. The one on Exeter Avenue, between Xenotime and Wardite Street." Armando told him. "We got a meeting there, neutral grounds."
"Neutral grounds? That's Hustlers' turf. It's anything but neutral."
"Not this place, here nobody's going to try something." Henrique replied and added. "We got assurances. So be cool."
"Okay then, H, if you say so." Luis took his word. "What's the place?"
…
After a small drive, the trio arrived at the entrance of the gym that laid on the south-west of the courts where formerly been a Cluckin' Bell franchise once was.
Instead of that, the building had multiple large windows with neon light for its 24/7 opening policy, and graffiti style that made it part of the community.
"Let's go in."
Once inside the interior of the gym, the three Dominicans were met with what was a packed house:
People running on treadmills, peddling on stationary bicycles and dumbbells to weights being pulled up by anyone who got his hands on one pair.
This was the Kumo Gym, a Japanese word of clouds, as the local saying went 'The Sky is the Limit.' in the local neighborhood. As it was an popular hangout for anyone north of Middle Park.
It was an place to tune up your body, but also had an bar to hang out after getting the workout done or wanting to have some free time, but it was also an escape from the local hood politics that many tried to stay away from, especially when it would get heated.
But it was also home to the current had a big boxing ring in the middle of it with seating rows, where currently a sparring match was occurring-
*THWACK!*
*KICK!*
In the middle of the ring, two girls were seen going at it in a heated sparring match that was going on for a good half hour, with neither of them seen backing down. And it happened to be two familiar faces.
One was Staff Sergeant Karui, who had her red hair tied in a knot while she wore a black sports bra that fits with her boxing shorts, and gray feet wrappings that fitted her gray fingerless fighting gloves.
Her opponent was her superior officer/d friend Samui, wearing a similar outfit, but instead wore it in light blue and gray and in a tighter size as her noticeable bust was slightly bouncing, but that didn't stop her.
"Move it!"
Karui roared as she raised her leg for a kick to the head, only for Samui to block it off with her own leg, forcing the staff sergeant back. Resuming the back and forth undecided fight for the following moments, showing strength, speed, good coordination and focus.
Then it happened that Samui caught Karui's foot and forced her down to the ground with her full weight, and quickly went for a headlock. The blonde managed to strengthen her grip around Karui's head as her bust happened to touch the back of her neck.
"Yield, sergeant!"
"No!"
"Yield!"
Samui's grip on her grew tighter than Karui's face was now fully planted to the floor, fully having her down.
"Damn it!" Karui shouted as she began tapping her hand on the floor. "I yield! I yield!"
Henrique then happened to pull up his phone and thought it would be the best moment to try and take a picture of the sparring match as it was ending as the two ladies went over to grab their towels.
"H, focus would you?" Luis told his friend before turning to Armando. "So who's this person you're meeting with?"
Instead of getting an answer directly, Armando began looking over to Henrique who then nodded back to him. Making Luis suspicious.
"Yo, what the fuck's going on, A?" Luis grew impatient as a glare grew. "I want answers."
Hold on, Luis, chill. Okay?" Henrique held his hand up and said. "We just got a message to give from Teddy, that's all."
"Teddy? Like Teddy Benavidez?"
"Yeah, him, Mr. Big shot." Armando said, hating Luis' attitude. "He got word from Willy, that he needed two reliable guys to bring out a message to one of his competitors on neutral grounds. And he chose us."
Teddy Benavidez He's a fellow member of the ND3 who happened to be a high-ranking member that is closely connected to the leader and childhood acquaintance of the gang's leader, Willy Valerio.
He wasn't an unknown name to the three Dominican young men who grew up on the block. With Teddy happening to be a senior in Henrique's, Armando's and Luis' school when they just entered as Juniors….before he got busted.
"Since when the fuck are you two being running boys for Teddy?" Luis asked them straight up front without raising his voice up much. "Shouldn't he be doing this?"
It then happened that two men, both gym guys happened to bypass the three Dominicans and exit the building, forcing the three to lower their voices.
"Well if you can keep your voice on the down-low for once, I might explain the two main reasons." Armando began explaining to Luis. "Like for one, the fact that Teddy's got that ongoing dispute with those Guido fucks down in Little Italy, if you even put the effort on understanding it."
"Excuse me?"
"And secondly," Armando stepped closer and returned the glare to the Afro-Dominican man. "Is because he's still one of Willy's guys. The guy we pay tribute too, fool. You know, the one who kept your back protected while you were serving time down in Alderney State Prison. Or have you forgotten about it when you turned Downtown too?"
Luis didn't take that well and moved his head closer. "What are you trying to say, bro?"
*Vroom!*
The sound of a car roaring was heard, and it was Henrique who turned around and saw who it was, and stopped the two friends from going further on their beef.
"A. He's here."
The two other pair of eyes then turned to the entrance and saw what Henrique was hollering about as a car had just parked on the opposite side next to the basketball courts.
It was an brown four-door sedan Willard Marbelle that contained three passengers inside of it, all of them African American males. With the two front seaters being men with a little bling, sporting hats and clothes. But it was the guy in the back that was standing out.
He was a man who was still in the same age group as Luis, but looked older by the rounded face with wrinkles and the short beard with the short shaven haircut. The guy wore a pretty low-key outfit without any sign of him wanting any kind of attention, so he wore a brown pullover hoodie under a sleeveless dark brown down jacket and a white t-shirt, musty brown jeans, and pale orange sneakers.
"Wait…" Luis recognized him. "I know him, isn't that Clarence Little? The guy who runs the gang up the housing project in down on Vauxite"
"Yeah, that's him. Good guess, Mr. Downtown." Armando sneeringly joked. "So you still remember a thing or two."
Luis groaned. "Shut up, please."
*Clink!*
Once coming through the door, Clarence came by himself as his two guards stood outside, as he then saw the three Dominicans standing there and waiting for him. And by the looks of it, he wasn't all to happy to see them.
"Oh look who it is. Armando Torres and Henrique Bardas, so nice to see you."
The sarcasm couldn't be clear enough for the duo, as it's already established that this is going to be a needful but dreadful meet.
"So what's this? Needing three grunts to give a message?" Clarence snarked at them. "Guess y'all Dominicans really are in need of stronger numbers these days."
"Says the guy who barely leaves the block." Armando taunted back. "Must be lonely out there with all those guys."
"Whatever, fools, like I got time to discuss bullshit. Let's get to the point." Clarence began. "What was it that your boy Teddy wanted to speak about? I got business to take care of. So shoot."
"Teddy's calling in a meeting, and he wants you to be there, mandatory." Armando gave the details. "Fortside projects, you know where it is?"
Hearing this made Luis being suspicious, turning to Henrique who was being unusually calm as he was eyeing the guards outside for anything.
"Fortside? You mean-"
"Yes, she called in the meeting." Armando pressed on as he added. "From what we know, Playboy X is also informed about this."
'What's going on here?' Luis was asking himself. 'Why you bringing up these names up, A?'
Clarence just stood there for a moment with his head raised up before he made up his mind and gave his response.
"When?"
"Soon, details will come soon. No guns, no guards either." Armando informed him. "Assurances from Liz Torres herself."
"Liz Torres?" Luis asked knowing that name. "Hold up-"
"Luis Lopez, if it ain't you." Clarence spotted the Afro-Dominican with a smirk as he added an remark. "Mr. Queer Bitch."
At was at this point that the meeting had attracted some attention, as some of the participants in the gym happened to be hearing the obvious slur out loud. Even when North Holland wasn't the most open-minded area, they however knew that an insult like that could be deadly.
And in a place like this part of town - Words matter.
"Excuse me?" Luis replied, as he insisted then. "Please, repeat that again for me."
"You heard me, fool. You may not work up in the corners no more, but I keep hearing you was spotted down the Hercules club." Clarence made a smug grin as he rubbed it in. "I heard you were doing time for a while, but that you got hit up in the pen?"
"I manage clubs, Chicken Little." Luis shot back. "You barely run a block, and quite frankly, I don't give a fuck what you think."
"Ohhhh…"
That could be heard from some of the spectators who were close enough to hear it. The comment got even the two friends of Luis to be silent, voluntarily or not.
"The fuck you say?" Clarence asked now pissed. "What did you call me?"
"Like you said, dumb fuck, you heard me." Luis used his words against the dealer as followed. "I called you Chicken Little. Because it honestly fits with you. You undercooked punk!"
It was then one of Clarence's guys burst in, wearing a skeleton jacket with black baggies, he was seen ready for a squabble.
"Wanna throw it down, bitch, because I'm ready!" Clarence said shooting his shoulders back. "Come on!"
"Try it, bitch-"
"ENOUGH!"
The two beefing men stopped their bad-mouthing at each other when they heard that loud voice, and it was coming from the back.
Slowly, everyone inside the gym made way for one big black man, who stood tall around 6 ft 6 and was largely build muscular than any other person in there that was working out, and it made up for the fact that he was in the prime of his life. With a goatee and combed back blonde hair.
Walking on the floor with his bare feet that also weren't short of muscles, the large man was recognized instantly by Henrique.
"Oh shit, its A…"
"Yeah…" Armando agreed. "It's him alright…."
Ay, but also known as A, was the name of the muscular build, and he was no small-name in here. A Heavyweight champion with multiple belts to prove it, he's the local hero in the North Holland area with him having gone across the world to fight and participate in championships while travelling.
He was a martial artist, having started his career as a wrestler who soon took a interest in Eastern fighting styles while touring Korea, Japan and Taiwan. All the while debuting in combat tournaments across the East coming home with several championships under his belt.
After winning multiple tournaments, and finishing a career in professional fighting. Ay could've gone and move out of the neighborhood and moved to a better part south of Middle Park.
Yet he didn't move. He decided to settle in back in North Holland, set up a gym and be somehow of a pillar in his old neighborhood, and try to get other youths a better path than the ones that often lead up to their early demise.
Kikanbō no Ē was the name he was given in Japan and soon went around the world, but in English it meant A the Unruly.
Walking up in the middle of the room, the black Shuriken tattoos on Ay were visible, as was the clear frown on his face. Clearly not happy by what he was seeing, he turned to the troublemakers.
"I don't know what's going on here, but under my none of what that you're doing in my gym. "Ay made a clear state warning to both parties. "Either one of you leave my gym now, or else…"
Not much was needed to be said in that room, as both Clarence and Luis both knew exactly who Ay was, and the tension began to break off.
Without much of a word, Clarence turned around and went for the exit, with his backup following along, they both got out through the door.
"Hey, the guy with the skull jacket, I remember him." Henrique whispered to Armando. "That's Clarence's chief lieutenant, isn't it?"
"Yes, Chauncey, that's him."
The Marbelle was then seen leaving with Clarence in the backseat, but the chief lieutenant seen giving a clear glare at the gym - almost like he was glaring at the Dominicans.
"Chauncey, also better known as Chance." Armando said clearly with an equal glare. "Fucker better drive, stupid bitch…"
"Hey, stop talking bullshit, okay?" Luis says to his friends. "Shit's over now, be cool."
"Funny, coming from you." Armando voiced up. "You're the one calling him Mr. Chicken Little, L. So you don't get to talk about staying cool."
Henrique's dry laugh however didn't help as he mentioned. "That shit was funny though."
"Shut up, and come. Teddy's gotta hear this." Armando said as he made his way to the door. "See you later, L."
"See you later, man."
Luis waved them off. "Check you later."
The two Dominicans left also through the front door, getting to their own ride across the street with no traffic.
"Guess I'll just walk home then." Luis said as he walked up to the door.
"Luis Lopez."
The Afro-Dominican stopped his track when he saw that he got approached from behind by Ay himself.
"Hey, Sensei." Luis addressed him with the old title he used to call him with. "Been a while."
"That it has been, kid." Ay responded to his old pupil. "You busy by any chance?...
….
*Clap!*
Both men held each other's hand and gripped it hard, equally. Exchanging handshakes.
Ay smiled at his old student and asked. "Got time to chat? I haven't seen you around in a long time."
"Sure, I'd like that." Luis returned the genuine smile for the old man. "Lot's to catch up to."
While one pair of old acquaintances were getting to go back to their memories, some sinister ones are popping up in another part of town.
With Naruto
It having been a few days after the whole Albanian situation was resolved. The wounds were about to be fully healed.
Now in his own place in the basement, Naruto was seen removing the old bandages around his arm for a new pack now that his wounds were healing properly thanks to the few days off of rest and medical care he did to himself. That was one of the skills he took while having gone overseas. Because not only was it useful in battlefield in like Iraq, but also in places closer than you'd expect.
Like in a bar down all the way in Los Santos.
Flashback
One years ago
*CLACK!*
The sound of a shot glass being put on the counter sounded harder than it needed to be. As the one who did it have just drank the small substance in one go in front of the bartender.
Seen wearing now some gray cameo cargo pants with brown military boots, Naruto stood out with his black bandana around his head but also the Merryweather patch on his black shirt that got some uncomfortable looks.
And where was he? He was having a small break in the States, precisely in the city of Los Santos. One of the most populated cities of the US and an regular stopping point for Merryweather operatives to take a break, to which he was now in Tequi-la-la, a nightclub in West-Vinewood that he got recommended by some colleagues.
"Are you good, kid?" The bartender asked while going on a run. "You look a bit irritated."
"Not irritated, just have something on my mind." Naruto said, looking up sighing. "What's it up to you?"
"Because I'm to make sure you're not scaring my customers." The bartender replied by also pointing out his thumb out.
Some customers indeed were seen taking a distance from Naruto, some more subtle while others just walked away from him.
"Mhmm, let them do it. I'm not gonna make you any problems." Naruto said as he saw his glass was empty. "Refill?"
"Yeah, I'll get a bottle." The bartender said as he walked to the back to get a new bottle.
"Man, you two are stupid!"
Hearing that from next to him, the blonde noticed that the empty spot next to him got filled by three guys who went to the counter with the middle guy, an black man in his late 30's who wore green shorts with a white shirt and a dark green cap that fits with his sneakers that had green shoelaces.
"Come on Stretch, don't act like hat." The person who replied was a long lanky guy with a green hat on with a dark green shirt and jeans with sneakers, speaking back. "You just gotta realize with what you are suggesting can't be done."
"And why the fuck not Lamar? tell me!" The older guy scolded out to the long guy. " What's wrong with that?"
"Because they Ballas, nigga! They our enemies!" The short guy, wearing a mostly yellow/white striped shirt with jeans and a short haircut responded back. "We barely can keep a truce with the fools up in Carson Avenue, let alone hold one with the Ballas."
From hearing this conversation from a good distance, Naruto could see by the colors of these guys were wearing, mostly the ones they had in common, and the topic of what these men were talking about. All three of them were members of the Families' gang of Los Santos.
He'd been informed by some of his Merryweather colleagues who were LS-natives about the city's notorious gang problem. With the wise word of making sure to take as much distance from any of these gang members as possible.
Unfortunately, he didn't like much of his colleagues and he didn't approach the gang members, they approached him.
But most importantly, he was not planning on stepping away, not at least until he got his drink.
""I need to use the restroom," the middle guy groaned as he walked off and told them. "Wait here for me, punks."
As the two were left alone, the long one leaned up against the counter as his friend cursed the cussed guy off.
"Man, go fuck yourself." He turned to his long friend. "I still don't see why you watch out for him, Lamar."
"Because, he's a OG, nigga. From the Set." His hat-wearing friend reminded him. "He was a soldier when you and I were still in diapers."
"Yeah, but he must've had his brain busted up while he was in the pen, thinking a united front can work."
"Well, to be fair, Frank. We are kinda outnumbered by the Eses, and we ain't doing good like the homies back in the day, our numbers are dropping with the Mexicans rising across LS."
"Yeah, but what can you do about it?"
"Nothing really, just live by it."
The two gang members turned their heads, seeing it came from the blonde with the black shirt, he was just being given his refill with alcohol as he then continued to speak.
"From what I am able to figure out, your friend is trying to suggest a united front between the Ballas and the Families to unite against the larger Hispanic street gangs," Naruto said as he took a sip from his drink. " am I correct?"
"Hold up, white boy, what's it up to you?" The long guy asked straight up with suspicion. "You police or something."
Naruto instead of letting himself be intimated by this guy, who clearly wasn't messing around, instead decided to play the smart part: diplomacy.
"Bartender, two more for these guys here."
10 minutes later
From a near confrontation to now a normal conversation, Naruto was getting to know these two guys while buying drinks for them and explaining a thing or two. Of course with a little introduction.
Lamar Davis, he was the long guy with the green cap and he looked like an short-fused gang banger with no second thoughts. To which he was, but he was also with that an pretty funny guy who you could hang out with.
The other guy was his best friend, partner-in-crime and fellow Davis High school classmate named Franklin Clinton. Who unlike Lamar was the more intelligent of the two in a sense, but also as often hardheaded when it comes to trying to survive on the streets of South LS.
"So that's why you don't need to worry about this Black/Brown race war bullshit. From my perspective as I can say." Naruto said after having finished explaining his reasons for the projected fear the (still gone) Stretch made while arguing to his guys.
"I'm sorry, dog, but I am drunk." Lamar excused himself, a bit tipsy sure, but was too afraid to actually admit the reasons were complicated to understand. "Can you tell me again why again? Because honestly, we our outnumbered by them."
"Nigga, pay attention." Franklin said to his friend, having listened word for word. "He's saying we've ALWAYS been outnumbered by the Eses. both in demographics and soldiers."
Lamar then just admitted. "I'm still confused."
"Alright, let me explain again." Naruto puts his glass down. "From World War II to the 1970s. African Americans were the second-biggest minority group in LS, spanning from South Central, Davis and other parts."
"Right…"
"But then, in the 80's, you see two major things occurring in LS." Naruto raised two fingers up. "One is the rise of Crack Cocaine, meaning the violence in the city intensified, including in many black neighborhoods. And two: a major new influx of Spanish-speaking immigrants from South and Central America."
"You mean the El Salvadorians, Guatemalans, Hondurans and Colombians?" Franklin asked.
Lamar looked at his friend Franklin really confused, as he knew that this wasn't mentioned.
"How?"
"Read a book, nigga." Franklin responded. "Because that's when Marabunta Grande popped up."
"Oh….." Lamar remembered, the Maras were the vicious Central American gang that was on its own level pretty vicious, even to LS gang standards. "But I don't see why that's the main problem for our numbers to drop? Eses always were fighting against each other."
"That wasn't a major problem, until the 92' riots." Naruto brought up, knowing that subject alone was a pretty tense one. "I know this is an often overlooked topic, so-"
"Man, we were not even five years old when that shit happened." Franklin cleared him. "So tell."
"Alright. Let me ask you two a question then. " Naruto asked. "What were the two major consequences that happened after those riots?"
"I don't know," Lamar guessed. "Police crackdowns and the gangster rap?"
"Well, that first one can be added…" Naruto slightly wanted to disagree but kept on topic and added. "But it was the Hispanic gangs beginning to take orders from the prison leadership and the beginning of the migration of South LS African Americans out."
…
"Huh, now you say it like that, It makes sense." Lamar said turning his back to Franklin. "Half my mom's folks moved out, so did my neighbor and Tanisha's grandparents."
"Nigga this is common knowledge." Franklin told his friend. "Just look at how far LS is from the border, and you get it pretty much why the Eses outnumber us."
"Man, you know I don't pay attention to that, neither do you, Frank." Lamar spoke back. "Like you are the expert in that."
*Click!*
A plate of drinks was placed in front of the three as it contained not only beer, but also some warm snacks with some dip sauce in small bowls.
"This one's on the house." The same bartender who was there earlier said to Naruto with a smile. "Thanks for serving our country."
What the bartender said caused the two youngsters to look at the blonde guy, and noticed then the symbol on his black shirt.
"Thanks, but I'll pay." Naruto said pulling out his wallet and putting a few notes of fifties on the counter. "Keep the rest."
"But-"
"Please, sir. Spare the free snacks for the servicemen." Naruto complied as he shoved the folded cash up front. "I'm just a merc on a break from Baghdad…"
The bartender stood in silent for a moment before he then took the man's word and took the money, with Naruto then pulling the plate with food to the center of the counter.
"Enjoy." Naruto said as he grabbed a piece of chicken and ate it.
"Wait, a minute hold on." Lamar was now fully on question-mode. "You went to Iraq?"
"That I did." Naruto casually answered while munching his snack down. "Went there in '04, have just finished my third tour, bout to start my fourth in a few weeks."
"Third? For real?" Franklin asked surprised. "You went to Iraq three times?"
Naruto nodded. "Four later. In a few weeks."
This left Lamar and Franklin to glance at each other, blinking to get the astonishment of the fact they were just hearing this.
Before they then could ask further question, an sudden move by a bypassing bald black guy happened-
BUMP!
….
*CLANK!*
By accident, the man bumped into Lamar's shoulder, causing him to drop his drink and starting an unneeded altercation.
"Hey you-Lamar Davis?" The bald black guy recognized him and slurred. "Bitch what the fuck you doing out here?"
"What the-" Lamar stood up and quickly saw the guy he knew. "Big T, the fuck you doing here?"
"Doing this!"
PUNCH!
Lamar got taken by surprise as he got punched right in the face, causing him to fall down and knock some seats over.
"Lamar!"
'Families ain't sh-*CRACK!*" Big T's sneer died when he got a beer bottle smashed on his head from behind, by Franklin who didn't hesitate to help a homie in need.
"Fuck you!" Franklin grabbed the Balla and threw him away from the counter and towards the dance floor, causing all the dancers to get out of the way by the sight of the gang banger bleeding.
"Franklin Clinton." Big T recognized the short guy. "Another Forum Drive Family bitch!"
"How about you go and fuck off, nigga?" Franklin told him off as Lamar began to stand up next to him. "Leave now or you'll regret it."
Then out of nowhere, a couple of Big T's guys showed up from the crowd, three in total as they all wore Ballas colors. It then became a standoff between the four Ballas against the two Family guys who were forced against the corner.
"Lamar, you good?" Franklin asked for help. "I could use some backup."
Holding his nose, Lamar felt blood dripping out through his hand that held it. Glaring at the Ballas with an intent to hurt.
"I'm good Frank…for now…"
Naruto was watching from the sidelines as he could expect this to go wrong, with the two opposing sides about to get at each other in the middle of a nightclub, ready to brawl it out. But he noticed something odd.
One, where was security?
And secondly, where was this guy Stretch?
*SMASH!*
"POLICE, EVERYONE DOWN!"
End Flashback
And that, is how Naruto befriended Lamar Davis and Franklin Clinton, his first two friends from Los Santos. Through a police raid.
He founded out the police raided the nightclub in relation to the club owner being arrested for financial crimes, to which it happened to be that the gang members were caught in the middle of an scenario that could be best dubbed as 'wrong place in the wrong time.' Not only was the nightclub owner and his accountant arrested for money laundering and tax evasion, anybody else in that nightclub got hitched too.
Some were lucky like Lamar and Big T' with his guys, who all just jailed for a few days in the County Jail for their gang affiliations, with the police having nothing serious on them to put them longer behind bars, they got out there soon.
That could not be said for the other two like Franklin and the older guy Stretch, who both were arrested. Each for a different reason. As Stretch had a warrant out for him for parole violations and an conspiracy charge that landed him an automatically 5 years prison term.
Franklin however didn't get off easy. He was fighting a Murder charge of a drug dealer named Marcus he was accused of killing, with him possible facing a Life sentence in Bolingbroke. But that murder case quickly fell apart as they couldn't connect Franklin to it and he was cleared from that. He still needed to serve two years for possession, merely because he was a first offender he got off easy.
*BONK!* *BONK!* *BONK!* *BONK!*
Naruto's head turned to the metal door that was being knocked on hard by whoever it was.
"Hey Naruto, it's me, Niko." He spoke from the other side of the door. "I'm hungry, let's get something to eat."
"Sure," Naruto answered with an idea. "I know a place."
10 Minutes later
"Order is ready!" A woman behind the counter shouted as she brought out two wrapped up sandwiches that were given to two customers who had ordered it.
The 69th Street Diner was an restaurant that was just around the corner and it was fairly popular despite its 1950s interior and old school trailer-like sales' pitch.
Naruto and Niko were the next in line to await for their order as they were having a discussion about what happened in the past two days while the blonde was resting and lying low in the basement.
"So you met Jermaine? That's good to hear." Naruto smiled as he wore a black baggie cargo pants with orange working boots and an open black jacket with an white shirt and orange bandana. "You drove him around?"
"Sure, we even got the police waiting for us at his garage. It was fun." Niko replied as he shook his head. "I swear that I lost the cops only a couple of blocks away, in ten minutes. As id they weren't even trying."
"Here is your order, sir." The waitress behind the counter spoke to Naruto.
"Thank you, ma'am." Naruto accepted the two wrapped up sandwiches and gave the right amount of change to her as he then handed over one to Niko. "Enjoy it."
"Sure." Niko responded as he took the wrappings off and began to take a bite from the food.
"Also, that's the LCPD for you, if you're wondering." Naruto said as they both made their way out towards the exit. "In a city like this, you kinda see why criminals often feel like they're roaming free."
The two exited the diner and were making their way towards Roman's business, as it now was time for Naruto to get back to work.
Roman's depot
After a few days of rest for his ribs' sake, Roman was sitting behind the counter on his own while taking phone calls and trying to stay in contact with his drivers across town.
"Head into town, I don't give a fuck if the bridge is busy, you're a cab driver!" Roman shouted through the radio comms before he dropped that down.
Just then when Niko and Roman entered for him to nice.
"Hey." Roman waved them in a calm voice, fast given the stress that was in his mouth before he then again moved to the ringing phone and answered it. "Hello, Roman Bellic Enterprises…"
"Is he always like this?" Niko asked Naruto whilst they both sat down, watching Roman work. "I mean, when he's not gambling?"
"Oh sure, he works for his money hard." Naruto replied. "He even does fares himself often, but It's how he handles cash is what caused Dardan and Vlad."
"-No, I'm not gay." Roman replied to the phone, funny in midst-sentence. "Yes, I'll… I'll tell him."
Niko couldn't help but laugh at that for a short moment wit Naruto who also couldn't suppress a smirk as the older man went up to get a drink from the automate. Just then when Roman picked back up his radio comms to talk to one of his drivers.
"Car Seven, head to South Slopes." Roman barked orders. "Come on, where are you, Mohammed?"
"You know he's keeping radio silence. Roman." Naruto smiled looking up. "He hears you, but he won't respond."
"How is it he's the second-best driver I got?" Roman asked the valid question out. "Except for you, he's the only one to actually make me good money."
"Who knows, man…" Naruto looked over to see Niko trying to shake the automate down for a can of soda that wasn't coming out and getting a bit frustrated by the machine.
"Hold on, let me."
Niko turned his head and saw Naruto did an high kick with his foot against the soda machine, causing it to swing a bit before then a can to come out - just the one he wanted.
"Here you go."
"Thanks." Niko said as he grabbed for the can and opened it. Naruto went back to down on the bench with his arms crossed behind him and took the time to watch the business unfold.
"Fucking battery, this is chaos!" Roman shouted as he puts his phone to the ground. "Only thing new here is this computer."
"Well, be glad to know that modernization was coming soon." Naruto commented.
"Huh?" Roman reacted confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that in a few years you'll be buying different phones that might be more of use to you in the future." Naruto told him. "You'd be surprised by the technology that's coming out in the next five years."
"Pfft, perhaps you're right. But we're in the present now. With problems that need fixing." Roman argued before then saying. "Speaking of which, Niko, Naruto. I got a favor for both of you to ask."
Niko turned around with his can. "What is it, Roman?"
"It's Little Jacob, he needs a ride and could use some help." Roman informed them. "Normally I was planning on Niko to have him drive but I think it's a good opportunity for you to get to know Jacob. He's waiting on Oneida Avenue in South Slopes. Naruto, you know the spot, mind joining?"
Seeing that both guys were looking at each other for a moment, it was Naruto who shrugged.
"Sure, why not? But I'm driving." Naruto said taking charge and moving up to the car. "I'll be waiting there."
This left the two Bellic Cousins by themselves for a moment, as Niko planned to make his way out to
"I'll be going-"
"Niko, before you go." Roman stopped him and got his attention. "We really need to talk more, you know what I mean."
Niko, not needing to figure out much what his cousin meant by that, answered then.
"Sure, but another time."
Then another phone call went off on Roman's monitor as Niko made his way off, Roman thought it was finally Mohammed as he answered it.
"Mohammed, where the fuck are-" Roman then made a terrible realization, "Oh! Miss Weinstock, no, no, not you…" He changed his tone as he spoke. "what can I do for you today?"
Outside the office
Once the engine started running, the car started moving as Naruto's Esperantos was seen coming out of the depot with both men in it.
Naruto drove out with his hand on the steering wheel. "Where Little Jacob hangs out is on Oneida Avenue, at the west entrance of Outlook Park."
"Alright, let's go." Niko waved his hand off.
The Esperantos took off as it only needed to drive a couple of streets, giving enough time for at least Niko to ask some questions.
"This guy Little Jacob, is he okay? Or is he another guy Roman owes money too?"
Naruto for once could smile and say. "No, there is no need to worry about that. In fact he's one of Roman's best friends, and mine too. Legit good guy, dependable. Just smokes too much."
"Smokes too much?" Niko wondered. "What?"
"What Jamaicans are known to smoke for - ganja straight from Kingston." Naruto said with an unintentional smirk on his face. "He'll admit it himself he smokes a bunch of it, but when he helps a friend in need, his eyes are as sharp as it can be."
Niko took his word and responded. "If you say so…"
"We're here."
With the car stopping right outside the western gate entrance of Outlook Park, there stood a man waiting next to it.
Wearing a large old brown jacket with a black shirt that has a green and yellow flag on it and a pair of beige pants that are lightly held with a black belt and with beige shoes. This man was dark skinned and had long black dreadlocks that were tied up in a knot and had a goatee as he wore dark tinted glasses.
This was Little Jacob. The Rasta from Schottler.
*Honk!*
The sound of the horn being honked got the Jamaican man to then notice the car and the occupants inside of it as he walked up to the backseat.
"Yo Naruto." Jacob entered the backseat. "wha gwan, Mi bredren?"
"Hey Jacob, been awhile." Naruto responded, giving him a fist. "Doing good, how's Badman?"
"Him doin good, Ruto my boy, he good." Jacob said closing the door and noticing Niko. "Who's he?"
"That's Roman's cousin." Naruto introduces the two to each other. "Niko, this is Little Jacob. Jacob, this is Niko Bellic."
Niko turned a bit around to offer his hand. "Pleasure to meet you."
Jacob responded by giving a fist bump to him before asking. "Alright breda, forward a Dillon Street, in Schottler."
The black cab drove forwards as it started making its way towards Schottler, with them having to drive past the northern lane of Outlook Park.
"Ya Niko? The one me man Roman's been talking about all this time?" Little Jacob asked the Bellic. "Cousin Niko, gonna help Roman take over de world and ting?"
"I guess so." Niko stated, barely able to understand, for the better term, his dialect.
"Respect. Alright, alright." Little Jacob nodded his head and gave the details. "We going to this spot where I need ya two to wait for I, seen?"
Naruto asked. "The usual?"
"Nah, breda. A meeting, One on One." Jacob said as he then began to reach for his belt. "I gotta ask ya another favor, too."
"Go for it." Niko replied. Then seeing that the Jamaican pulling out from his pants, two Glock pistols out. One of which he just pulled back the slide to ready it after having loaded a magazine into it.
"Can you take dis piece?" Little Jacob offered the gun he just loaded. "Ya hear any ting bad going down, you come and help, sight?"
The cab then happened to enter Schottler, just a couple of streets away from one of the usual Yardie spots that was known around here.
"Are you worried about this?" Niko accepted the piece and checked it for himself while talking to the Rasta. "I know how to use a gun if you want me to keep watch on things."
"Realness brother, you are me man Roman's cousin. Thanks, respect." Jacob thanked Niko as he turned his eyes. "Ruto, mind being mi backup during dis meet?"
"I thought you said it was an one-o-one." Naruto asked for clarification. "You don't trust these guys?"
Jacob, seen taking a drag from his small joint that was nearly done then replied. "This ras clot has a rukus with me breden Real Badman de other day. I want to make peace, but Jah know what type of shit they might pull off."
Niko gave his colleague a look of 'I do not understand it' to which Naruto knows Jacob's dialect is difficult.
"Let's just say there is a conflict that we might need to intervene." Naruto summarized to him as he noticed the road.
Turning up on Dillon St, the cab now had entered a small alley that was big enough for one car to be parked in, with a few steps that lead to the meeting point.
"Here it is."
….
Few minutes later…
With a few moments of silence, it was seen where Niko was standing, above some lookout point where a broken brick wall was. Overlooking the area where Naruto and Little Jacob were standing.
While Niko was seen checking his firearm, it was then the two friends were seen discussing something by their own.
"Jacob, you alright?" Naruto asked his friend, having his own piece strapped behind in the belt, with safety on of course. "I haven't heard from you and Badman lately, what gives?"
Little Jacob, the smoker that he was is no exception to the rest of the dread-haired Jamaican gangsters who were normally chill, but when one wasn't in that mood, it clearly was that something was wrong.
"Been every ting lately, Ruto. Don't know ow to begin." Jacob started as he breathed out the smoke. "Right now, if you heard. Elizabeta preparing dis meeting, but us Rastas too busy to come."
(I know that, Patios is difficult to understand, apologizes to any Jamaican readers. But I got this from a Patios' translation site.)
"Elizabeta's calling a meeting? That's for the first time." Naruto asked, wondering what's up with that given she and Jacob are to an extent competitors but on good terms. "Who's coming to the meeting?"
"Tch, I don't know, I heard sum youths from North Holland and East Holland, and some Dominicans, maybe dem Spanish Lords too..." Jacob named up some groups he could name. "I and Badman also got reached, but we in some deep dispute wid our own people, sight."
Naruto could guess. "You and Badman still got some trouble with the other possess?"
For context, the group Jacob belonged to in Liberty City were known with many names: The Yardies, the Hillside Posse or just the Jamaican Posse were often dubbed as one big group of Jamaican or Jamaican-American drug dealers who were long known to be active in the East Coast city of the US.
Only they weren't one big entity, but mostly a coalition of Jamaican posses and crews that were involved in criminal enterprises in the Beechwood City/Schottler area where the Jamaican community was strongly embedded. Their normal criminal activities were from selling smuggled Jamaican cannabis to Cocaine that they were long known for in this city, but also other crimes that didn't involved drugs like prostitution and violent armed robberies.
Little Jacob himself is an known affiliate of this loose coalition, with his best friend and heavyweight in the organization, Teafore Maxwell-Davies AKA Real Badman. As both have done everything from armed robberies to fighting off enemy gang members from a young age, they both now were well established gangsters, with Badman being a big shot within the Yardies, having customers from Schottler to South Bohan.
Of course, with that high spot, came its enemies, often from jealous friends then far away rivals…
*Step!* *Step!*
The sound of footsteps alerted the two men as they turned their attention to the only entrance to this alleyway, and there they saw a pack of three Jamaicans coming down the staircase.
Two of them were seen wearing army fatigues with the wearing a bright red shirt with an Rasta bam hat, while the leading guy was standing out as he wore an bright blue suit with black tie and fedora hat.
"What dis?" Jacob spoke out, seeing three of them. "I thought there was only going to be one of yous coming?"
"Jacob, Jacob, Jacob…" The blue suit wearing Yardie's face turned into a sneer. "we have te teach Badman his lesson and ting."
And then before a response could be given, the three arrivals pulled out their own pistols.
"Shit!"
The three Yardies started shooting, luckily for Naruto and Jacob that they both ducked right for cover behind a dumpster as the bullets started flying. With a couple of bullets whistling above them or hitting the walls next to them.
"Kill them fools!" The suit wearing gangster shouted as he unloaded his clip at the dumpster.
Then Niko came out of his cover and started blasting, having his aims first for the middle guy with the army fatigues.
*PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!*
Those three first shots coming from the veteran hit the gangster in the back, none missed as he guy fell dead on his stomach with three holes across his back, causing the other two Yardies to spot Niko.
"Bumbaclot! We got ya another one!" The suited Jamaican went into cover behind some trashcans. "Deal with hem before Jacob!"
The bright red shirt Yardie also got into cover behind the broken cabinet and fired a shot that was lousy, before he then aimed directly at Niko's position. Firing four more shots-
*PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!*
with the fourth shot hitting a loose brick next to the position Niko's was in. he was forced to duck for cover.
The Yardie thought he hit Niko when he saw his body drop, but he was forgetting he was letting his back exposed-
-As Naruto was seen coming out from his cover and he had his own Glock out and aimed.
"Look out!"
The warning came too late as Naruto already got into firing position and began firing multiple shots from his covering position at the red shirted Yardie, with oover eight shots being fired.
*PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!* *PANG!*
The amount of bullets hitting the Yardie's chest was enough to take him out before he could even hit the ground, killing him fast.
"Shit! Shit! SHIT!" The suit wearing gangster began shooting around with his gun, covering behind the trans can. "Imma put you down!"
Naruto was forced into cover again, but this time it was Jacob's time to come out with his piece.
"Bumbaclot-"
*BANG!*
A bullet shredded through the blue suited Yardie's face, with the bullet having hit the nose and shredding through the left eye socket, the bullet didn't nearly enter his head but it had taken him out temporarily as he laid down on the ground.
Jacob was seen walking up towards the downed gangster. Slowly raising the gun up, Jacob's fingers tweaked at the sight of the twitching body.
* BANG!*
Another shot fired at the Yardie, this time the bullet hit the skull, directly in the forehead. with the bullet even going in as far into the brain with the crunching sound heard grimly.
The twitching ended along with the gangster's life. At the end of Little Jacob's hands.
SLAM!
On top of a rooftop came out another Yardie with a gun, and he had his eyes sight on Jacob-
*BANG!*
…
But before he could've fired a single shot, the Yardie felt his own gut and then fell off the rooftop to the ground level as he landed on his head.
That last shot happened to come from Niko, who had come out from his cover and taken out the last Yardie.
One hour later
North Holland
Just when night was coming to Liberty City, it was then that the Kumo Gym was coming to a closing time with most of the gym members already gone, with the only cars parked outside being that of the residents who live above the gym or the buildings next to them.
Then coming out of the main entrance was Luis who had basically spent his whole day at the Gym by working out and having caught up on old times with his old mentor and anyone else who was still a paying member here.
"Luis, wait up!"
The Afro-Dominican turned around to see the tall Ay coming out of the gym with something in his hand.
"Your new subscription." Ay said handing the card over to him. "You bought one and going to forget it here on your first day?"
"Oh shit, thanks." Luis accepted it and puts the card away and noticed the lights being turned off. "Everyone almost out?"
"Except for two others who are closing it down." Ay said as he asked then. "But why the sudden hurry? You've been here for a few hours already."
Just at the end of the street, a Brown Marbelle, the same one from hours earlier. It was slowly making its way through the street and towards the Gym….
Nothing that the two men were expecting as they were still talking, just when then the two women who were closing up shop were seen coming out.
"Well my job is mostly working at night. That's why." Luis explained. "I work in nightclubs mainly, Maisonette 9 and Hercules."
"Wait, you really work in those clubs?" The blonde person, Samui asked while using her towel that was around her neck to dry up her neck from the shower. "Do you know by any chance a person named Naruto Uzumaki?"
Luis raised an eyebrow but answered. "Sure, he works security time to times. Often a driver also. Why?"
"Because, we cannot reach him, that's why." Karui said crossing her arms. "We've been told he works there and we got to talk to him."
Luis took a good look at the two women and noticed that by their looks, they were quite quality women. And by what he found out what these women do - them being military: it wouldn't be out of the question that Naruto would be befriended 'to a degree' with both of them.
It was no secret Naruto while at work, was getting glances from some of the female visitors that were eyeing him as a piece of candy, mainly when he would throw out or bring VIP's to safety. Given even Tony was often teasing him of having Naruto as competition in having the attention of females.
But that was for another time.
"Well, I got his phone number if you want. But he's not in Algonquin at the moment." Luis told them ahead. "He's stuck in Broker again."
VROOOOOM!
The loud sound of a car's engine and tire squealing, made the four turning aroun and see a Marbelle coming up fast to them.
And hanging out the shotgun window was a man with a ski mask, armed with an Uzi!
"GET DOWN!"
SURNAME: Raika
FIRST NAME: "A" (First name unknown)
AGE: 46
PLACE OF BIRTH: North Holland, Algonquin.
AFFILIATIONS: Dominican and African American Street Gangs, although his Gym is considered Neutral Territory
CRIMINAL RECORD:
1992-Harbouring a Suspect
1994-Assault
2000-Possession Controlled Substance- Steroids
NOTES:
-Has ties to Northwood, North Holland and Vespucci Circus drug gangs, though is seen as a Mediator between them.
-Believed to have become addicted to steroid use during 6 month stint for Assault.
-Known to have drawn the ire of Clarence Little, possible Assassination attempt on him recently.
-Community Leader, has trialled a Youth Off The Street program.