These are all the events, leading to chapter one.. Now that I have a true opening to my "series", I felt I really had to add this..
This story is part of a collection of other ones, making it a miniseries. The series is set in the fictional world of the video game series Grand Theft Auto (GTA), which itself is a fictionalized version of America, one which is overrun by crime, corruption, and gang violence. It runs on Grey on Grey mortality, as unfortunately, finding true morally good heroes are a rarity. Most of them are amongst our protagonists.
Our story follows a bunch of troubled and flawed characters, as they try to survive and rise through the criminal underworld. Over time we watch our band of misfits slowly come together and become their own gang, or mini-mafia if you will. Led by Michael Townley, a "retired" bank robber who started making moves again.
But we won't meet Michael until much later, first we meet Dash and Sally, the Lucia sisters..
Dash Lucia hit rock bottom after she was expelled from school for not only fighting, but she broke the other girl's leg in said fight. Since then her problems with alcoholism had begun. Not only does it affect her ability to get a normal job, but it's the root of most of problems in general. She's just too stubborn to accept that she has a problem.
Meanwhile, we also meet her sister Sally, who is known as the nicer sister. Far more affable and merciful than Dash. Sally's not without her own addiction though, she's a heavy Marijuana user. But unlike Dash, Sally doesn't try to deny it and would be more than willing to get help if the need arises.
The girls are sisters, but could not be mistaken for twins. Sally is the older one, but she's also shorter. And while they both have green eyes, Dash's eyes are light and normal looking, not very distinctive. While Sally's eyes are distinctive, they are a very dark green, something unique to only her. It's arguably the most beautiful thing about her.
Dash is a goth girl, with black nails and has dirty unkempt dark black hair, and usually wears an old beanie hat on her head, which is also dirty. Dash is actually quite an attractive woman, but she seems to more or less go out of her way to look almost homeless, almost like she's trying to hide this fact.. Though ironically it can still be attractive depending on who you ask.
Sally is much more put together than her sister, and by comparison, a bit more normal. Though she always wears a backwards baseball cap, it's basically her thing.
Dash is also covered in tattoos, which practically cover all her arms. Sally only has 3 or 4, most of them hidden.
Anyway, the girls, now in their late 20's early 30's, live together in a small townhouse in Los Santos, which is this universe's California. It's not far from Strawberry, the street where Franklin Clinton lives with his aunt. But again, we'll get to him later.
"...Liberty City? I hear that place is awful." Dash said to her sister, who suggested Dash should move there. As you probably guessed, Liberty City is the New York of this universe.
"I know Dash, but.. I see you, you don't seem happy here." Sally admitted.
"Fine, I'll start packing, what suitcase do you want?" Dash asked quietly.
"No, I, it's just you, I..."
"Fine, whatever, just remember to write." Dash groaned, rather dryly and she headed upstairs. Sally sighs to herself, grabs one of her joints and opens a window for air.
Later that day, Sally was in the kitchen, cooking something for dinner while Dash was still upstairs, presumably still packing.
However, what they didn't realize was that Sally leaving that window open turned out to be a mistake, as a masked intruder sneaked through it. Wearing all black, including old leather gloves and a classic ski mask.
While looking around for valuables, he hears the toilet flush and Sally exits the bathroom, returning to the kitchen. The man grabs her halfway and blocks her mouth, hearing a small muffled scream.
"Shut up" the man threatened, showing her he has a handgun. Sally nodes, and he slowly releases her.
"You know how this goes sweetheart, whatever you have, in the bag." the masked man said calmly, holding out an old grocery bag he had on him.
"Y -Your wasting your time, I'm broke," Sally admitted, and she wasn't joking. Unfortunately, the only money they have left is being used on the plane ride. Honestly, they are living on borrowed time when it comes to the house.
"Hmm.. Now that's gonna be a problem" The man said, still disturbingly calm.
Sally tried convincing the creepy man to just leave, and that she was not worth his time.
"Oh, but you are." The man smirked.
"What -what do you mean?" Sally cried nervously.
"It means, take your top off, let's see what you got. Cause one way or another, I'm getting something I want." the man said pervertedly.
"Fuck you!" Sally cried angrily.
The man's pistol-whipped her across the head, making Sally fall over. Her baseball cap is still on.
"I mean it, lady! Take it off!" The man ordered.
Sally simply flipped him the middle finger, her fingers were shown to have light green nail polish.
"Guess we have to do this the hard way." the man said, only to get a tap on the back shoulder.
The robber turned behind him, seeing Dash just before she whacked him violently across the side of the head with the still-hot frying pan, knocking the food all over the place, and the man ended up smashing his head onto the corner of the stove.
"Dash.. I -I think you killed him" Sally said nervously.
Dash is surprisingly unfazed by this info, simply saying "Well that's what he gets."
Sally is silent, as Dash picks her back up. Sally checked her head, and no damage thankfully.
"You okay?" Dash asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Sally replied and grabbed whatever food was still clean and threw them in the sink, washing it.
"We uh.. We better eat now," Sally said, a bit timidly.
"Fine, hang on," Dash said, casually taking the body and taking it to a nearby dumpster.
SEVERAL WEEKS LATER:
Whilst Sally continued in Los Santos. Dash did indeed move to Liberty City, and her first week was relatively uneventful. However, proving her alcoholism, one of the first things Dash does upon arriving to a new city is visit local bars, drinking her problems away.
One day she runs into a local African American woman, Elizabeth Torris, a drug dealer who actually proved to be quite nice, and becomes one of the only friends Dash has down here, even becoming Dash's landlord and letting Dash stay in the guest room. Eventually though, Elizabeth does have a catch.
"... I have a way for you to get money.. But it involves doing my deals for me." Elizabeth insisted.
"Dealing? As in drug dealing? I'm sorry Liz, I'm not a drug dealer, there must be another way." Dash insisted.
"Afraid not, this is the only way I know how to make money." Elizabeth admitted.
"Take this, just in case." Elizabeth said, handing Dash a standard Glock pistol, one of the most common pistols of Liberty City, as where it's more of 1911's at San Andreas.
"You know how to use it?" Elizabeth asked.
"Target range champion of 2006" Dash admitted.
"Really?" Elizabeth said in surprise.
"Yes, but I never shot anyone before." Dash cried nervously.
"When the chance comes, you won't have time to think about it, your instincts take over and you just do it.. But anyway, even though I don't trust this McKenny guy, hopefully it won't come to that.. My men will watch out for you Dash" Elizabeth insisted.
"If you don't trust your dealer, then why do you trust me?" Dash asked.
"You're a nice girl, I can tell," Elizabeth smiled.
LATER THAT SAME EVENING:
Dash, along with 4 men Elizabeth ordered to protect her, approached another 4 men in a dark alley. In the middle of them is a normal ish looking man wearing a purple bucket hat over a black hoodie and black jeans.
"You must be Dash Lucia," the man with the hat said, showing himself as the leader.
"Uh huh, you must be Tom McKenny" Dash said, but her voice was monotone and deadpan.
"Can we get this over with?" Asked one of Elizebeth Torris's men.
"Very well, can I see the stuff?" Tom asked.
Dash nervously handed over a bag, which contained cocaine inside it. Tom opened the bag, seeing the drug and even sniffed some of it himself. The effect made him step back a bit.
"Liz sure gets the good shit!" Tom laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, Just give us the money." another one of Elizebth's men said.
"I could.. But I'd much rather just take it!" Tom laughed, and gave a hand whistle.
Out of nowhere, 4 more men came out of a corner, all with Uzi's and they opened fire, killing one of Elizebeth's men as the others quickly turned and returned fire, shielding Dash. However, Tom and his 3 friends also open fire with handguns, killing two more of Elizebeth's men, only leaving one left. Sure enough, Dash instinctively fires, managing to kill one in return. Like Torris said, Dash felt less guilt when in the heat of combat.
During all the chaos, Tom saw his chance and grabbed the bag of money and ran for it.
"You! Get back here!" Dash cried aiming her pistol at him, but before she could fire she heard the click, meaning she had to reload.
"Shit" she groaned to herself, and she reloaded.
After a chase, Dash manages to bodyslam Tom Mckenny against a wall, pinning him down as the last of Elizebeth's guards catches up.
"Give it here, give me the money. I need it more than you." Dash angrily ordered, pointing at the duffle bag of cash. But before Tom could respond a black van pulled up, and one of the passengers revealed another Uzi, and fired from the window.
The bodyguard pushed Dash out of the way, but he himself was shot twice in the chest.
"No!" Dash screamed, and catched him before he hit the ground. She didn't know very well. But he got shot defending her, and she never had someone do that. She had to save him, she owed him that.
Tom ran for the van, still with the bag of money.
Later at the Hospital:
"Miss Lucia, we are afraid your friend hasn't made it" Said an unknown doctor, as he came to Dash in the hospital's waiting room.
"Hmm.. I never did get his name." Dash admitted to both herself and the doctor.
MEANWHILE:
Back with Sally, it seems she's already being evicted from her and Dash's house. Against her better judgment, her only option left is going house to house robbing stuff, even digging up the old ski mask that once was once used to rob her, so it goes kinda full cycle in a way. Regardless she never finds anything, at most just a few bucks laying around people's houses.
Eventually she reaches the house of Franklin Clinton and his aunt down in Strawberry street, only one street away from her's.
Sneaking in, she looked through Franklin's closet for valuables, again finding nothing. "Shit." She groans and starts heading back to the open window, but before she can, she is suddenly knocked unconscious by an unseen figure.
Next thing she remembers is waking up tied to a chair and her mask forcefully removed, leading to one of the few times she's not wearing her baseball cap, she actually kinda looks prettier without it. Less tomboy.
Once her eyes focus in, she finally sees the two black men towering over. A shorter one and a taller one. The taller one had a black t-shirt and green hat. The shorter one (though he's still around 6 feet) has short buzz cut black hair and wears a white tank top, and is holding a pistol at her. Said man was Franklin Clinton himself.
"P Please, I'll just go, I promise." Sally pleads.
"Shut up, you think you can just break into my friend's house and get away with it?!" The taller one, Lamar Davis, said anxiously.
"Yeah bitch, and now we got you." Franklin said, a bit out of character actually, as he's normally a nice affable guy.
"I.. I never meant to hurt anyone" Sally insisted.
"That's what they all say." Franklin said coldly, clicking back the gun hammer. Sally whimpers and closes her eyes in fearful anticipation, silently sobbing. However, it's this very reaction that saves her life. Franklin just couldn't bring himself to do it, and he slowly lowered the gun. Sally senses this and re-opens her eyes.
"What are you doing?!" Lamar cried anxiously.
"I.. I can't do it." Franklin admitted.
"Give me the gun then" Lamar insisted, though it's likely he would have also hesitated.
"No Lamar, let her go. She got the message."
Franklin said.
"I did! I promise!" Sally pleaded.
"Fine." Lamar groaned and he reluctantly untied her, Sally slowly got up, not wanting to make any quick moves, as she didn't want to push her luck.
"What's your name lady?"
"S Sally. Sally Lucia." Sally said quitely, rubbing her now free hands.
"Alright Sally. I'm Franklin, this is Lamar." Franklin told her, Lamar gives a little quick wave.
"Okay Sally, I'll let you go, but you're working for me now." Franklin told her. "Y- Yes sir." Sally said timidly.
LIBERTY CITY/TWO WEEKS LATER:
"Up... Put. Them. Up!" Slurred a drunken Dash, and holding the Pistol Elizebeth Torris gave her, as she drunkenly tried to rob a poor convenience store cashier in a desperate attempt to make any kinda money after Tom ran off with the bag.
"Excuse me?" Came a voice, Dash turns to see a bald man with a green shirt and a thick Irish accent.
"Who the hell are you?!" Dash slurred, drunkenly pointing the gun at the new guy. Who barely reacts to the fact.
"Just one question... Does this place sell Dr Pepper?" the man asked, not even bothering to take her seriously in her condition.
"S -Shut up!.. Put your hands up! I - I will shoot you!" Dash cried.
"Shoot me then" the bald man dared her.
"I mean it, don't mov-" Dash started, only for the man to immediately snatch the gun from her and whack her over the head with it, knocking her down.
"Stay there." the man said calmly, and he threw her gun next to her, almost mockingly.
"T Thank you," The cashier replied.
"No problem.. But seriously, about that Dr Pepper?" The man asked.
"We have some in the back," The lady replied.
"You hit me!" She cried.
"You're lucky that's all I did" The bald man replied.
"Anyway.. You better get out of here, lucky for you, I'm in a good mood." He replied.
Dash nodes and stumbles away, still drunk.
SOON AFTER:
"Ohh... My head," Dash groaned, already hung over. The head injury was not helping.
"You okay Mrs?" came a sudden voice.
Dash looked over to see a young looking, red haired girl.
"Who are you?" Dash asked.
"Kate McReary," the girl replied.
"I'm Dash Lucia.. But I'm not really in a talking mood, if you don't mind." Dash replied, not feeling like meeting anybody today.
"Oh come on Miss Lucia, it's not very often I get to hang out with another girl" Kate said playfully.
"Well look somewhere else Kate.. That Irish guy should have killed me" Dash said.
"Packie? You mean my brother Packie?" Kate asked.
"Probably.. I don't care what his name was, maybe if he killed me he would spare me this hangover." Dash replied, showing how deeply depressed she is.
"Oh you're just like my brothers, why do you all have to be so miserable?" Kate asked playfully.
"What's there to be joyful about?" Dash groaned bitterly.
"Hmm, sounds to me like you can use a friend right now." Kate said, more softly.
"I don't have time for that crap." Dash said, starting to leave but Kate ran up to her, grabbing her arm as she pleaded for Dash to humor her, saying they are both lonely and could use each other.
"(sighs).. Fine, my car's over here" Dash said, leading Kate to a blue BMW, one of those really old rusty ones from the 90's.. It's ambiguous if it was a gift from Elizebeth, or if Dash herself simply stole it. But either way, it does remain her car from then on. Even after finally coming into money, Dash still keeps the old thing.
Kate opened one of the doors and a large amount of empty beers fell out.
"Jesus.." Kate thought out loud.
"What?" Dash asked.
"N -Nothing" Kate nervously replied.
"So... How about a bar?" Dash offered.
"Umm.. (looks at all the bottles) Probably not" Kate replied.
"Fine.. What about Burgershot?" Dash asked, which is this universe's version of McDonalds or Wendy's.
"Not a fast food fan, but what the hell I guess." Kate replied.
Dash started the car, the radio plays metal music, as Dash is very into the Hardcore Punk genre, about the only thing she and later character Trevor Phillips can bond over.
Kate is not but says nothing, not wanting to upset her. "Let's go." Dash said, and drove off.
SEVERAL DAYS LATER:
Things become uneventful for the next few days, least on Dash's side. She does a few more deals for Elizebeth, but these ones go successfully, not much worth telling.
Meanwhile we meet Niko Bellic, an Eastern European ex soldier who arrived at Liberty City looking for the man who betrayed his group.
Sad story Niko, he's clearly suffering from PTSD and ended up in the criminal underworld, as he felt being a mercenary hitman and killing for money was the only thing he was good at anymore.
He lives with his cousin Roman Bellic, but that's another story.
Long story short, Niko's journey eventually leads him to Elizebeth Torris, Dash's landlord and only friend so far. Which is where we pick up from.
''... So all I'm saying is she couldn't even rob a 7/11 store properly.'' Packie McCreary said, referring to Dash, who herself was hiding in her bedroom watching TV, getting drunk as usual.
"Yeah, well, thank you for keeping her alive. She's been very down on her luck." Elizabeth replied.
Suddenly Niko Bellic enters.
Niko has brown hair and hazel eyes. He has facial hair that resembles a "scruffy" looking 5 o'clock shadow, and short hair. He also always wears an old leather jacket and old blue sweatpants.
"Ah you must be the Bellic guy, I heard about you." Elizabeth said, getting up to shake hands, Niko not replying but does shake her hand.
"Alright, this handsome bum here is Packie, Packie McCreary." Elizebeth introduced, Packie giving a playful salute kinda wave from on the couch.
"Packie here is shopping. But I don't trust the people he's buying off, and I can't, in good consciousness, help him, unless he's got some extra insurance - you.''
''And that's why you're the best, darling.'' Packie chuckled, getting off the couch.
"Take Dash with you." Elizabeth insisted.
"Fine whatever." Packie groaned annoyedly, being very indifferent to said girl. "Dash lets go.. (no reply) Dash!'' Packie called out.
''Shut up, I'm watching poker!'' came a female voice from a closed door.
Packie annoyedly goes into said room, revealing it to be a guest bedroom. ''I said let's, come on''
Packie's voice cried out from in the room and he heard dragging her off the couch, acting like an annoyed parent. Dash is heard groaning, and she stumbles out of the room spilling her beer onto an already dirty shirt as she lands near Niko.
"Are you guys ready yet?" Niko asked. Dash looks over to him, only to become immediately smitten, especially in her drunken state.
''Heeey, hottie.'' Dash slurred at Niko.
''Yes, hello.'' Niko said, blushing a little.
''Dash!'' Packie annoyedly called out, already outside the apartment room and heading down the stairs.
Dash groans. ''Meet me at th- at the bar later..'' she tells Niko and stumbles out to Packie, even is heard falling down the stairs, somehow coming out no worse for the wear.
Niko reluctantly follows them.
OUTSIDE:
"Alright mate, here's the plan, I got this meeting over on Joliet Street. There's a rifle up on the roof of the place next door. You need to go up there and make sure nothing goes wrong" Packie explained.
"I suppose I can handle that," Niko insisted.
"Good man. And remember, it's your job to keep Dash and I alive, can you handle that?"
"Yeah, I think I can handle that." Niko replied.
"Don't let me down." Packie said, heading to Dash's car. Niko simply goes across the block to some roof tops.
A FEW MINUTES LATER:
Niko was seen getting into position on the rooftops, grabbing the sniper rifle already provided for him up there..
Meanwhile Dash and Packie were still in her blue car, waiting. Dash is seen trying to roll a joint of weed. She was still kinda hungover, and it usually helps.
"Allow me." Packie said, rolling it up properly for her.
"How'd you meet Liz anyway?" Packie asked.
"I only moved here a month ago, I had no contacts here, nowhere to go. Then Lizzy came along, gave me a place to call home.. Doing these jobs for her is how I pay her back." Dash replied.
"I see, but do you have any weapons?" Packie asked.
"Sure do.. She gave me a pistol." Dash replied, pulling it out to show it off.
"Good, good. You'll need it around here" Packie replied.
Suddenly another car approaches near them, and 4 men exit, entering into the alley that was set up as the meeting.
"Ah, finally, let's get to it." Packie replied, and they both got out of the car.
Dash and Packie approached the four men, but suddenly Dash stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the one in the middle.
"You!" She cried in anger and shock.
"Did you miss me sweet cheeks?" Tom McKenny, the same man from before, snarked with a mocking wink. He's still wearing the same bucket hat, so he wasn't exactly hard to recognize.
"You know him?" Packie asked.
"He robbed me!" Dash said angrily. Packie puts a comforting hand on her, wordlessly telling her to stay calm. Already did he start warming up to her.
"Just give him the stuff and we'll get it over with." Packie said, more softly than usual.
"Fine.. But don't try any funny business this time" Dash said, handing Tom the duffle bag.
"Oh please, like I'm supposed to be scared of some titless bitch." Tom laughed, while taking the bag.
"Yeah well, nobody told you to look at them, now hurry up and give us the money." Packie said annoyedly.
"And if we don't?" Tom replied.
"Then I kill you and take the money anyway."
Packie threatened, already reaching for his pistol, the same type that Dash has. Hell, most of the town has it.
"Not if I kill you first!" Tom cried, suddenly taking out his own pistol and shooting Packie in the shoulder, though he was aiming for the head. Packie shouts out in pain as he falls over. But in response Dash immediately shoots Tom right in the head, killing him.
Packie, despite his wound, immediately tackled Dash out of the way as Tom's remaining men opened fire in response.
Dash and Packie both ducked behind a nearby dumpster.
'Where the hell is Niko?' Packie thought to himself.
As if on Q, all 3 gunmen were gunned down from sniper fire. And just like that, the battle was over.
Dash gets up and walks over to Tom's corpse.
Packie holding his still bloody shoulder. Packie was shot enough times to know it's only a flesh wound, and isn't very worried about it.
"Now we're even, asshole." Dash said to Tom's corpse, grabbing the stolen duffle bag back, and with that she finally has some money. Though not much, about a thousand dollars. Which might sound like a lot, but on its own like this, it's really not.
"Well that didn't go as planned, but you proved me wrong Dash, you can handle yourself.. I might reach out to you some time, I'm sure I'll find work for someone like you." Packie said.
"Well... I guess I have nothing better to do.. Sure, why not" Dash replied.
Two weeks later, Niko is called to Elizebeth's house, where he finds her a paranoid mess and sniffing lines of cocaine.
"Hey man, this is getting out of control. The police are all over me. I can feel them." Elizabeth said, paranoidly.
"So?" Niko asked.
"So? So?! So, I'm going to go to prison, and for a long time! So, my life is over! All this work... for nothing, man. [snorts cocaine] Being tough in a man's world... I guess I wasn't so tough, huh?... Jorge turned state's... everyone's a rat!.." Elizabeth cried angrily.
"Not me." Niko insisted. "Whatever!" Elizabeth cried angrily.
Elizabeth snorted more cocaine, Niko just stood there awkwardly.
Voice: Open up, man!
"Who is it?!" Elizabeth cried. Voice: It's the streets, man!
"Okay. Hold on." Elizabeth said, opening the door, but sadly this didn't end up being a good idea. Out came Manny, a local nuisance everyone knows, yet nobody likes. Along with him is Jay, his cameraman, as Manny likes to see himself as TMZ or something like that.
"Alright, man. This is what Manny's all about, man!" Manny cried, in his usual over-dramatic TV host voice.
Jay (cameraman): Manny... Manny, Manny, Manny.
"Now, word up, bitch, you betta stop slinging that shit on my streets, yo. We don't want it anymore. Hey, yo, Jay, you catching this!?" Manny cried, interrogating Lizzy.
Jay: Rolling, rolling!
"What is this Manny? For fuck's sake?!" Elizabeth cried annoyedly.
"The streets have spoken bitch. Now leave my people alone!.. (sees Niko) Yo, Niko, what are you doing here?" Manny cried.
Out of nowhere Elizebeth draws a handgun, shooting them both. Niko's reaction, or rather, lack thereof, shows that he's clearly used to this kinda thing by now.
"I am not in the mood for this right now!" Elizabeth cried angrily. Niko walks over to look at the bodies.
"Well guess that's that then." Niko said, deadpan.
"Can you help me clean this mess up? There's a doctor in Broker who can help. Come on, let's put 'em in my car." Elizabeth said.
THE FOLLOWING DAY:
Dash used her money to rent a hotel room for a few nights, so that Dash could finally have some alone time. And also used it to go eat at a nearby restaurant. It's been a long time since she had any real food, so honestly it was probably heavenly.
Later that night she's seen laying over her bed, scrolling through the internet on her phone, when suddenly she sees Elizebeth Torris on the tv, and quickly turns up the volume.
TV: Mrs Torris has been arrested for drug trafficking.. But still no sign of Manny Escuela, or his cameraman.. Police are still looking for an alleged Eastern European guy that some say was present at...
"Oh god! She was all I had left!" Dash said tearfully.
Turning off the tv, Dash sat on the bed, trying to gather her thoughts. Suddenly the phone starts to ring. Dash looked and saw it say "unknown caller".
"Who is this?" Dash asked, a bit grumpy now.
Packie: Packie McCreary.. Remember me?
"Oh.. Sure, sure.. Kate's brother.. How is she?" Dash asked.
Packie: She's fine.. But listen, I'm sorry about Lizzy Torris, I know you two were close.. But anyway, you're probably homeless now, and Kate wants you to stay with us.. How about it?
"Fine, I'll be there tomorrow." Dash said, and hung-up. After a pause turns the TV back on, using it to fall asleep too.
From here you go back to CHAPTER ONE: