The endless darkness of the night sky has come to its final lap as the blue morning shade of dawn awakes when the sun started to shine bright at Gian's mansion.
"It's time, boss." a somber voice from the doorway said.
The private bed chambers of the Don of Giant Crime Family are decorated with the finest silver and gold statues. Symbols of a giant skeletal fist are etched on every handcrafted piece of furniture occupying the space. Authentic wool from an extinct beast serves as flooring for such a chamber. Besides the luxurious king-sized bed with golden silk sheets is where the Don Gian Tiburzzio can be found standing and embracing a golden-plated skeletal remain of a person.
At the doorway, the man awkwardly stands and waits for Gian. The Don can be heard sniffing.
The sun's light shines on the golden skeleton, it gleams in such a manner that every piece of gold in the room twinkles. The person waiting clears their throat. The Don pauses and groans.
Birds can be heard outside and the early morning vehicles try to beat the rush hour, the day has started. Gian sighs and puts the golden skeletal remains back on the bed and lays it there. He opens the drawers and grabs a huge silver ring and fits it on his large index finger. Then he approaches a really huge cabinet, he opens it, revealing a collection of brass knuckles.
These brass knuckles are coated with gold and made out of a particular kind of metal. The hand-to-hand weapons are twice as big as his large knuckles. They are apparently mechanically made with each tough end of the weapon possessing a really small muzzle that is kinetically triggered.
"Boss?"
"I heard you," Gian exclaims, "I'll be out in a minute, now get out."
The man in the doorway nervously nods and walks away.
Gian grunted as he watched the man walk then he turns his attention back to his collection. It is a special day indeed, he thought the day might need a very special weapon. So, he pushes a small button, then the cabinet reveals its innermost interior. Steam burst out of the cabinet.
Inside is his most distinguished weapon, the Knuckle Sandwich. It is a legendary weapon told by witnesses because there are no victims that ever survived an attack from it. Along the weapon are instruments for biomechanical Installations. Gian unbuttons his extra large shirt and it reveals his scarred torso. His nipples are replaced by single socket outlets and at his flabby axilla are five small golden pipes where the steam breeze out.
Gian grabs two long metallic cords inside the secret interior of the cabinet and plugs them into his socket outlet. Then he grabs a large wrench accompanied by two industrial-sized stainless hexagonal nuts to tighten the cord's grip. His nose bled and dropped on his fat stomach, he wipes it off and he smirks. Finally, he grabs the Knuckle Sandwich from the inside and wears it.
When his weapon was positioned on his knuckles he connected the other end of the cord to it. The pipes on the side of his torso let out two rounds of puff before releasing one final steam, it lasted for more than ten seconds. Gian inhales, and he turns the weapon on, it made a sound as it charges.
He exhales and literal white smoke comes out of his mouth. The sound of electricity whispers inside his body. Gian swings the cabinet's door with his head, although it didn't properly close he turned around and walks near the golden skeleton once more. His nose bled some more and stained the exotic carpet.
Gian kneels beside the lying skeleton and puts his massive mouth on the skull's nose hole. "Give me power, Gloria," he said as he suck out the Gangsta Powder inside the hidden nasal storage where the powder rests. In fact, the whole skeleton is a huge hallowed out space where Gian's personal supply of Gangsta Powder hides.
The Don quickly stands, his blood stained the silk. He stumbles on his stances but Gian smirks and regained balance while groaning all the while. He rubs his mouth for some traces of the powder and licks his finger. His eye widened, and his pupils are dilating. The veins on his head are noticeable. The muscles in his body are increasingly heightened to a degree of unrealistic proportions. Gian smiled and howled.
Gangsta Powder and Installations are a good combination and for Gian and others like him, it is the best breakfast for the morning before war. Installations are biomechanical inventions fit for everyone's benefit and for gangsters and other no-good doers, it is the next big thing after Gangsta Powder.
Historically, an Installation's use was to serve as prosthetics for the genetically disabled at birth. Mechanical eyes for the blind, mechanical vocal box for the mute, and others alike. It is also been used for amputees and survivors of battles that lost a limb or any other body parts. Mechanical transplants to replace defective organs are what Installations are used in the field of medicine and science.
But since then, it has become expensive and the production of it became controlled and rare as the years go by. At this point, Installations has found its new place in the world, not as useful prosthetics but as luxurious items for grandeur. People of higher standing use Installations as a status symbol replacing entire bodies for mechanical instruments of social climbing.
The disparagement and unfairness of this reality became the stepping stone for unrest and mass criminality. Soon, Installations found another home, at the hands of evil who then mobilize Thinkmancers to invent weapons to create an army of indestructible soldiers. These first iterations of the weapons are fueled by a source of power, used like a battery. But as the decades come and go, the use of this mythical source of power evolved, and the arrested development of Installations has only adapted to every user's preferences.
To criminals in the undercities, the histories don't matter. As long as you can get your hands on Gangsta Powder and Installations, you are ready for gangster life.
...
"What's that?" spooked, Mako flinches on the medical bed he sits on.
"Relax," Nico said as he prepares the syringe that he's been holding, "It's just Gian, that's his routine."
"Routine every morning?"
Nico laughs and places the syringe beside him. He is preparing to give Mako his first Installation, a nose. Nico is wearing a kitchen apron and kitchen gloves. His hairstyle hides his receding hairline, "Every war,"
The room they're in is a kitchen. It is one of the mansion's kitchens. This is where Niko performs his duties as the family's biomechanic and doctor. It has five sinks, six cabinets, and ten drawers. It has a room serving as a fridge that stores other biomechanical materials. The tiles are clean and white, the whole room is well taken care of.
"Are you scared?" Niko asked Mako as he walked toward him holding the syringe.
"Of that pointy thing? Fuck no." Mako answers and rubs his shoulder. He is wearing bandages, and his wounds are all dressed up, but he is still badly beaten.
"Not this," Niko placed the end of the needle on Mako's shoulder, "Gian," he added then he injects Mako in the neck without warning instead.
Mako whimpers, then pushes Niko, "Ow, what the fuck?"
Niko laughs as he proceeds to place back the syringe on the table.
"You fucking gangtard..." Mako said as he check his neck on a small mirror near him.
"Hey, you're gangsta yourself."
"Shut up," Mako look away from Niko with a displeased look.
"Hey, come on, I'm just messing with you," Niko smiles, grabs a rectangular-shaped metal on the table, and approaches Mako.
"Well, I ain't... So,"
Niko presents the rectangular metal to Mako, it's a mechanical nose that has a very small pipe inside on both of its nostrils, "So, are you?"
Mako didn't answer and refused to look at the Installation.
"Hey. I'm just cheering you up." Niko calmly said while showing Mako the mechanical nose, "I'm sorry for what happened to your friend." he said while placing his hand on Mako's head, "For what it's worth, I protested against it. He's just a kid,"
Bai, who refuses to answer Gian's questions, was killed and butchered. He has also become a reminder for Mako to keep him in line in the family now that he is unofficially a member. Mako still needs to be 'made' before getting officially indoctrinated by the Giant Crime Family.
Mako clicks his tongue and glances at the metal nose, "It looks fugly."
Niko messes Mako's hair and laughs, "Well that's because you ain't ready for the good stuff. You gotta make it big if you want good-looking shit."
"Whatever, just replace my nose," Mako still displeased. His nose still leaks blood from what happened a day ago. Still looks a bit shattered, although he can breathe properly, he sounds a bit nasal.
"Whoa, easy now, you slept the whole day yesterday, remember? Your body ain't ready."
'So, just put powder in my system?" Mako sneers.
"Already did."
"What?" Mako tries to feel himself, "I don't feel different?"
"What? Do you think I'll just let you have powder in you so can get freaky strong and fight your way? You think I didn't think about that, huh?" Niko mocks while waving the metal nose around Mako.
"Fuck you,"
"Fuck you, too, very much." Niko stops waving the metal nose but kept his smile, "I gave you a medical amount of GP. That ought to be in effect any minute now. Just so you know, you'll just feel numb so you won't scream like a bitch again when I put this nose on you."
Annoyed, Mako scowls, "Hey, fuck you!"
"Whoa tough guy, easy, you're gonna bleed."
"Why'd you care, anyway?" Mako huffs and turns to face away from Niko.
Entertained, Niko playfully gave chase to be in Mako's view, "Cause you've been in a rough patch and I'm here to ease all that tension, bro."
Mako keeps avoiding Niko, "Don't 'bro' me, the fuck?"
Niko continues to mock, "Well you got no 'bro', here anymore, all that's left is his buck pearly whites."
Triggered at his final straw, Mako stands on the medical bed and throws Niko a punch. The doctor dodged and grabs Mako's missed fist and slams the kid on the floor.
Mako grunts and quickly stands up and assumes his stance, he throws another jab. But Niko dodged it again and kicks Mako in the stomach.
Mako stumbles back, he shouted as he charges onto Niko. The doctor, while still holding the metal nose all this time, slaps Mako's face and grabs onto his hair to whack him on the hard mattress of the medical bed.
Niko releases Mako from his grasp. Mako turns around to throw a volley of punches which the doctor just parries with the metal nose every time. Mako's scalp bleeds probably because of an injury sustained by Mona but he couldn't be bothered, he seems to ignore it.
Mako tries to kick Niko in the shin but the doctor refuted it with his own kick that trips Mako down once more. But, again, Mako quickly stands up and tries to tackle Niko.
Niko rolled his eyes and throws the metal nose in the air. Then he stops Mako mid-charge and wrestles the kid. Niko throws Mako down to the ground again, when the kid lies down on his back, Niko stops him from getting back up by putting his feet on top of him. The doctor catches the metal nose from the air.
Mako grabs onto Niko's leg and tries to escape. But Niko kneels down, pinching Mako more, and throws a barrage of punches in his face. Mako's damaged nose bleeds even more, and the bandages surrounding it undid itself and fell off.
Although being pounded, all Mako felt is an annoyance for being defeated again, he shouted not in pain but in real anger.
Niko stops punching. His fists are bloodied and the hand that is holding the metal nose is soaked in blood. Niko is not even exhausted, Mako is breathing heavily.
"Good," Niko said as he stands up, "Let it all out."
Mako sits up and shouted, preparing another attack.
"Do you feel anything?" Niko said as he wipe the blood from his kitchen gloves on his apron.
"I'll make you feel something you gangta-" his realization hits, Mako touched his nose, it is bleeding but it doesn't hurt. He takes a moment.
Niko offers his hand to help Mako stand up, "Anger and pain, you can't make them go away." he said, Mako accepts the offer and he stands astounded and bleeding but unhurt, "All you can do is to let them in and move on." Niko smiles and gives the metal nose to Mako.
Mako inspects the Installation, vertically etched on its ridge is Bai's name. But it is spelled as 'BYE'. Mako looks at Niko with somber eyes, "Get out. Find your peace, outwards and within, explore the places you've never felt before." the doctor continued.
"But do not forget the pain, it is still there," Niko placed his hand on Mako's shoulder, "And when you come back to them, welcome them with embrace."
Mako's spirit breaks and lets out his own howl, a real cry he never had. After all, he never had a chance to mourn his friend. Niko sighs and pulls Mako closer and tries to comfort him with his clutch. Mako continues to bawl.
They took a moment. Mako lets all his frustrations out, he soon realizes that he is slobbering on Nico's apron, and he slowly steps back. Mako wipes off his snot with his hands, he continues to sniffle. Feeling a bit vulnerable, he stands gazing at a corner.
Niko ponders and nodded. He cleans his rubber kitchen gloves on his apron, he steps back in front of the table near the medical bed. Carefully placing the disarrayed tools on it, he picks up some screws and grabs a small hammer-looking welding machinery.
The doctor approached his patient, "Now." Niko taps Mako's shoulders, "Let's get that nose installed."
Mako shudders, feeling a bit unsure now. "You beat me up just so you can hurt me with that shit?"
Niko laughs, "I assure you, this won't hurt, already made you feel numb, that thing only last for five minutes though... But I'll put your body in a paralyzed state for like ten minutes then you'll get your new nose!"
"What the fuck?!" Mako steps back with disgust on his face, "Seriously, you could've told me that shit first!"
"Well I wanted to get into your soft side, so..." Niko
Mako, still holding the metal nose, finally ends on a dead end. His back touched a shelf, and he looks at his soon-to-be Installation, "Seriously, man, what's wrong with you?"
Niko points at the medical bed, "Just get comfortable, Mako. It will be over soon enough."
"How about we do this next time? We do this after your boss' reunion, alright?"
"Our boss," Niko corrects Mako, "Why the hell you're bitching now, where's the tough guy?"
"I ain't that tuff now that you beat the shit outta me."
Niko laughs, entertained by Mako's cowardice, "Whoa, didn't know you can talk like that." he then points back at the medical bed, "Now get your ass on the bed."
"Was all that real?" Mako looks around to throw at Niko, "You all get nice and shit to get into me?"
"I want you to trust me." Niko said, "Our family is built on trus-"
"Yeah, yeah, trust, I get it. You and your psycho boss, why do you even work for that walking barrel of fat!" Mako tries to climb the shelves but he is slipping.
Amused, Miko snorted, "We all join a pack in order to fulfill our own self-interests, Mako."
"Oh yeah? I bet you get comfy with his self-interest!"
"What does that even mean?"
"You know what I mean!" Mako slowly paces his way to the door.
Niko follows with his own gentle steps, "Well, I don't. What about you, don't you have a dream?"
"Nah, nah, we ain't that tight yet. Having my snot on your bitch apron doesn't make us tight!"
Niko rolls his eyes, "Just get back in bed, Mako."
Mako continues to ignore and keeps on stepping away from Niko, "What about you, what's your self-interest?"
"I got many." Niko said, "Right now, I want your ass over here so we can attend the meeting early, now get in here!"
"No!"
Suddenly, the door slammed open. Mako jumps in fear, Niko quickly turns to the door and composed himself on defense. The hinges detached and the door fell, they all went silent. The person standing in the doorway is a petite woman with pale skin covered with scars that seem like caused by lightning strikes.
She wears her bleached long hair in a ponytail tied by an elastic golden nylon. She is wearing a maid outfit but lacking the sleeves, revealing a set of toned arms. She spits on the floor and scowls, "What the fuck are you two doing?"
Nico sighs, "Mako here is not making my job easy."
"Who?" blurted the woman in a torn maid outfit.
Mako asserts his stance, "Me."
The woman jumps, and her dress' hemline flaps in the air, exposing her mechanical pair of legs that has a set of small pistons that generates a powerful thrust in her movement. She swiftly slaps Mako. Steam and white smoke come out of her heels. Mako is left falling in the air.
Niko takes a step aside away from the medical bed. Mako fell to the ground again, he hits his head on the hard floor. The woman once again thrust swiftly and throws Mako on the bed. Mako bounced and landed on the mattress, he is suffering symptoms of whiplash. Even with all that, he still has the metal nose in his hand.
"Thanks, Elvira." Niko prepares his tools.
Elvira takes the metal nose from Mako and gives it to the doctor, "I bet powder can't help him with that speed."
"I doubt powder has immunity against motion sickness. That or the effects of the first GP I gave him ran out."
Elvira takes a peek at Mako's shattered nose, it is bleeding. She looks disgusted. "Just fix this boy up and get to the driveway already. Gian will be there soon."
Niko smirks and power up the welding tools he has in his hand, "Mako."
"What?"
"His name is Mako."
Elvira looks annoyed, "Who the fuck's asking?"
The doctor puts on a metal mask. "He's the same age as you."
Exasperated, "Who the fuck's asking, Niko!?" she groaned as she crosses her arms.
The welding tool starts its work on Mako's face, "There's nothing wrong to have friends."
Elvira takes one final look at Mako's face, it is being further disfigured by the Installation's process, "I don't need any." she leans on a nearby wall, brooding with her arms crossed, and leaves Niko to his work.
The doctor, experienced in his craft, meticulously assembles the vital parts of the metal nose. The noise of metal and flesh being welded together echoes the space around the kitchen. Artificial metallic casings replace Mako's shattered nasal bones, inside are small intricate instruments that form like clockwork.
Mako, who has become unconscious, feels nothing. The effects of Gangsta Powder combined with other medical substances that Niko injected renders him in a partially paralyzed state.
"Why are you wearing that, Elvy?" Niko asks while tending to his work.
"Don't call me that," she replied, watching the doctor put other metals on Mako's face, "The nurse outfit that Mona made is too much."
"Huh," Niko snorted, "Where is she now?"
"Back at the Academy."
"I see," Niko said while the sound of welding metal continued. Mako's nose bleeds.
It is rather pleasant. The sound of bones crackling can be heard.
"So, how's life?" Niko breaks the silence, "Why are you here?"
"They want me to come to get you," she said, "I don't wanna get back there without you two," Elvira added as she rolls up her already torn sleeves some more.
Niko puts a small vial filled with liquid along with a small metal orb floating in it. "Finishing touches."
"Do it quick, I don't wanna be shouted at."
An aluminum spring rebounded, "Whoops." Niko said as he continues to work on Mako's face like playing and figuring out puzzle pieces.
"Why put the pipes in the nose?"
"No reason. I just thought it was funny." the doctor continues to put the rebounded spring back inside.
"But why though, why give him something useless, he ain't got no other Installation. A nose ain't a weapon." Elvira rolls her eyes, smirking at Niko.
"We can't be so sure about that," Niko said, "The steam gotta go out somewhere," he glances at Elvira then turns back to his work.
Elvira grunts, "I don't think he can afford a weapon, it's not like the family gonna pay for him to get armed."
"We're not so sure about that. You got your legs and everything free of charge because of Gian, and installed by me."
Elvira shakes her head in disbelief, "That was different,"
"No, it's not. A gift is a gift, no matter how or where you look at it." Miko points at Mako's nose, "Even if the quality is not up to your standards."
Elvira smirks, "You sure gave him the good stuff."
"What, this? These are just leftovers from our last guest." the doctor jests, "It's a shame if we don't recycle used parts. Second-hand Installations from the rich can still be valuable, you know?"
"You're sick."
"Done." Niko claps and then removes his rubber gloves, he injected another serum into Mako's neck. The doctor unties his apron and throws it in one of the sinks. "Wait for him to wake up, Gian expects me to be there early."
"What the fuck, I ain't babysitting this creep!"
"Well, you kinda have to. Superior's order and such." Niko said as he exits the room while waving at Elvira, "Also give him something nice to wear!" his voice fades as he walks further away from the room.
"Damn you, Niko!" Elvira shouted, still leaning on a wall, she scratches her head and walks to get close to Mako.
Mako is wearing Bai's clothes, bloodied and torn up. It was removed from Bai after his death. Gian thought it would be a waste to throw away ragged clothes that can be reused as actual rags to clean the vehicles in his garage. But, after releasing Mako, instead of buying a wannabe from the streets some decent clothes, he offered Bai's old ones.
Mako did not handle the whole situation well, he went into a short coma for the whole experience. His body gave up after withdrawing from the effects of Gangsta Powder and after getting through Gian's torture. Niko took care of him.
The operation did wonders for Mako's face, although the Installation on his face is still fresh. Metal plating replaces some of his damaged skin, the nose sits nicely on the center of his face.
"Yeah, I'll get you something nice to wear today," Elvira menacingly giggled.
...
The private driveway leads to many areas of the estate. It is made of refined cobblestone shaped and colored to form symmetrical patterns. It has its own pedestrian sidewalk made of smooth hardened clay dusted with intensely crushed gravel. Tall trees that provide shade are planted on each side accompanied by trimmed and maintained bushes and flowerbeds.
One of the areas it leads to is the barracks of the rest of the family's men-at-arms or bodyguards. Their armory is located there, too, where firearms and other melee weapons are stored. It is where the office of Gian's chief of security can also be found where most of their business meetings that concern contract killings are held. Currently, they employ almost one or two battalions at their disposal which are all scattered throughout the family's properties in the undercity and the main city.
Another key area is the dormitories, which is where most of the servants retreat back to once their shifts are done. It serves as the living quarters and private lodgings of all Gian's maids, butlers, drivers, engineers, and cooks. It is where the office of Gian's chief of intelligence is located. Contrary to popular belief, they all enjoy the liberties and benefits that come along with their salary. They are all trained here and indoctrinated; they mostly hold non-combatant duties and are expected to gather intel at all times. Only the chosen employees are given advanced training to become the family's snitch, rat, or spy.
Next is the garage, which is where the vehicles of the family can be found. It is also where they hide their reserves of Gangsta Powder. It also serves as a storage facility and warehouse for the manufacturing and maintenance of Installations where members with Installations can tinker their equipment. It also has a hangar for small and private steam-powered airships that the family uses as a mode of transport to reach the city.
The whole estate is located on a floating island, a large chunk of earth floating above Lostandos. It is being supported by big flying apparatuses, steam-powered jet engines constantly burning tons of fuel just to keep the island afloat. Continuously hovering above the city for an average height of 2000 feet.
Because of the near desolate state of the surface's countryside, its property values are much less valuable. Governance is concentrated in cities therefore places in the outskirts are unable to compete with the centralization economically and socially. Landowners and farmers are often raided and trespassed because of little to no police visibility. Even the rural areas and small towns on the outskirts of the city are not safe from minor gangs, highway thieves, and robbers. These reasons caused the growing number of paramilitary companies and private securities. A number of reported vigilantism occur in these areas.
Due to a growing demand for safe and peaceful plots of land, the government and a handful of private real estate companies employed Thinkmancers and mechanics, spent billions of wealth and materials, and finally conceived the idea of sky islands or better known as Skylands. The first sky islands took off into the sky, instantly becoming a sensation among the citizens, even widely applauded for their innovation.
Ironically, it is criticized for its bizarre prices. Although its target market is the rich upper class, many of them did not purchase even the cheapest floating islands. Alongside their value, the maintenance costs to keep these properties floating are financially self-destructive. As a result, many people chose to stay on the surface where most of the luxurious condominiums and amenities can be found.
To avoid bankruptcy and cut losses, the government and the companies that invested in this project transferred all their assets and unoccupied floating islands across five cities to a multinational industrial defense company, Highpeak Corporation.
Under the new ownership, they integrated their own technologies into these flying islands to keep maintenance costs minimal. They retained a few flying islands for themselves and sold the majority of them to individuals and groups at a much lower value, making them affordable even for the least wealthy. The corporation benefits from this arrangement by monopolizing the supply of the expensive fuel required by the flying islands.
...
"Why the fuck are you wearing a dress?"
Mako, wearing a small-sized maid's uniform, shamefully stands in line along with the other maids led by Elvira.
"I made him wear it, Niko said I can choose something for him." Elvira proudly answers, the rest of the family and crew gazing at Mako's embarrassing condition.
"For him not for her." A tall, skinny man possessing a rifle resting on his shoulders stands in front of them.
"What the fuck does that even mean, we have dress codes now?" she replied and pulls Mako aside to present him to the tall man, "Besides, I'm claiming him to the dormitories, he might as well be useful to Mona!"
"Mona ain't here, bitch. He looks stupid, he needs to be in the barracks, he's fodder." he said while pointing at Mako's face, "What's with his nose, it's ugly!"
Niko steps into the conversation, "I made it for him, Judan."
"He looks ugly."
Elvira laughs, "Why are you so mean, Juds?"
"Don't call me that." Judan sternly warned, waving his index fingers, then glances back to Mako, "Remember that kid?"
Mako looks away, embarrassed, but also feels a bit of disdain towards Judan, "Alright."
"Alright, what?"
"Yeah, Judan, why are you giving him a rough time?" Niko interjects, hands on his hips, he smirks.
"Oh, am I the only one seeing this? This wannabe right here gave us a hard time. I'm still tense because all of Lostandos undercity gangs wanted beef with us!"
Mako raises his head and stares at Judan confused.
"That's why we're settling it." Niko said, "Right here at the family's mansion. No better place to discuss what happened." he assures Judan.
"No, no, no, as Gian's trusted right-hand man, I vote to get this kid off the island and offer him to the Flamingos." Judan clenches his fist, eyeing Mako with ill intent.
Elvira chuckles, "You ain't Gian's right-hand, you're his chief of security!"
"Shut it bitch, know your place." Judan points at Elvira while still holding his weapon, "Nobody likes you, kid." he said while looking at Mako, "What are you lookin' at?"
"Enough," Niko places his hand on Judan's shoulder, "Gian called for another Grande Reunion to present him as a witness, to clear the family name."
Judan looks at Niko's hand, "I don't give a fuck," he said as he slaps Niko's hand away, "This bitch right here still doesn't get it, Grande Reunions ain't that easy to request. He's no witness, he's a suspect. Whoever he's working for, whatever they planning, I don't like it!"
"Easy..."
"Or what, doc?" Judan gets close to Niko's face, "Your bitch right here almost got me in trouble."
"I know and that is why we are here."
Judan spits on the ground, expressing his annoyance, "Why are you so nice to the youngins here, Nik?" he grins, "You like your bitches young is that it?"
"That's enough, Juds." Elvira steps in between them, the other maids surround them.
Judan looks around and clicks his tongue, "I got my boys with me, too," the barrack's armed soldiers joined the crowd, "And I said don't call me that."
Mako, who was distancing from the argument, observes the swarming family members from different divisions.
"I don't think we're giving a good impression to our new friend here." Niko calmly puts his hand in his pocket, "But it's a good demonstration of how serious as a family we are." he added while taking out a pocket watch and checking the time, "Guests are almost here..."
"Bah," Judan said as he backs away from Mako. The rest of his soldiers follows and goes back to their positions, "I still don't trust this bitch." he said while pointing at Mako again.
Elvira nodded to the other maids, almost all of them unsheathes their hidden blades, and they sheathes them back when the commotion ended.
"We are all spread thin enough, I don't think Gian will appreciate an infighting." Niko sighs while putting his arms around Mako.
"I don't give a fuck, if Gian wants me to kill that brat, I'll do it and give its head to the Rainbow gangtards as a peace offering if that's going to make me do business in peace. And you won't be able to stop me, Nik." Judan said while walking away from them.
"Sorry about that," Niko assures Mako, "Normally he just complains about the weather."
Mako looks worried, "Who are you guys meeting?"
"We," Niko hides his pocket watch back, "We are meeting the rest of the Families." he added, "A Grande Reunion." he continues.
"Is it true? Gian wants to present me as a witness?" Mako asks, "Witness against who?"
"No, Gian wants you to tell the truth. You didn't kill an OG, but you snorted his GP. How did that happen? Well, we'll be talking about it at the meeting." the doctor removes his arms from Mako.
"I... I don't know, alright?"
Niko looks at Mako in the eyes, "I know,"
"By the way, why does your nose have 'BYE' on it?" Elvira suddenly chimed in.
"It's not supposed to be like that!" Mako replied, "Niko put it there, alright?"
"It's his friend, Elvira," Niko said while smiling at her.
"Ooh, a special one?" Elvira teases and looks a bit curious.
Mako glanced away but paused and realized something, "Whe- Where's..."
"What?" Elvira tilts her head in Mako's sudden change of expression.
Mako thought about his other friends, Yami and Eten. His last recollection of them was they were fighting Mona. He is afraid that the family did something bad to them so he wants to ask but apparently, he hopefully assumes that they're somewhere in the estate and wants to find them. This wishful thinking distresses him, his face shows his dilemma. Fear starts to creep in.
Mako takes a moment, "Is it... Uh- Am I gonna be in trouble if I ask you something..."
Elvira looks at Niko, "What is it?" the doctor said.
"Where's... my friends?" Mako whispers, no one heard him, he is sweating bullets, shivering in fear. He doesn't understand why he feels afraid.
"Are you all right?" Elvira asked as she tries to get her hand on Mako's.
Niko begins to worry, he is familiar with the symptoms. "Mako, calm your mind."
From afar, Judan noticed that Mako is in distress, "What the fuck?" he chuckles.
Mako begins to breathe heavily, his knees are weak, and he feels heavy. Panic is settling in. The maid outfit is not helping his condition. Flashbacks from the torture are coming back, he is in agony. Mako wheezes for some air, he is shaking. Niko tries to hold him down.
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME, GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME." Mako cried in anguish, Elvira and the other maids helped Niko.
"What the fuck, Niko?" Elvira holds down Mako's head.
Mako is violently reacting to them, "I've seen this before." Niko said.
"What's happening? Gian won't like this if he continues this shit!"
"I know," Niko takes out a small metal kit from one of his pockets, "He's breaking down," he said as he opens the metal kit and grabs a syringe, "Just hold him down,"
"Are you seriously going to give him powder now?!" Elvira starts to struggle with Mako's violent resistance.
"Just a good dose of it..." Niko takes out a vial of Gangsta Powder, and prepares a needle to inject, "I'm sorry, Mako..." he whispers.
Judan finally got close to them, "What the fuck is this shit show."
"Not now, Juds!" Elvira shouted, Judan looked really annoyed but continues to watch.
Niko finally injected the Gangsta Powder into Mako who is still violently shaking but soon he begins to lose his wildness. He can breathe properly once again.
Niko looks saddened by what happened, Elvira is still confused along with her maids, and Judan begins to crack a laugh.
"Boy, that is one good shit you showed back there," Judan said while bursting into laughter.
Mako sits up while Niko assists him, "You all right now, kid." the doctor said.
"Alright..." Mako nods, still in shock, he also doesn't understand what happened to him. Elvira helped them to stand back to their positions.
Soon, a loud rumbling of engines can be heard from the distance slowly approaching them. Niko turns his attention to the noise, they are airships.
"Go tell the boss," Niko orders a servant who quickly understood the task and rushes back inside the mansion, "His friends are here." he sighs.