Not really making a series here, but I honestly had two moments the other night
that kind of struck me as wicked incidental yet powerful. So I've broken them
up into these two blogs.

From my last blog, my Niko was very much starting to doubt himself and his murderous
ways. After losing Carmen and getting through another particularly vicious mission for one
of the McCrearys, Niko decided to take a little time to hit Firefly beach and check out the
boardwalk.

Hadn't stopped around that part of town for quite a while. The Mikhail incident was months
ago. However, the seething hatred of Dmitri is still fresh. After Niko finds that special
someone, that bastard's next on the list . . .

And then there she was, out of the random. Mrs. Faustin.

Mrs. Faustin isn't any better off after the Mikhail incident. She tells Niko about all these
horrible things resulting from what happened. He's clearly shaken by all this. This is
probably one of the most awkward conversations he's ever had, and it shows like a
lighthouse in the way he won't make eye contact with her. He's in pain.

There's hope there though. Mrs. Faustin wants to protect her daughter, and Niko, having
been down this road before, knows he can take care of this problem for her. Its the least
he could do. But her leaving words echoed hard in Niko's head "Please, No More Killing!".
He would handle this with his fists.

He tracks down the scumbug, and delivers a message: keep your distance. When it's
become clear that he doesn't understand, Niko goes to work on him. I'm not sure if it was
the anger at the situation, the chance to pound on a guy that's unarmed and clearly isn't a
good fighter, or just the cruel devine guiding his hands, but Bellic is pounding out brutal
combos on the guy. He's efficient. Its clear that he's had to resort to fisticuffs before. The
brawl ends with Niko delivering a pro combo ending in a backhanded fist to the guy's skull.
Niko leaves, stepping over the guy as he calmly emerges from the alley, and rejoins
civilized society.

A day later, Niko gets a call from an unknown caller. Its Mrs. Faustin, spouting disapproval
and a world of sadness at Niko. She said no more killing, but it turns out that the guy died.
You can hear that she's devastated.


Is there virtual redemption in virtual Sanctuary?

I questioned the death. Maybe someone one came along and finished him off? He moved
after the last hit, right? This can't be right. But looking back, it must be right. Niko's a
trained killer. As awkward as his melee had become, he was still lethal. That combo, in
the heat of the heat of the moment, broke that guy, and broke Mrs. Faustin's heart. More
bloodshed on the head of her family. No peace for a family that's lost it all at the hands of
people acting on their behalf.

However, Niko can't stop to console her. He didn't say a word in response. Despite the
random lives he encounters, he has to continue his path of vengeance. Clean the slate.
Maybe afterwards, there'll be time for redemption . . .