Niko

Niko was the Don of the Birkland City, He had the entire city in the palm of his hand. With the resources to bribe officials and countless cops on his payroll, he was considered untouchable or so he thought.

"I'm fed up with you Dorian, but I will give you a break. One week to leave Birkland, after that I will have to break out my brand new cheese grater."-Niko threatening Dorian to leave town.

## Overview

The Don of Birkland City, Niko sits above a network of gangsters that all owe their allegiance to him. Niko has several legitimate fronts across the city including his famous nightclub The Monkey's Paw which he placed his right-hand man Dorian Tyrell in charge of running. Niko had several corrupt officials on the payroll, and was a personal friend of both Commissioner Lyman Green and Mayor Tim Carson. Niko becomes wary that Tyrell is plotting to overthrow him and take over his empire, but he feels confident that Tyrell stands no chance against him, this proves to be his undoing once Dorian possesses the powers of the Bootleg Hulk.

## Background

Little is known about Niko's past; other than it's known he is originally from Cuba. It's also claimed that while in Cuba, Niko had served in the military but he was dishonourably discharged for reasons unknown. Coming to Birkland circa 1998, Niko became involved in a violent gang war with a rival gang led by Arnie The Swede who was the most powerful crime boss in Birkland at that time. It was a violent gang war, but Niko came out on top and murdered The Swede on his own riverboat. Niko became Birkland City's new kingpin, and took over The Swede's rackets including his nightclub The Blue Tick which Niko renamed The Monkey's Paw. At some point in time, Dorian Tyrell joined Niko's gang and worked up the ranks to become his right-hand man and lieutenant. Though originally the pair were very close, at some point, the two fell out and Dorian began making plans to kill Niko and take over his empire.

## Conflict With Dorian

In March 2021, Niko runs into trouble when his right-hand man Dorian Tyrell begins making a plot to usurp his power. Niko learns from his men that Dorian has ensembled a gang of loyal followers to aid him in his plot to take down Niko. Niko is also infuriated that Dorian's failed play Deflate A Mouse lost him a massive amount of money, and thirdly, Dorian has began dealing drugs behind his back and Niko surprisingly is very much against the drug trade. Niko ordered his two bodyguards to have Dorian brought for an audience at the Birkland Steelworks. The meeting quickly turned hostile with Dorian being pinned to the ground by Niko's guards who then shoved a golf ball and tee into his mouth, Niko taunted Dorian before hitting the ball out from his mouth. Niko then issued Dorian a fair but firm warning, leave Birkland in a week or be brutally killed by having his face grated into salad dressing by Niko's recently bought cheese granter.

## Death

A day after his audience with Dorian, Niko hosted a massive charity gala at The Monkey's Paw. Niko was under the assumption that Dorian had already left town, and was celebrating with his men when Dorian burst the door down with his gang. Dorian now possessing the powers of Bootleg Hulk charged into the nightclub where the two crime lords exchanged words with Niko being bewildered by Dorian's new appearance. Dorian ordered his boys to kill Niko, and a massive shootout occurred. A couple of Dorian's men were killed, but Dorian came out the victor with all of Niko's pals getting iced. Niko rose from behind a table, and on Dorian's urging he proceeded to unload his entire magazine into Tyrell's chest. To Niko's confusion and subsequent horror, the bullets had no effect and were absorbed by Tyrell as if he were wearing some kind of spongey material. Using his mouth like a machine gun, Dorian was able to shoot Niko in the chest several times sending him flying to the other end of the bar. With Niko dead, Dorian announced his new status as the Don of Birkland City.

## Legacy

With Niko dead, Dorian became the most powerful man in the city and even expanded his empire into Las Vegas by making a deal with the Sindacco Family to become a silent partner in the Caligula's Casino. Niko's crooked friends in the Birkland Government; Mayor Carson and Commissioner Green reluctantly take a place on Dorian's payroll and serve him as they had served Niko. Dorian eventually blew up The Monkey's Paw, and turned it into a casino called Tyrell Island. A statue of Niko was built in Bellview Park to serve as a memorial. It's unknown who ordered the construction, but it was presumably Mayor Carson.

## Appears In

What Would You Do For A Glacier's Mint?

A Case Of Salmonella (House Of Mouse Lost Episode) (Killed)

## Trivia

* Golf seems to be a hobby of his.
* Niko resided in a massive mansion in rural Birkland, following his death the mansion was left to rot and became a squatter's paradise.
* At one point in time, Niko and Dorian were close friends, with Dorian having a picture in his office of himself, Niko, and an unnamed woman (presumably Niko's daughter) having dinner at The Monkey's Paw.
* Niko was a good friend of Lord Cutler Beckett, and allowed for his troops to march through Birkland undetected.
* Smoked Cuban cigars heavily.
* He assisted Tim Carson with winning his political campaign back in 2015.
* Niko was possibly a friend of Joe Barbaro as he owned a modified 1911 pistol, and Joe mentioned there were only five of them in the world.