A/note: Tyger Claws I purposely spelled, because this is how the gang is spelled. Happy New Years everyone! Enjoy!

The silence in the V.I.P lounge was killing me. But I wasn't here to complain, it was better then worrying about people putting a target on your back or eavesdropping.

"Better?" Evelyn questioned with a bright smile.

"I guess..." I lied to her. Her smile vanishes, and her jaw locked. She caught me red handed with the lie. She took out a small envelope shaped bag that was silver and curiously dug through it. She pulled a pack of cigarettes from her clutch. Evelyn lit a quick cigarette, then tossed me the white and red package.

"This should calm you down, have a cigarette." Evelyn offered with a generous smile, almost convincing...

I dug one out, placed the cigarette between my lips, and lit one up with my lighter.

Evelyn took a drag of her cigarette before she spoke, "Dex had a load to say about you. Called you professional, effective... And trustworthy." Evelyn trailed off. It was written all over her face, jealousy.

"I hope he wasn't overselling..." Evelyn snarled. I was taken a bit back. What happen to the 'nice' Evelyn, two minutes ago? I knew she didn't care what Dex thinks, even if she had to add flattery in.

"You don't give a rat's dick what Dex thinks. We both know that..." I piped up. She rounded the booth and sat close to me, too close for comfort.

"You have trouble accepting compliments, Ronin." Evelyn blamed me, trying to pin point if it was true or not. She finished her sentence, taking a deep drag of her cigarette.

"No. Just think flattery is beneath you. Am I wrong" I questioned, calmly.

"Maybe Dex is beneath you. Have you known each other long?" Evelyn questioned like she was interrogating me... This was becoming oddly suspicious, I'm the one supposed to be asking the questions. 

I sat back and got comfortable, treating the situation with ease.

I smiled, "You writing Dex's bio? Hate to disappoint, but I don't know much." I admitted, with confidence.

Evelyn sighed deeply, "So, I guess in other words you don't know each other much...Yet he fingered you for this job. Hm, I'm curious." Evelyn purrs.

I started to wonder why she was so curious about my association with Dexter DeShawn?

I took a deep drag of my hardly finished cigarette, "Let's...cut to the chase. Whaddaya got for me?" I ignored what Evelyn said, I needed to focus on business, not something that was off topic and partly none of her business. Though she was apart of the business, just not the personal info. It was like she was on to me for a reason, even though I was being brutally honest with her.

"Your- target, I trust you already know what it is?" Evelyn questioned with curiosity.

I shook my head, "Not a clue, I'm all ears."

"It's a device from the richest and most powerful of Night City, to communicate with the living after they die. Meaning they can create several copies of their mind into living Cyborgs in Night City. This allows their memory to forever live on. It's a program designed by Yarinobu Arosaka's Father" Evelyn explained.

So this meant that if I get this program, I could forever live on if there isn't a cure? Maybe this was spiking my hopes up. But I'm guessing this wasn't going to be easy.

"So, we're not jumping the corp. Personally, Yarinobu Arosaka himself?" I interrogated her. She folded her hands together on her lap and nodded.

"Yarinobu is a puppet. He lost all of his cards years ago, when he failed to do daddy's bidding. Sabaruo had him by his balls in a vise for years. He might just turn a screw and crush them outright if he learn's his son is up to no good again." Evelyn rolled her eyes and chuckled.

I guess Yari wanted it all.

How long would it take for Yari to crack? After all Sabaruo is nearly one-hundred-fifty-eight years-old! In a couple of years from now Yari is going to inherit all of it, and run this city into the ground.

I was becoming anxious.

I'm stealing a program from the man that's supposed to help me get this virus out. The saint that's supposed to remove the virus and discard it. After all Breanne ran away from the experiments. What was the odds of this virus being contagious?

Vik would of told me to quarantine if it was. 

So that should be a good omen if it isn't hazards... The only signs I've shown so far was tiredness, migraines, and some vomit. 

"This doesn't sound good to you? Does it not?" Evelyn broke me from my train of thought.

"How much time will this take...for the whole operation?"

"Depends, I'd say more then two months to pull it all together with a good enough plan." Evelyn estimated. 

Shit.

"Look if you got any spare aces up your sleeve, now would be a good time to show them." I sheepishly joked.

The corner of Evelyn's lip raised, "Now this should make your tits perk up."

"The fuck-"

"Yarinobu recently swiped the chip from Arosaka's laboratory. He's made a deal with NetWatch, aims to sell it to them. Have you spotted my ace yet? Or do I need to spell it to you?" Evelyn continued, ignoring my reaction.

"Fine, so no Arosaka security on the device 'cause Yarinobu whisked it away, behind his father's back. Now where's he hidin' it?" I questioned. I knew I was acting a bit straight forward with this whole conversation, but every second was killing me. 

I became a bit impatient after a couple of days with knowing I had this. Being worried always never put my mind to ease, every second I valued in this.

"Likely in a specialized container, one that mimic's a organic neural environment. On the outside it looks like an ordinary brief case." Evelyn answers, allowing intelligence to fill just enough detail on the chip.

"And the case is where?" I questioned with a less-interested voice.

Evelyn stood up and slowly traveled over to the lounge entrance, "You'll see soon enough, after all we're done gossiping about Arosaka. Come find me when you're ready. Otherwise enjoy your time here." Evelyn chuckled. She exited the lounging area with quite a fast pace. It was like she was in a hurry. 

I felt a buzz in my pocket. A vibrant glow came from my pocket. I fished through my pocket for my phone. 

I furrowed my brows, it came up to a private caller. The message was short, and read: 'We have matters to discus, meet me up stairs.'

I was debating whether to block this number or whether I should meet whoever this was. I smirked, maybe I'll fool around first...

'Sorry, you've got the wrong number.' I texted back. 

In seconds they texted back.

'No, I'm talking to the right person, Ronin.'

My breath hitched, my heart started to pick up the pace. I could hear the beats, relentlessly. 

How do they know my name? And the number? This wouldn't be an accident...

'How do you know this number?' my fingers scattered across the small keypad, with a reply.

'And that isn't important. You want answers? Meet me up stairs. My gun is on the table, in other words unarmed.' the unknown person replied. It was hard to tell emotion in texts. Texting doesn't show a person's face, body language, or anything.

Should I go? Or is this a trap? 

My mind flooded with countless questions on whom this person was, how long they've been watching-.

I have to keep calm. This is probably what this person wants...is paranoia.

I took a deep drag of my cigarette, before crushing it in the small, glass, ash-tray. A small voice in the back of my mind chanted me to be careful. I kept my hand a fair distance away from my gun. If anyone took this risk they would consider to: never be too careful. 

 I kept my eyes glued to other things then noticing a few couples making out in the hallway.

The music became louder and louder, with a strong beat, I moved closer away from the lounging areas. I flew up the small flight of stairs. I stood there awkwardly scanning the perimeter. Whoever this person was they would lock eyes with me. Then my eyes locked with a pare of cold, royal blue coloured, eyes.

Scarlett Riddle.

Earlier it didn't seem like her bodyguards were around. But I guess they were back. She sat comfortably in the same booth. A sly smirk raised from the corner of her lip. I raised an eyebrow, she gave me a singular nod. 

I slowly strode over to the concealed gang leader. Her bodyguards wore black and neon blue suits. Typical bodyguard uniforms, but a bit different, due to Scarlett's taste in clothing. Though I can say if a crossfire was the result of this conversation, I wasn't going to win.

She runs this half of Night City, no one does anything without her concent. But I'm not from Downtown Night City, I live on the other half. Her power was cryptic, she was hard to read. I couldn't assume what she was planning. 

Just be nice, don't show her aggression.

I needed her on my side and answers on how the hell she managed to snag my number.

I felt a hard shove by one of her bodyguards.

"Just taking persuasions, Ronin." Scarlett spoke.

"Weapons." The bodyguard demanded. I huffed, I took my dual pistols, and the sword and passed them to the man. The other briefly patted me down for any concealed weapons.

"Clear."

"Sit." Scarlett demanded. I obediently sat next to her, on the edge of the booth. A small amount of respective space was between the two of us.

"A little cyber-bird told me that your keeping a secret from Night City." Scarlett starts. Her hands intertwined together.

"That's none of your business-"

"Oh but it is, have you ever heard of the law downtown Night City? Nothing leaves, and nothing is kept secret downtown Night City, Ronin. And whatever Evelyn spoke about, I want a part of it. I can provide whatever you need-"

"Why does my secrets matter to you so much?" I questioned. I could feel her trying to get to me. Maybe working with her would allow me to keep my life and walk out of here alive.

"Ronin, this isn't a James Bond movie. So, cooperate, and I'll spare you the grief of embarrassing yourself." Scarlett implied, mixing humor into the mood.

"Fine." I growled. I felt like I was becoming a puppet, speak when spoken situation. I slumped back against the leather booth.

"You don't look so good, here, have a drink." She passed me her personal drink. I was cautious, I stared at the half drank, Burgundy. 

"Ya, its been a long three days." I agreed, only putting the liquid up to my lips. Then acted like I swallowed. I passed it back to her, believing there was something in the drink that I didn't know about. She proved me wrong by taking a sip of her cold drink.

"How so?" Scarlett questions with curiosity.

"I went on a mission, a rescue mission, to gain answers, for the disappearance of a three girls in my neighborhood. I ended up opening Pandora's box when hacking into a soul survivor's biomon. Scavs, they kidnapped these girls, to sell rare spinal fluid, rare metallic parts on the blackmarket. I ended up contracting a virus, only contagious if someone hacks into my biomon, if they aren't a Ripperdoc." I gave her a brief, summarized, reply, and kept details to a minimum.

"Interesting, what kind of virus are we talking about?" Scarlett's words pushes me to continue.

"One that kills you in eight months-"

"So like cancer?" Scarlett interrupts.

"Not necessarily. This...thing lives on whether I live or I die. The only one that can help me is Sabaruo, the man that created the virus. If he wants it back so badly, then he'll help." I finished with a sour tone.

"So, this virus proves to be worth something?" Scarlett hummed.

"Something like that."

"So, whatever Sabaruo offers you for the virus, I want half. I can provide protection, weapons, and protection, and whoever you want eliminated even." Scarlett offers with a casual expression.

I sighed deeply, "Why do you want to help me so bad, Scarlett? I know you want half of the share, but what's your motivations?" I interrogated her, I didn't understand why she offered me almost equal share of power. Yes she wanted the money, but why did she trust me so easy?

"I want to prove one person that I'm not a manipulative person who takes what they want, Ronin. But as a provider, something that people can acknowledge for once. I've kicked Dexter DeShawn out of a different City I run, Pacifica. For once I wanted to give the people some hope that the Tyger Claws can push back and prevent gang wars from happening. But there's one city I wouldn't mess with. That gang is brutal, worse, with no morals. The Dragons they're called, they're from Neo Metropolis. Hopefully you don't have to deal with them." Scarlett trails off topic.

It seemed believable, maybe she wasn't that typical gang leader that kills for no reason.

"Alright, you want half? You have a deal." I gave her a nod.

"Music to my ears. Give me a call whenever you need backup." Scarlett replies with a satisfied voice. 

"One more thing, how did you get my number? I've only been here for a couple hours." I questioned with curiosity.

"I'm not just a gang leader, but a hacker. I was able to snag your number in ten minutes. Suggestions for the future, get a firewall." Scarlett suggests. My jaw clenched. Scarlett chuckled at her joke.

"Noted." I answered simply.

I left the booth, having relief I didn't tell her about the heist plan on stealing Arosaka's biochip. That chip was priceless, and if Evelyn or Dex needed it, I had a plan to get the money I needed. Or I might as well keep it if Mr. Arosaka can't cure this. It'll all be determined soon, and a the plan will unfold in the mean time. The bodyguards passed me my weapons back.

I took a seat at the bar, I still had other things to take care of. That includes the meet up with Colt Jacobs. I ordered a couple of drinks and did a crossword puzzle, killing the time. I looked at the clock. It was past Midnight. When was Colt going to show up? Was he expecting me to wait until three in the morning? I sighed deeply, I knew he wasn't going to show up. Evelyn probably went home already, Scarlett and her bodyguards left an hour ago. There wasn't that many couples left in the bar. Only a few couples danced on the dance floor, a few guys played pool, and at lest four were at the bar, drinking. Some were passed out, some were just enjoying the night while they had the chance.

I yawned and finished off the last bit of my drink before calling Jackie, to drive the Quadra back to the underground lot to my apartment. I guess he was running late, maybe caught up with something with Dex or his girl Casey.

Either way, I wasn't going to wait any longer. If he was running late he would of texted me by now. Which wasn't like Colt, he would show up early, and he'd text if he was running late.

This was incredibly suspicious...