A/note: Little late night update, do enjoy. Feel free to vote, and comment. Currently I am creating specific chapters for each character in this book. So I appreciate the patience.

Ronin's pov. 

I wake up as if it's an emergency, as if sleep became a dangerous thing. My heart beats fast and there is a constant buzzing in my brain, and as panic jumps. Only now my brain is like a flat battery, drained and exhausted. The exertions of the night being a marathon of a erratic process of problems. The day will pass soon enough, like a hung over, though I'm not drunk, its the nightmares demanding solutions. 

I wipe the cold sweat from my forehead and begin to wonder how Johnny managed to get into my apartment. A flutter consumed my stomach, I shook my head, trying to shake that odd flutter.

I pushed the soft duvets to the side and sat on the edge of the bed. Immediately a head splitting headache washed over me without hesitation.  

I flinched in response, I popped another red pill into my mouth and washed it down with water. I felt averagely better than yesterday. I felt disgusting and sweaty, my clothing stuck to me, soaked from the sweat. I decided to make my bed and clean up a little, after a long shower.

I noticed the small piece of paper on my nightstand. I gently picked up the crinkled letter.

'Sorry for leaving so soon. Hopefully you can understand that when I tried to wake up up on the ride back to your apartment, you were out cold. So I called a friend of yours to help me get into your place, consider this a class one break in. Thanks for getting me out of that shit with Nash, I forgot to mention that. I'll never forget it, I owe ya one, Ronin.' Signed Johnny Silverhand.

The corner of my lip raised up into a smile. That was nice of him to leave me a note. I chuckled to myself, which friend helped him break in? Originally I pictured Johnny just opening the apartment door and tossing me to the side then he leaves. But it turns out he didn't. I stood up and walked over to the Bathroom noticing a new mirror was put in. How did that get there? I questioned in my mind. 

After the long shower, I wrapped myself up in a towel. Making quick movements over to my decently neat closet. It had a bunch of casual jackets hung up, a couple of T-shirts and other stuff. I quickly got changed into something that I'm able to move in and that I wouldn't mind getting torn or wrecked.

My communicator started to flash, I swiped it realising Jackie called.

"Woah V! Tsk, get your beauty sleep? Hah, no matter, it's time you got up." Jackie said in a friendly voice.

I still felt exhausted almost like if I caught a cold, "Think I might of caught somethin' when searching Breanne's biomon. Don't know, possibly a nero-virus, maybe even a simple cold. I need to go see Vik. Let him tell me what's got my head reelin' and my stomach churnin'." I answered Jackie.

Jackie sighed, "OK, lemme take ya. I brought your ride back from Riot when I heard the news. Yeah, throw on something and meet me downstairs." Jackie suggested with a voice of empathy.

I was truely glad I had Jackie as a friend. I didn't think we'd be that good of friends after our first meeting. I don't think anyone would agree our first meeting was pleasant, most people would of assumed we would be enemies after that. Jackie and I were the same, that's why our personalities clicked. It may have been a rough start, but it wasn't my call to judge him so quickly. Jackie was truely a wonderful guy, he may of had many flaws, but he was my best friend.

I grabbed a black t-shirt, and a pare of black sweat-pants. I went casual today, nothin' fancy.

I still wondered how Johnny of all people managed to find me... Its not like he was there and seen it happening. Riot wasn't the place for someone like him. I'll have to ask him, next time I meet Casey and Johnny at the Afterlife.

I met Jackie down stairs, he was seated at the usual White Dragon sushi stand. "Hey Ronin." Jackie greeted me. I took a seat next to him.

"Shit, you look-"

"Like shit." I finished his sentence for him.

He shook his head, "Not at all, you look sick. Like your not feeling the best. I'd rather you lay low for a bit with the jobs. By the way Thomas called you earlier, he asked if you were busy." Jackie mentioned. I gave him a simple nod.

"And how's Ross?" I questioned.

"I don't know, after the small rebellion on the streets after the lock down, I am positive authorities are head hunting for her." Jackie replied, trying to finish the mouthful of noodles.

"I'm surprised they're not after us. We were just as much involved as her." I replied shifting closer to the counter.

"Nah, we were just a lost cause." Jackie joked, nearly choking on a shrimp.

"More like luck. Try to finish the mouthful before speaking, Jackie." I suggested with a Cheshire smile. As hilarious as I could picture it, I wouldn't want to be the one telling his family the cause.

"Yes ma'am." Jackie chuckled, finishing up the last bit of his cup of Ramon.

"Hey...I have a question." I trailed off with a mumble. Jackie stopped, his attention travelled over to me.

"I'm listening."

I bit my lip, "How did Johnny magically show up. My only assumption was he either seen me, stalking me, or in the bar at the time the action started to unfold?" I questioned. Jackie stayed silent for a moment.

"You'll probably have to ask Mr. Silverhand yourself. All I know is Thomas and his crew shut the whole operation down."

"For now." I piped up.

"True, Amiga. The Scavengers have some type of connection to Arosaka as it seems." 

I inhaled deeply before speaking, "Arosaka may be a legend like Adam Smasher, but he is a coward to ask low-lines like the Scavengers to collect parts from people who were kidnapped."

"That's the way he is, he'll do anything to keep his reputation."

"You mentioned something 'bout a surprise earlier? 'M remeberin' right or maybe it's just a brain fart" I joked, knowing Jackie, if he spoke too much he forgot a quarter of things.

"Probably both, 'cause you're the one who usually forgets shit. But it just so happens I might of bagged us a sweet ass J-O-B!" Jackie exclaimed.

"Go on..." I replied with an exhausted voice. 

"I mean, maybe it's not as big as that. But... Just that it's fronted by a little-known someone by the name of Dexter DeShawn. Only the top Fuck'n fixer of Night City! Black JC of the Afterlife. Three hundred pounds of partly gold-plated cool." Jackie nearly sang in a tune.

My shoulders tensed and I cringed inside. Why did he say that out loud?

"Thought Dex bounced outta the ring a few years ago. Messed with a nasty crew in on the Pacifica side of Night City. Tyger claws, things got ugly for him." I replied to Jackie, knowing the history of gangs in Night city. Corpo's didn't care shit for them, allowed them to establish their own turf.

"Mhmm, gang wars, two years back. Somehow Dex got caught up with all of the craziness. 'Lotta bodies lying on the streets by the time the shootin' stopped. Scarlett is one tough leader, she doesn't back down and doesn't allow too much blood to be spilled unless if it meant establishing her territory. Eh, Dex got lucky slipping away from her, especially the radars, 'till tempers cooled. Took a hell of a long time, but now he's back." Jackie corrected me.

"Guy's up to his arms in blood, Jack, you wanna shake hands, and work with him?" I questioned with a confused voice. Jackie didn't know what he was gettin' himself into.

"It's biz, Rony. Everyone's got blood on their hands, you deal with it and move on." he replied with a calm voice. I sighed quietly trying to decide whether or not this was an absolutely horrible idea.

"So, what's the gig? We meant to come out in one piece?" I replied. Relying on a thin thread of faith in Jackie.

"Well...Our Savior wants to tell you everything himself. Face to face. No pressure... But the whole deal's ridin' on you now, chica." my stomach twisted when Jackie said that. My heart started to speed up. What did you get us into Jackie? And can I get us out of the deal if something goes wrong? But maybe Dex has changed.

"Alright lets hear what ol' Dex has to say. Set it up." I replied, taking a big risk. But I wanted to see this unroll and how he'll play his cards.

"Dex is the real deal when it comes down to fixers. Don't get me wrong, don't got nothin' against Podre, but Dex has a league of his own. You know what I'm sayin'?" Jackie replied.

I looked at him in confusion, "Not really, no."

"It's always the same story. You land on some fresh turf, fixer gets more eddies, then keeps on smilin' sayin' 'You'll be up to your neck full of gigs and eddies. Still, all you are is a name in their little black book. Nifty tool for what ever their client put on the table. Sure, you crack jokes over drinks... But in the end it's just biz. I'm stuffed, by the way got your wheels." Jackie explained taking a card out of his pocket.

"Gave 'em to my guy, yesterday. The car was a wreck even parked next to the curb. Got him to smooth over the dents, give it a new paint job from the scratches, and after our little dust up with the scavs. And when you use this card, where ever you are it doesn't matter, the vehicle will come to you." Jackie says with pride. He passed me the card over. I examined it seeing it was the activation card for the Quadra, I guess I don't have to use the card anymore.

I looked at the card then at Jackie in awe, "Thanks Jackie, much appreciated." I replied with a sweet voice.

"Some top-notch work, Miguel did. Rides like it looks, factory-new." Jackie sugarcoated.

I smirked, "We'll see 'bout that."

"We rollin' or what?" Jackie questioned. I swiped the surface of the card, hearing a nearby purr. The Quadra parked to the side of the curb near stand.

"Alright lets feel this factory-new ride." I teased, sliding off of the stool.

Jackie followed me over o the Quadra. My hands curled around the steering wheel.

"First stop, ripperdoc. And, chica? Easy on the gas, I just ate." Jackie begged.

"I'll try my best, my smooth driving might make you get sick anyways." I chuckled.