(A/N: Nearly 12 chapters since the last Isaribi chapter, and we're going to cover another batch of missions.)

Cue Opening Theme: GTA 4 - Soviet Connection ~slowed~

TWG:R

~Endless Possibilities Arc~

Chapter 23: Liberty City Isaribi Chronicles 4

Liberty City, 2008. I arrived home after getting a call from Danica. Given I had not seen her in a while, I was curious about the visit. She actually did dress differently as she didn't really get the full-on custom spy look until much later. She actually had a look before that. Looking back, it's no wonder I got closer to Danica considering she was one for being an independent contractor. Estelle still had her loyalty to the Lost…mostly due to her father. I actually got a text on the way home from her that she, Johnny, and her dad dealt with some cop problem they had.

Danica Grossman. Or Danica Turbinado, as she went by. She, like Isaribi, was a young buck of eighteen years trying to make it in the city. She, Isaribi, and Estelle were friends…especially given their fathers were all in the Lost. However, unlike Estelle or Isaribi, she didn't desire to join the Lost MC.

Isarbi saw Danica had taken to a new style: a green Spyde track top under a sand colored flight jacket, camo fatigues, dog tags in a chain around her neck, brown combat boots, and tinted wide sunglasses.

"Military look? Really?" Isaribi asked.

"I can't afford the look I really want just yet. I did with what I could get." Danica said. "I noticed your employer was lucky enough to get you a new place. From the looks of the location, not enough to get him out of debt, but enough to get you a small foothold in Algonquin. Let's go inside."

She let Danica in as they sat to have tea.

"I'm worried about Estelle…Billy is going to be the death of the Lost MC." Danica said.

"No shit. Every day, I closely lose reason to even remain a member when I just found a better company. Roman and Niko are like the older brothers I never had. Luis and the boys had my back too. I just don't feel the same about Johnny and the 'brothers' lately…aside from Angus." Isairbi said.

"You're treated like a snot-nosed prospect instead of a patched member. You said you had to fight Brian Jeremy and he pussed out, right? I wouldn't be surprised if the lot don't really respect you because of that." Danica said plainly. "But you are meeting different people who give you what you seek, a support network. An actual one."

Looking back, she was right. I just didn't realize it sooner. Didn't help I was hanging out less and less with Estelle…though considering what happened later that year, maybe that was for the best. Me and Danica had gelled more. We had chatted a bit more before she got into what she really wanted. Help.

The two young ladies were leaving Isaribi's apartment to get in her car, a black Patriot. The drive was not very far, merely going near the abandoned hospital.

"I see a boat." Isaribi said.

"There's my guy." Danica said. "I just need you as backup."

It was nothing to write home about. She got her weapons, the guy got his money. What did interest me was why he was selling to her…that being he was going to sell to the Faustin Mafiya, but Dimitri took over. He didn't like Dimitri and wanted to screw him over before leaving the country. I guess that explains the discounted price.

"And that's all my stock. With that, I'm out of the game." The gunrunner said. "Good luck, kid, you'll need it."

Off he went on his boat.

"I have to head out to make a delivery to one of the underground gun shops, but I need you to do something for me. I have a client, you know him. Brucie Kibbutz. He wanted to get his hands on a custom katana, from Vice City. Deliver this to him." Danica said, giving her the sword. "You can get the first pick on the lot as payment."

That was a good evening. Automatic pistols, SMGs, access to Carbine Rifles, a Rocket Launcher for a rainy day, and sticky bombs. As night was soon falling, I got to going to Broker.

Isaribi was careful riding back into Broker having to drastically alter her appearance.

[No.1]

At Brucie's shop, Niko had arrived to see what Brucie had in store for him this time. Brucie was shirtless working on himself.

"Hey, Brucie, what's up?" Niko said, fluffing his Spyde track top.

"Hey, Niko B, come here. Show me the love. Man hug time." Brucie said before they both heard a coming engine.

"Brucie, you in?" Isaribi said walking in.

"Isarib-Whoa."

I had designed to pass myself off as a Triad. How did I did that? Dolling myself up and wearing some of the clothes I did jack from some Triads in the past.

Isaribi wore a black Chinese cheongsam with gold lining that shows both of her legs, a white jacket, black low-heeled boots, and make up to make her appear a tad older given the lipstick, eyeliner, and eyeshadow.

"Isaribi, damn…you looking to party in Chinatown because you are smoking!" Brucie said as Isaribi rolled her eyes.

"Nah, I came like this to make sure the Russian dickheads don't realize it's me. Though considering I am driving Faustin's Turismo…" Isaribi said as Brucie laughed. "But I got something for you."

She revealed the sword and he hugged her.

"Aw hell yeah, this is grade A Vice City metal. They made a bunch of these in the 1980s, a piece of history. But you know what we're all about, you, me…and Isaribi." Brucie said, turning his attention to Niko.

"I'm an immigrant, and a hired gun. Isaribi's a hired gun and you're a steroid junkie, but we get along." Niko said.

"No! Not that stuff, that's superficial. I'm talking about the real shit. That we are winners!" Brucie said. "Survivors!"

"So what's the plan?" Isaribi asked.

"Tonight, I want to ride my friend, Niko, and see that Red Army driving in action for a race tonight." Brucie said excitedly. "We're going to ride the Bitch."

The Bitch was Brucie's Banshee. But it'd be of no use given the tuning problem. So he arranged for Niko to use Stevie's car, a yellow Comet. I wanted to get in on the race, but I opted to stay behind to work on the car.

"Yeah, it won't be too much of an issue to fix." Isaribi said over the phone.

"Isaribi, you beautiful genius. Tell you what, tell Lennie to fit your car with NOS. On the house." Brucie said.

"Thanks, B. I'll be seeing you when you get back then." Isaribi said.

The fixes weren't too hard and Niko won the race. I came out of his place in my car to hear Niko and Brucie's conversation. I wound up severing most of my business ties with him as well, aside from the occasional snatch job. Considering his juicing, I really didn't want to kill people because he was having roid rage. But I was making efforts to aid Brucie about said juicing.

"Good to know I still got you both as friends, but we should hang in the future. Isaribi, we got to hang out so you can show me some martial arts." Brucie said as Isaribi chuckled as he went inside.

I wasn't really offended by then given I did know martial arts.

"We got to deal with Manny, hopefully for the last time." Niko remarked.

[The Snow Storm]

Our last job for Manny was tedious as hell, and if it wasn't for the fact that I got paid, I wouldn't have done. But that's not why I remember it so well. It's what immediately came after, an angry call from Elizabeta which would lead to a major change.

"You two know Jacob?" Elizabeta said, taking a breath after arguing with Jacob.

"Yeah, but you're all red in the face. What happened?" Isaribi said being as calm as possible.

"Jacob tells me it wasn't him. But some people he introduced me to have ripped me off big time. And put the heat on me. I know they did. Or someone did." Elizabeta said before Isaribi put a hand on her shoulder.

"Take a deep breath." Isaribi said. "Tell me where the deal is."

"Niko, can you help us too, star?" Lil' Jacob said.

"Of course." Niko said as Isaribi nodded.

"Ok, got the details, let's go. Both of you chill the hell out, we'll deal with this." Isaribi said as she and Niko left.

"Better hope they do, or we're going to have a big problem." Elizabeta said.

Those weapons I got from Danica were put to good use. Plus I got to give the Spanish Lords, the Angels of Death, and NOOSE a black eye with Niko. But the combat high would come to a screeching halt when we got the call to meet with Lil' Jacob and some 'unknown' mook at Chase Point. We arrived…not knowing it was going to be a shitstorm.

"Jacob, what are you talking about? You know, I think you're smoking too much." Niko said as Isaribi looked around.

"Yo! Me t'ink me know where da heat a come from, ya know, king?" Lil' Jacob remarked.

"Michelle?" Isaribi said as seeing her come out of the shadows.

"Hey, Niko! Hey, Jacob. Isaribi." Michelle said.

"What are you doing here? This is no place for you, Michelle." Niko said as Isaribi looked at Michelle.

There was guilt in her eyes. Like she really did not want to be there doing this, and being that I was one for reading people. I was slowly putting two and two together. The attitude, the questions, the apartment…

"Michelle." Isaribi said darkly.

"As it happens, it is. You see, Niko, I have been working for the government. I'm afraid it's my job to watch you…and Isaribi. And now I have to ask you for the coke." Michelle said in a pained tone.

"This is a joke, right?" Niko said as it set in for him.

Looking back, I understand why Michelle did it, but I hated that she did.

"Please, please, don't make this harder for me than it already is. Look, they are about to take down Elizabeta." Michelle said assuringly.

To be honest, I would have been mad about that, but considering Elizabeta did have plenty of time to plan a retirement of sorts and decided to keep playing the game…I'm not really surprised she'd got pinched. She did get arrested several times and got caught with an underaged girl. Of course, the police would let her get enough rope to hang herself.

"I don't fucking believe this." Niko said.

"Explains a lot." Isaribi said bitterly.

"Listen... I'm sorry it had to be this way Niko. I'm really sorry. Same to you, Isaribi. Hey, you know, you both could have gone down too if you both weren't so useful.

"You fucking bitch." Niko snarled as Michelle did look hurt to hear that.

"Niko…" Michelle said sadly.

"Hold on. You mean fe say ya gwa'an let us off just like dat? Nuttin' a gwa'an?" Lil' Jacob remarked, surprised.

"Well, my employers need the help of a guy like Niko. And help from Isaribi. The office is in Algonquin. I'll call you. You know, as and when we need you both. The coke please." Michelle said as she was given the bag.

"Tsk! Cho, king, me have fe tell Elizabeth, say she nah get dat cocaine, ya know?" Lil' Jacob said as he and Niko left.

Michelle was leaving too, but Isaribi confronted her.

"I'm going to fire a shot in the dark and say IAA." Isaribi said as Michelle froze. "Look, I know you're definitely not an agent. IAA people tend to be ice cold, and you're barely holding it together."

Michelle was trying and failing to.

"I didn't think I'd get so attached. I didn't want to do it…betray you guys like that." Michelle said. "I could use a lift to my apartment. I couldn't drive here…"

I agreed to it only to get her talking, and while I was upset…leaving her in Bohan with a bag full of coke was asking for trouble.

"If I can ask, how did you end up in hot water with the government, Michelle?" Isaribi said.

"It's Karen, actually." Karen said.

I laughed. Considering the Karen memes were starting up around this time…and would explode just two years later, this was painfully ironic.

"Yuk it up, but I had a past. But this is only between you and me…" Karen said. "You and I are a lot alike."

Isaribi raised an eyebrow.

"Coming from nothing with little options, being good at crime. I suppose I envy your affinity for not drinking heavily or doing drugs. I had that problem…to numb the pain. I ended up murdering a corrupt cop. I was 18…and I was going to get the death penalty…until the IAA came in. They got my charges suspended…and gave him a choice. Work for them and I get my freedom. So my death was faked, I was given a surname, and I was trained. Niko…was my final job. With you as a bonus…" Karen admitted. "The IAA was interested in you, making you a secondary target given your associations."

"Fuck." Isaribi snarled.

"Well shit. What…do they want me to be a snitch?" Isaribi snarked.

"Actually no, they considered that, but apparently they believe that the Lost MC is going to self-destruct with Billy out. All they want is you to make sure the Lost dies…" Karen said.

The sickening thing was the IAA was right on the money on the Lost. But it is fucked up they used me, Johnny, and the FIB to do their dirty work. I don't understand why the CIA changed their and the FBI's names to think that'll the IAA being considered the worst government body in America. But I digress, I agreed at her apartment.

"Thanks. I guess it's goodbye." Karen said. "Do me a favor, please tell Mallorie that I'm sorry for betraying her trust and that I wished her the best. Also I pulled strings to clear her and Roman's police records…least I could do."

The woman formerly known as Michelle left as Isaribi drove simply at a loss for words.

The last real conversation I'd have with 'Michelle' as Karen took her place. I had a dreamless sleep that night, completely at a loss. The next day, I had a mental health day…and so did Niko. We took a drive around not really speaking. I would be doing cab runs, but I couldn't do that given my employer's business was lacking an HQ. We had run into Mel…who got sober. And Niko and I had my third and final encounter with Brian Meech

"Thank you both, I know you had taken their lives…but I guess it was going to end that way. Some people won't change, but many can. I'm glad you two are still around after that's happened." Brian said as Niko drove up to the spot. "I guess this is it…the last time we'll meet. Thanks for the offer…we'll contact you after me and the fiancee leave Liberty. We figured we'd get out of Liberty for a bit, get better away from the city for a bit."

"Probably for the best." Isaribi admitted.

Seeing Mel and Brian change for the better was surprisingly soothing…a brief lull from the dreariness of yesterday.

(A/N: Merry Christmas, I hope you enjoyed my present to you all. Four chapters full of content. Let's cover some ground, the Isaribi flashback chapters are well on their way. I looked up a bit of an order to have all three game's missions go, and I actually matched up to most of it. As it stands, I'm a few missions away from GTA IV's halfway point. The next Isaribi flashback chapter will cover the early McReary missions and one TLaD mission. Moving on, I expanded a bit on Michelle to give a bit of an explanation to why she's with the IAA…and hint to how she ends up cold by V. I also wanted to build up Brian a bit as well.)