#Paloma Sunny Vascoe

[brokenpieces-72]

Clean Slate

Inspired by @emmster 's destiny x cod comic and art. The story includes my cod OC Paloma Vascoe, you can read more about her in Navigation. I have plans for a continuation so I hope y'all enjoy.

"HOLY SHIT!!"

Johnny hasn't been in the vanguard for more than a few minutes when he hears a shout and has armoured arms wrapped around him.

"STEAMIN JESUS!" He yells. Before he can ask his ghost what the hell is happening, he's turned around by his attacker hugger, and sees a shorter guardian, with their hood still up, wide-eyed and smiling.

"You're here! They woke you up!" The female guardian says excitedly. Johnny smiles.

"Yeah, they did." He says matching her excitement, before dropping it quickly. "...who the 'ell are you?"

The guardian gets a look of realization on her face, slight disappointment mixed in. "Oh... right. Forgot about that."

"Care to explain instead of leavin mae in the dark?" Johnny asks. The female guardian's ghost comes up next to her, looking different than his own. Johnny's own ghost speaks up.

"Some guardians we've learned have been finding memories of their past on their person, like photos and journals. I believe Marco may know you from the past." The ghost explains.

"Spot on actually. She was looking at a photo of you before running up." The other ghost confirms.

"So ya know my real name?" Johnny asks crossing his arms. Why couldn't his past self have a journal or some photos? The guardian, he guessed was Marco, nods. Odd name for a girl, but hey who could he judge.

"Johnny "Soap" MacTavish I believe. I only have a photo with some names and a half filled journal. Still, just finding a small piece is amazing." Marco says, excitement still in her eyes. Man how old was she? Then again, he had only been revived recently so age was probably irrelevant. He wouldn't read too much into that.

"The ell kind of name is Soap?" His ghost asks. Rude.

"Just fer dat, I'm callin ya Soap now." Johnny says. Marco snickers.

"I'll let you head inside the tower, I need to return to my fire team. Oh! When you're done, come find us. They'll want to see you." With a final quick hug, the guardian runs off again excitedly, doing a couple of hops and skips along the way. She was... a character.

Johnny heads into the vanguard tower.

.................

Johnny leaves his small room, stretching and yawning. He needed a nap after the crazy first day. Man was this what it was like to be born? Waking up with no knowledge, and then being thrown into a whole world you're unfamiliar with. Yep, that sounds about right. Not sure if a gunfight, a small companion and fighting some weird aliens was something babies did though. That and having weird magic abilities.

Before he found a room, he ran into Marco again, who understood his desire for rest. Again she insisted on him meeting with her and her fire team afterwards. Johnny asked Soap if there was a way to find Marco, and thankfully he did. The last thing Johnny wanted was to wander around with only his ghost to guide him. Human interaction was a strong desire, well, humanoid. Turns out Marco had left Soap a checkpoint to meet at.

Johnny glances at the other guardians, civilians, and droids roaming around the city. This was all very strange. Something in the back of his mind told him everything wasn't the way it was, but he couldn't recall what it was supposed to be like. Thankfully he spots Marco looking around for him. When she notices him she waves with a friendly smile. Johnny looks at his ghost who just looks back, with no real expectation of a response. He comes over.

Marco smiles and gives him a pat on his back as she leads him through the streets. "How was your nap?"

"Fine. Bloody starvin'." Johnny says.

"My team is getting food right now, so its on us. Hope you like asada."

"Hope so too." Johnny comments. She chuckles, taking him to a small restaurant where there are plenty of guardians sitting at tables and the bar. Johnny felt a little more comfortable, finding the location familiar in a way.

"Come on." Marco says, nudging him forward to follow her. She led him to the bar where he spots two male guardians, with one giving a large grin while the other guardian seemed to be lecturing him.

“Guess who found something rarer than any engram!” Marco says excitedly sitting down with the two guys. They both look at her then over her shoulder to see Johnny. The Titan stands and smiles wide at Johnny.

“Soap? No puedo creerlo. Good to see you.” He says, clasping Johnny on the shoulder. “Alejandro Vargas. This is my second in command Rudolfo Parra.”

The warlock raises a hand in a wave. The two seemed more seasoned than him and Marco.

“Call me Johnny.” Johnny says trying to be friendly.

“Sit, sit.” Alejandro offers. Thank god he was starving. Food was served and they all get to talking. As Johnny starts to finally get his head wrapped around everything, its like a messy ball of yarn. The three guardians talk to him like an old friend, asking him questions about what's been happening so far. Not much to say since he's only been awake for a few days. Still, they listen and give him a chance to explain everything. Any questions he has, Marco pulls out a journal and pen, directing him through creatures, hierarchies, and planets. Johnny finds himself adding to it, as he mentions what he's found in the last few days. Alejandro and Rudolfo provide any corrections. Johnny also gets some food and drink. The colour of his drink makes him uneasy, but Marco offers to try it herself. They end up doing the link arm thing as they sip. Not sure what's in it, but it puts out the heat of the spicy food they get. Johnny has to admit, he feels more comfortable asking these questions with Marco and her team than he thought. He'd never admit it but Ikora was kind of intimidating. Reminded him of someone but couldn't recall.

"So what bout this photo?" He finally asks, after learning about the Iron Age, which was when Alejandro and Rudy were revived. Apparently, Marco woke up much later and found Alejandro and Rudolfo some time after being awake. Details she would tell him more about later.

Marco takes out another journal, this one much older, with aged and cracked leather bindings, and yellowed pages. She flips through until she finds the photo, and takes it out to show him. The two lean in and Johnny finds a photo of himself, Alejandro, Rudolfo, Marco, a man in a skull mask, a guy with darker skin and a cap, and a bearded man with a boonie hat. The photo tells him his story or at least the tip of it. He was alive a very very long time ago. He was a bit more clean-shaven. And he was in the military, seeing military vests and weapons on him. Rudolfo and Alejandro looked younger as did Marco but not by much. Johnny turns the photo over and sees names scribbled on the back, matching up to the people in the photo. There he sees the name Marco gave him. Holding the photo and reading the names it's like recalling characters of a game he's only heard about. Who was he? What did he do? How did he die? Did he die because he was in the military? Did he hurt people? Were the other men revived?

A hand is on his shoulder and another is on the photo. Johnny hadn't noticed his breathing going unsteady, his leg bouncing or his heart racing until Marco settled it.

"Guardian? You okay?" Soap asks. Johnny just nods. Marco carefully tugs the photo out from under Johnny's hand. A glass of water is set down in front of him by a robotic bartender. Johnny waves, gesturing appreciation. Marco keeps her hand on his back making small circles to comfort him. The photo could be overwhelming. It had been for Alejandro and Rudolfo. After a few sips Johnny settles, taking the photo slowly.

"...Yer name is Marco?" He asks, looking at Marco. Not the first question she expected. Marco nods though, a little confused.

"The photo says you have a different name." He points out.

"Aquí vamos." Rudolfo says, taking a long sip of his drink. Alejandro pats Rudy on the shoulder, smiling.

"Shut up." Marco says with a smile before turning back to Johnny. "I think my name is Marco. And there's a few theories I have."

Alejandro and Rudolfo order more food, and chime in as Marco explains her theories about her past life. The first one isn't farfetched. Marco explains she still had dog tags when she was revived, holding them out where the name Marco is engraved. In the photo her name is listed as Paloma "Sunny" Vascoe. The last names are the same so she thinks maybe she was trans or identified as a boy but never had her dog tags changed or the wrong name was written on the photo but not on her tags. Right now though she goes by she/her.

"Could see it." Johnny says considering the idea. Alejandro thinks it's untrue, but isn't about to get into a long discussion about gender and whether it would transfer to reincarnation or revival.

"The second theory is loco." Rudy comments.

"Whats the second?" Johnny asks.

"I have a twin." Marco says.

"It's never twins!" Rudolfo argues. "If you were a twin, then there should be another one of the you walking around by now."

"You don't know that!" Marco retorts.

"So you think you have a twin?" Johnny asks, his tone very clearly siding with Rudolfo. "How would that work if you're female, the photo shows you as a female, and the name you're wearing is masculine?"

Marco gives him a look, trying to think of a counter argument. All she comes up with is, "things happen on the battle field, maybe we switched dog tags for luck."

"Nice try Mija." Alejnadro says patting her on the shoulder.

"So more than likely your real name, is the one on the photo?" Johnny asks.

"I'm just used to Marco now, it's what I was calling myself when I woke up, it's what I've been going by for a while. Sunny says the same, that my real name is likely Paloma." Marco/Paloma admits, gesturing to her Ghost.

"Johnny...sounds weird calling you that." Alejandro says.

"Maybe we just call you Soap instead." Marco comments.

"You need help around, just come find us. We'll be around and will help you with raids and missions if we can." Alejandro offers. Johnny was glad to hear it.

"Help mae with another drink?" Johnny asks.

The rest of the night and into the morning a little the four stay up talking and drinking. There was so much yet to come for them, more than any of them were going to be prepared for.

.......................

Johnny with his ghost Soap and Paloma with her ghost Sunny hide away, taking shelter. They were separated, sore, and weak. Their Ghosts are barely able to stay floating, unable to revive them, and the traveller's light cut off... they both think about that night when they all met and many others. All they can do is hope and pray. Hope and pray their friends were still alive. Hope and pray they haven't lost their light.

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[brokenpieces-72]

Do you think Johnny would get a phantom memory with the photo? Like maybe he sees Ghost and goes ‘oh he looks…oddly familiar’

Yep this is the next part now, I don’t make the rules!

Selfie Memory

“Look im telling you, same guy.” Paloma said to Rudolfo who keeps looking between the photo and the new guardian that had walked in.

“People wear masks Mija.” Rudolfo said, shrugging with disbelief. Paloma let out a dramatic groan of frustration.

Johnny and Alejandro walked into the spicy ramen shop coming up behind Rudolfo and Paloma.

“Was this about?” Johnny asked, having witnessed Paloma’s dramatic performance. Paloma straightened and tugged Johnny forward, holding up the photo.

“Same guy!” She said and pointed to the dark brooding hunter on the other side of the shop. He was sitting there in dark armour with his side facing them. Johnny looked at the photo, and then at the figure.

“Mija he has a mask.” Alejandro argued, Rudolfo agreeing with him.

“Maybe not.” Johnny said, taking the photo from Paloma, and waiting for the hunter to turn his head. Johnny eyes flick from the photo to the hunter, back and forth. “Talk to em?”

“No, Rudolfo won’t back me up.” Paloma said, looking at Rudy.

“You’re a grown woman.” Rudy pointed out.

“He’s wearing a skull mask, it’s intimidating.” Paloma admitted.

Johnny was lost in thought. “He looks…oddly familiar.” He muttered. “Excuse me.”

The other three looked up from their conversation watching Johnny as he walked up to the stranger. Soap stayed close to him, a little nervous himself.

“Pardon me.” Johnny said, giving a smile, as he stood in front of the strangers table. The masked hunter stopped eating, looking up at him. Johnny looked at the photo again. “Have we met?”

“I just woke up.” The hunter said, his voice like gravel, with a British accent. Johnny probably should’ve thought this through first, realizing it was possible the guardian was brand new. “You trying to start something?”

“Others tried that?” Johnny asked. Rude awakening.

“Some cabal. Big ugly bastards.” The hunter said.

“Yeah no shit.” Johnny said. “Listen… this is gonna sound crazy but I think you and I might know each other.”

“I owe you money? Doubt it counts for anything given I’ve been dead.” The way he said it sounded rather threatening. A warning to not fuck with him, and Johnny knew how it might have sounded. Johnny pulled out the chair across from him, and set the photo down on the table, showing him.

“…the ell is this?” The hunter asked looking at the photo of Johnny and his friends. The way he looked at it though, there was consideration in the way he pulled it closer. Johnny could relate knowing how he felt seeing the photo for the first time.

“I believe… my friend believes we all knew each other in the past.” Johnny exclaimed.

“Military?”

“Special forces.”

“Explains a lot.”

“Like what?”

“Muscle memory. As soon as I woke up, I reached for a weapon that wasn’t there.” The hunter said.

“Johnny MacTavish.” Johnny said holding his hand out to shake.

“Don’t have a name.” The hunter said. Johnny took the photo and flipped it over, showing the stranger his name.

“So I could be Alejandro, Paloma or Rudolfo?”

“They’re over there.” Johnny jerked his head towards his friends. When the hunter looked over he noticed the three people from the photo, who seemed to look away. The girl waved. “I think you’re… Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley.”

“Guess I am a ghost.” Simon said, his own ghost looking at him.

“Can I call you Simon?” Johnny asked.

“Can I call you Johnny?” He asked back.

“With Johnny’s help?”

“I can’t call Soap Johnny.”

“Don’t. Only Ghost can pull that off.”

“You alright?” Simon asked. Johnny didn’t notice he’d been spacing out for a moment there.

“Yeah. Fine. You uh…” he looked over at the group. “Couldn’t hurt to meet the rest of ‘em.”

Simon looked over seeing the three were now just talking, instead of looking busy. He’d been advised to find a team he could work with for raids and missions. Johnny was right, it couldn’t hurt. “Who’s buying?”

“Come on.” Johnny gestured, getting up from the table. “Fair warning, Paloma might talk your ear off.”

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[brokenpieces-72]

Paloma ‘Sunny’ Vascoe

TW: past trauma, hospitalized relative, gang mentions, let me know if any are missing

“You’re the reason we can’t have nice things!”

The words echoed in her mind as Paloma looked at her guardian on the hospital bed. Every echo seemed to make it feel more true. Paloma’s aunt had yelled that at her during a family gathering, when she had made a mess. This was certainly a mess, and one that couldn’t be cleaned by straightening some chairs, and ordering more food.

Paloma had been running with the Narcos for a while, and it was to keep her guardian safe. There was money involved as well, which she used to help her father, Marco Vasco pay the bills. Of course, to keep both sides a secret, she wore a mask, and hid it from everyone else in her adoptive family. None of the narcos knew of her father.

Over time she started getting in too deep, the money was getting bloodier and good people were dying, and a couple by her own hands. The risks were getting higher, with special forces having to step in over the cops.

In desperation, she resorted to selling information to the right people. The cops were practically useless and the Mexican military could rat her out easily. That left one other group. The Los Vaqueros. Her father’s old military squad.

Alejandro Vargas was a family friend of her father. If she gave him the information directly though, there was still a lot of risk. He might arrest her, tell her father, hell for all she knew he might shoot her on site. Coming face to face was too dangerous.

At the end of the day, the Narcos had to be stopped. If they were stopped and she was selling information, she might be spared from jail time. For a while it did work. She used burner phones to message Alejandro, offering information, for a reasonable price. Bills could still get paid and no one in the Narcos was the wiser. Or so she had thought.

A few hours ago she had come home, to find her father on the floor in their home, beaten within an inch of his life. He was gasping for air, there was blood everywhere, and white sheet with words she didn’t care about. In panic and desperation she called for help, and even called Alejandro to meet her at the hospital. Speaking to the police didn’t feel safe for her. Especially alone with her father in a comatose state. While she sat in the hospital, no cops had shown up.

“I’m really sorry…” she whispered to her father. “I just wanted to help.”

The only response she got from him was the steady beep of the heart monitor. Memories echoed in her mind along with the words of her aunt.

“You’re the reason we can’t have nice things.”

Time living on the streets, pickpocketing money for food, begging for help, running away from dogs and thugs, being offered food and fresh clothes by a man she barely knew, coming back to see him and thank him, sitting down with the man to talk and helping around his home, getting patched up after a nasty fight, being given a meal, a bed, a home, a family. Once again tears filled her eyes, and she took a sip of water, sniffling.

Then she heard a couple of voices talking outside the room. Her attention snapped to the open door, and her hand was on a pocket knife hooked to her belt. Another voice spoke and she recognized it.

Alejandro walked in to the room, eyeing his friend before the girl sitting off to the side. He walked further in, eyes never leaving the patient, muttering to himself. The girl continued to watch the colonel, ignored.

Wasn’t the first time either. The girl was rarely loud without her mask on. Alejandro had met her on a couple of occasions, but she was always intimidated by him.

After a few minutes of silence he finally acknowledged her.

“You talk to the police yet?” He asked her. She shook her head.

“Don’t trust cops. Never have.” She said, still hugging her knees on the small chair.

“Good. Tell me what happened.” He said. The girl looked up at him. What the hell could she tell him? That she was selling information from the Narcos to Alejandro himself? She had been working with the Narcos and her father had no idea? Selling the information might have gotten her father almost killed? She fidgeted in her chair, looking away from Alejandro’s eyes. Something about them seemed to pierce into her, like a letter opener, cutting into the envelope of her dark secrets. Paloma just shook her head.

“Mija. I need to know what happened.” He exclaimed. No, he didn’t, she thought, he didn’t need to know anything. Not about why it happened, how it happened or that it was her fault. Alejandro had been there when her aunt had said those words to her. She shook her head again. Alejandro sighed.

The kid was scared, had every reason to be. Shy, small thing, just trying to do her best. He’d seen what happened when her aunt lashed out at her, the look of pain and horror that had been on the girl’s face. Honestly, he was relieved she hadn’t been home to be caught by the Narcos. It gave him a witness, something that was hard to come by. He sent Rudolfo Parra to investigate the scene before it could be tampered with.

Alejandro needed her to talk though. The more he knew from her, the better. With her father in a coma, she would need a place to stay as well. Leaving her alone in the hospital didn’t sit right with him. There was a safe house he could take her to or even give her a bunk on base to help her feel safe. The only way he was leaving with her though is if she could talk to him first. Then he could get her witness protection with his own jurisdiction.

Alejandro softened a little, and pulled up a chair next to her. Marco had pulled through on more than one occasion for him. The least he could do in return was look after his adopted kid.

“Mija…” he said softly. She seemed to flinch at his words. “You don’t have to tell me everything but you need to tell me something.”

“…I can’t.” She said quietly. He could hear the sobs she was desperately holding back. He needed to do this quickly though. The cops could arrive at any point and there was no way he would let them take her. Alejandro needed to try a new tactic.

“Were you listening to music on your way home?” He asked. The girl was quiet, brows knitting in confusion.

“W…what?” She asked.

“Were you listening to music on your way home?” He asked, as if he were asking how her day at school had been while sitting in a living room.

“Y-yes.” She answered, a little unsure about the question.

“Did you spend time with friends before coming home?” He asked. She nodded. “What were you doing with them?”

“We were playing pool.” She answered still a little confused.

“What colour is your house key again?” He asked.

“Uh… it’s silver.” She said. What knowledge could he get from that?

“Your Papi was wearing his jersey tonight right? For the game?” He asked, with slight friendly smile, as he props his elbows on his knees.

“N-no. There’s no game tonight.” She said. “His shirt was blue when I left.”

That was enough information. She had an alibi, no reason to break and enter and had seen her father before he was attacked. It would be enough to go on for now. The rest could come later after Rudolfo got back to him with the information from the crime scene. For now, he was going to focus on getting her somewhere safer than the hospital. His expression turned more serious.

“Mija I need to get you somewhere safe.” He said. “Your father will be in good hands, I’ll get my men to watch him just in case. My second in command is checking the crime scene now, and will get you some extra clothes.”

She said nothing, and just stared at her father, still reliving the memories.

“I can’t take you with me unless you say yes to it.” Alejandro told her.

“…I can’t leave him.” She whispered.

“I know Mija… but your father would want you to be safe. I can’t do that unless you come with me.” He said. She sniffled, and looked at the colonel. It was a side to him she hadn’t seen before. One that was more worried about protecting rather than fighting. He put a hand on her shoulder.

“He’ll make it through this Mija. I know he will.” He assured her.

At this point she didn’t see any other option. Her father would be safe, and so would she. It seemed fruitless but if there was even a chance she could recover from this, she would take it. She nodded.

“You ready to go or do you need a minute?” Alejandro asked.

“A minute.” She replied. He nodded and got up from the chair, stepping out into the hallway. He glanced inside quickly to see her leaning in, and saying something. Alejandro withdrew to give her privacy. Then his phone rang. Rudolfo?

“Vargas.” He answered.

“Colonel, we have a problem.” Rudolfo explained. “We’ve searched the house, they broke in but they also left a message.”

“Same as the others?” The colonel asked.

“No. This one says… well not sure I want to repeat it all.” Rudolfo said.

“Give me the gist of it.” Alejandro said sighing.

“The kid might be involved with the Narcos.” He put plainly. Alejandro stopped his pacing. It wasn’t unheard of for kids to get involved but why hadn’t they gone for her? He looked back to the doorway. Shy little thing was still leaning close to her dad, talking to him.

“What makes you say that?” Alejandro asked.

“You said her name was Paloma. The cloths refer to a dove’s nest being destroyed, all because of a cuckoo who couldn’t keep its mouth shut.” Rudolfo exclaimed. Alejandro went very quiet. There was no way in hell this little kid was an informant, let alone caught up with Narcos.

“Get what you can and return to base, I’m taking the kid to a safe house. Right now if she knows something she won’t be able to talk.” Alejandro said.

“Yes sir.” Rudolfo said, and Alejandro hung up.

To be continued…

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[brokenpieces-72]

Paloma ‘Sunny’ Vascoe

Part 1 this is part 2

Paloma was loaded into a military jeep with Alejandro in the driver’s seat. When she reached for the back seat, he stopped her.

“Sit up front, you’re old enough. Need someone in shotgun.” He said. Paloma followed his order. In the seat he handed her a cap, telling her to put it on, and pull her hood up. Last thing he wanted was for the narcos to know she was with him. Clearly one of them knew something about her, he wanted to keep that list as short as possible.

“Yes sir.” She said.

The drive was quiet and awkward making it feel longer. She considered confessing everything right then and there. If only to save her from the suffocating silence. Alejandro even considered forcing it out of her now. Still she was a kid, and his friend’s daughter.

“Anything you want from home? I’ll ask Sergeant Parra to grab it for you.” Alejandro offered. Paloma thought about it for a bit.

“Hoodies, tank tops…” she suggested. Alejandro nodded. Not much of a talker.

“There’s a stuffed toy on my bed… beagle… would be nice…” she trailed off. He gave a half chuckle.

“The shoe box under my bed, I’d like that too.” She asked. He raised a brow and glanced at her for a moment.

“There’s something inside…it’s private…” she admitted.

“Need anything else? Medicines, documents? Money, jewellery, pictures?”

“Don’t really have any. Never needed them.” She exclaimed. Paloma pulled her knees up to her chest, before muttering, “Can’t have nice things.”

Alejandro stole another glance at her again. She was staring out the window, curled up in a ball. Marco told the colonel he had found her like that by the door way one night. She was scared and hungry and staring off. Taken her in ever since.

Alejandro and Marco had enlisted together. The two men remained friends even after Marco left, and he considered Alejandro family. One day Alejandro appeared at the house and found the girl in the living room before she hurried away like a startled cat.

Marco had to reassure Paloma that Alejandro was a guest, before she would even stay in the same room as him. The most recent time he’d seen Paloma was at a family gathering where she had made a mess all because of a table cloth getting caught on her belt. He remembered seeing her run away when Marco’s sister went off on her. The way Marco had chewed out his own sister was brutal, especially in front of everyone there. Marco loved Paloma, even if they didn’t share blood. Clearly Paloma loved him back.

“You are the nice thing Mija.” Alejandro told her. Paloma looked at Alejandro. “Marco told me so himself.”

There was more going on here, someone saw Paloma doing something. If she was an informant her intel had been a great help. Now she was paying the price for good deeds.

………

Rudolfo showed up to the safe house, with a small bag of her stuff, Alejandro letting him in. Certainly the first time he’d picked up items for a teenage girl. Then again he’d never expected to be assisting with witness protection of a teenage narcos.

“You talk to her yet?” He asked. Alejandro shook his head.

“Don’t want to scare her anymore than I have to. I have a plan.” The colonel said quietly.

Before the two men could discuss it further, they heard footsteps approaching. Paloma stood in the hallway, with her hoodie still on and the hat off. Rudolfo offered her a small smile as did Alejandro.

“Comfortable Mija?” Rudolfo asked.

“I will be.” She said, eyeing the bag of stuff. Rudolfo came over and gave her the bag.

“I got some extra clothes for you.” He exclaimed, handing the bag over. She returned his friendly smile.

“Thank you. Is um… is Marco awake yet?” She asked, hopeful. Rudy was caught off guard a bit.

“I haven’t been there yet. Someone is watching him though, I assure you.” Rudy said.

“Thank you again.” She said, before turning and going back to the bedroom, walking quickly. Rudolfo had to admit, he too was struggling to see how such a quiet girl could get involved with Narcos so closely. The door was shut behind her, and both men heard a lock turning.

“You have a plan Hermano?” Rudy asked. Alejandro nodded, looking toward her bedroom.

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[brokenpieces-72]

Paloma 'Sunny' Vascoe

Part 1. Part 2. This is part 3

Alejandro had requested information from her, via text to a burner phone she kept in the shoe box. Once she had gotten her bag, it had been the first thing she checked. All she sent back was a message asking for some time. The usual spot she’d gone to for the exchanges was clearly unsafe, not to mention some distance from the safe house. A new spot was required.

There was a knock on her door, and she quickly put the phone back in to the shoe box, before shoving it under the bed. Paloma answered the door. Alejandro explained he needed to leave the safe house, and it would be safe and secure. Before that though he showed her where the weapons were stashed in the house just in case.

Paloma waited until he left the house with Rudolfo, listening for the sound of the vehicles leaving. Paloma took some time on her personal phone, to check a location she’d seen on the way to the safehouse.

An abandoned zoo. That would work. No one would be around, no security footage and hopefully no other Narcos.

Paloma took the shoe box out again and checked the message Alejandro had sent her, properly.

A: I need some information tonight, can you meet?

?: hang on, need a minute.

Paloma texted him back.

?: New location. Abandoned Zoo. Give me a couple of hours.

A: How much?

Paloma thought about it for a minute, staring at the phone. She set it down and got changed into darker clothing, ripped black jeans, a dark grey shirt and a black hoodie. After taking her fingers through her hair quickly, she tied her hair back. She tried a bandanna around her head, knotting it under her ponytail, and then put on the skeletal bandanna over her face. The hood covered the top of her face enough at night, so she couldn’t be seen as easily. Thankfully Alejandro respected his informant’s privacy.

Paloma stuffed a few things into her pockets and checked her phone.

A: How much?

He would be pissed upon meeting her. Not like the two got along all that much, their transactions were quick, with him having little patience for her antics. Tonight though, would be bad. Marco had been attacked. She recalled the weapons stash. Just in case, she told herself. Paloma could shoot. A hand gun couldn’t hurt. As she opened the stash, and reached for one of the hand guns, she noticed her hands were shaking. Call it off? No. No she had to give him the information no matter what he asked for.

The hand gun was strapped to her belt and gidden under her t-shirt. Paloma got the burner phone and saw the last text again. She couldn’t tell him no, he would question it. There was always a price for information. If it wasn’t money then it was an exchange of more information.

A: how much?

?: Sorry in a rush. $100, but you know my interest rates.

Paloma tucked everything into a small over the shoulder backpack and hurried out of the safe house.

Meanwhile Alejandro watched through a tablet, as his informant fled the safehouse. He hadn’t told her about the cameras. Alejandro sighed, with Rudolfo sitting next to him in the jeep. He’d figured her out, but deep down he had wanted to be wrong.

…………

Paloma found an opening in the fence bordering the abandoned zoo. She slipped in and texted Alejandro to see how far out he was.

A: Another hour.

?: aight

For a moment she pulled her bandanna down from her face, breathing in the muggy Las Almas air. She needed some time to get into her informant persona. Personality went a long way, keeping her home life and Narcos life separate. It hadn’t done enough, but at this point there was no going back. Safer to keep up the facade with Alejandro, otherwise she could lose her only father for good. Lose the only safety and family she’s ever known.

Paloma heard a jeep pulling up and meandered over to it, covering her face once again. She traipsed over the cracked and crumbled asphalt and cement walkways before hopping on to a short wall. The young narcos paced along her wall, with her hands behind her back, each step being animated, like a guilty cartoon character trying to walk away without getting caught. The jeep’s lights remained on, as she heard two doors open and close from the sides. There was still the wrought iron gate between them, as she turned on her heel and then hopped back off the wall. The two special forces men stood in front of the gate, with her on the other side. She went over to them keeping the hood up in a way that still shadowed her eyes.

“Well what can I do for you gentleman?” She asked, tilting her head to the side. Alejandro’s eyes bearing into her, while a normal response, this time shut down her antics quickly. She swallowed hard.

“…okay… definitely not a social call then. Must be pretty serious information you need from me.” The narcos said.

“You know what I want pendejo.” He said. Paloma went very still and very quiet. Oh fuck she was in big shit now.

“A little lost there colonel. You didn’t tell me anything in the texts.” Paloma said, failing to hide her nervousness.

“He didn’t need to.” Rudolfo corrected. The narcos was feeling very fortunate there were iron bars between her and the two men. Her gaze dropped as she debated whether to make a run for it. There’s a chance still.

“You mean the recent attack. Heard about it, not sure what else I can tell ya…” she said keeping her head down.

“Why did they go after him?” Alejandro asked. “The full truth.”

Paloma sighed. Fuck it. There was no point.

“I thought I was being careful.” She said quietly. “I swear I never meant for any of it to happe-“

“What the fuck did you think would happen?!” Alejandro snapped.

“I joined to keep them off of us! I didn’t have anything before Marco and being with him kept me safe! That’s why I started selling the intel!” She exclaimed, emotions were erupting in her chest and out her throat. “I could get money to help Marco, try to keep him out of harm’s way, and help you guys take down the narcos. Now it’s all gone wrong and I don’t know how! I swear I thought he was safe!”

She buried her face in her hands. Alejandro shook his head, while Rudolfo crossed his arms.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Rudolfo asked. Paloma dropped her hands.

“I was scared… didn’t want to lose the only family I had. But I already fucked that up. I swear the intel stuff was just to help pay bills. Marco didn’t know anything about it.” Paloma said. Alejandro stepped away from the gate, shaking his head. Kid was in over her head that was for sure, and she’d put herself there.

“I joined the narcos so I could stay safe, and keep Marco out of it. I didn’t want anything to do with it after we killed some poor guy who was just living on the streets.”

She continued. “It’s why I went to you directly. If you had the information, there was no chance of it going wrong. Marco trusted you. Raids and attacks could be stopped before they happened.”

Alejandro paced around while Rudolfo was watching Paloma. She was right the information had been useful. He understood why she did it but now there were consequences. Ones she hadn’t prepared for. He believed her, it was a matter of trusting her.

“Can you get more?” Alejandro asked. Paloma looked at him, eye widening slightly. She looked at Rudolfo and then back at Alejandro, before nodding.

“I can try.” She said. Alejandro sighed.

“Keep doing it.” He ordered.

“Colonel?” Rudolfo looked at his friend a little confused.

“You can get me more information than get it. Keep doing it. You’re good at it. Find out who learned your name. We’ll take care of it together.” He said, almost begrudgingly. “Not losing my best source.”

Paloma nodded. “Yes sir.”

“When you go back, you have to cover all of this. Marco, the exchanges, the safehouse, everything. It never happened.”

Paloma nodded, straightening up.

“If anything goes wrong you need to tell us, either me or Sergeant Parra.” He ordered. She nodded again.

“…what happens now?” She asked.

“Head back to the safe house. I need to finish up some work at the base.” She nodded and waited.

“Dismissed.” He said. Paloma gave him a tiny smile under the bandanna, nodded before hurrying off into the zoo. Rudolfo joined Alejandro back to the jeep.

“You think she’ll be okay?” Rudolfo asked.

“We’ll see.” Alejandro said. “She’s good. I think she can.”

Rudolfo nodded and got into the vehicle with his colonel.

Note: There is more to come but in terms of the overall backstory of how Paloma got involved with Alejandro and the Los Vaqueros this is the finale. I intend to post more later on. If you have any suggestions, ideas, questions or requests, feel free to use the Request button or leave a comment.

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