THE FIRST NIGHT
MAVERICK.
2026, Valentia's City, Philippines
"Sawyer, Dallas, what's your status?"
A voice crackled in my earpiece as I pushed through the crowded dance floor. The thumping music and raucous laughter overwhelmed the comms, making it hard to hear. I scanned the area, searching for a quieter spot to respond.
"I'm at the bar," Frankie's voice replied, her tone steady despite the chaos around her. "No sign of the target yet."
My eyes swept across the dance floor, struggling to take in every detail. The strobing lights and sea of faces made it a challenge, but I spotted a few familiar faces – all of them on our target list. We were here for a mission, an undercover op at the Harkins Hotel, aiming to capture the notorious drug lord who'd evaded us for months.
Thanks to Callen Harkin's intel, we had a solid lead. Tonight was the night we'd finally bring him down. I turned my attention to the people around, scanning in case I saw familiar faces.
"I've spotted three of them," I reported, my voice low and even. "They're wearing suits, standing near the VIP section. I'll try to get closer."
"No, we can't afford to make any hasty moves until their boss is gone," Richie said over the comms.
"Copy, Capt." I reported back.
I subtly shifted my position, blending in with the crowd as I kept my eyes on the three suited men. When they noticed the men looking around, I mingled with the people.
"Sawyer, can you get eyes on the surrounding exits?" Richie asked on earpiece
"Already on it, Capt." Frankie's voice replied.
"Dallas, can get closer to the VIP section without drawing attention?" Richie said
"Working on it," Frankie's voice came back, her tone steady. "There's two of them here, Capt.... I'll try to get a better visual on the targets."
The music pulsed around me, the beat syncing with the racing of my heart. I calmed myself down before casually walking into the sea of people, making sure not to lose sight of my targets. This was it – the moment we'd been waiting for. We just need to wait for the perfect moment to strike. I stopped walking as I saw a familiar face.
"I have visual on the target. VIP section." I reported as I finally saw him. Julian our target. "They're moving, sir"
I kept my eyes locked on the spot where Julian had disappeared. " Let's move. Frankie, call the back up." Ritchie's voice instructed. "Keep an on them, Dallas."
"Copy, Capt." Frankie replied, her voice steady. "I've got backup en route. Dallas, you good?"
"Affirmative," I responded, my eyes scanning the hallway as I entered the VIP section. "I'm moving now."
The music and laughter receded into the background as I focused on following them carefully. We had spent months ensuring that Julian and his people would be caught, so no matter what happened tonight, I would make sure Julian would end up behind bars.
"Julian's on the move," I reported, my voice low. "Heading towards the east wing."
"Dallas!" I looked at the man behind me.
"Captain. They entered on another room." I said, we're now hiding on the blackspot watching as the other men guarding the room where Julian is.
"The back up is outside. We need to strike now." Richie determined
"Fvck!" I heard Frankie groans as the gunshot echoed through the hallway
"Frankie!"
"Shit!"
"I'm good!" Frankie replied, her voice strained. She now was firing back as Julian's men continue fire on our direction.
The hallway erupted into chaos as bullets flew in every direction. I ducked behind a nearby pillar, returning fire as I assessed the situation.
"Dallas, cover me" Richie shouted.
I nodded covering him as we moved, taking aim at one of Julian's men. I fired, hitting him in the thighs. He crumpled to the ground, clutching his wound.
"Shit, Julian is on the moved!" Frankie shouted
Richie and I continued to lay down suppressive fire, keeping Julian's men pinned behind a row of pillars across the hallway. Julian is already gone.
"Follow him. I take care here!" Frankie shouted as we move. The back-up is already firing back
We take down the men in hallway. I saw Frankie entered the room with some of the back-up while Richie and I with the other polices was running the hallway searching for Julian.
"Split up and search the east wing," Richie ordered. "We need to find him before he escapes."
I nodded, taking off down a side corridor. The sound of gunfire still echoed through the hallway, but it was dying down.
As I turned a corner, I saw a figure darting into a stairwell. My heart racing, I took off after him.
"Captain, I think I see him," I shouted into the comms.
"Keep him in sight," Richie replied. "I'm on my way."
I burst through the stairwell door, gun drawn. The sound of footsteps echoed below me. I took the stairs two at a time, my heart pounding in my chest. Suddenly, I heard the sound of gunfire coming from below. I quickened my pace, my senses on high
I took the stairs three at a time, my gun at the ready. As I reached the bottom, I saw Julian trying to escape through a side door.
I sprinted towards him, gun drawn. "Julian, stop!" I shouted.
He turned, gun in hand, and fired. I ducked behind a nearby pillar, returning fire. Julian stumbled back, clutching his arm.
"Drop your gun, now!" I shouted.
"You're not taking me down, junkhead!" Julian shouted, firing again.
I ducked behind the pillar, assessing the situation. I needed to take him down without getting hit.
"Julian, it's over," I shouted back, peeking around the pillar to take aim.
He fired again, and I returned fire. We exchanged shots, the sound of gunfire echoing through the hallway.
I heard Richie's voice in my earpiece. "Maverick, I've got your six. Hold tight."
"You're not going anywhere, Julian," I shouted, firing again.
Julian stumbled back, but he kept firing. I took aim, trying to get a clear shot.
Finally, I saw my chance. I fired, hitting him in the thighs. Julian crumpled to the ground, clutching his wound.
"It's over." I said, moving with my gun pointed on him. "Don't try to escape, dump ass." I said as I handcuffed him.
"Dallas!" Richie arrived with the others.
"It's over Captain." I said, smiling on him
Richie smirked. "Good job, Dallas." He take over Julian. "Julian Timajo, You're under arrest for multiple counts of drug trafficking and attempted murder..." Richie said.
Julian glared at us, but he knew it was over. Richie walked him outside while I checked the room where Julian and his mens entered earlier.
"Frankie." I called the woman standing on door wearing only her white sando. Her silver-ash hair ties in pointy "What the hell happened to you?"
"Hey.. turned out Julian is not only a druglord but also a kidnapper. He's kidnapped teenage women for intertement. That fvcker!" Frankie voice was cold, her thick eyebrows frowned.
"Damn. I wish I'll aim him on the head." I said, shaking my head. "Let's go. What happened to your clothes?" I asked again while walking
"I'll gave it." She simply said
I didn't ask any more questions and just nodded. We leave the room, and went outside where the police cars parked in front of the Hotel. The media is already there. I scanned the entire area and saw Richie talking to Mr. Callen, and his wife. I quickly pulled Frankie to thank the two of them.
"Let's go." I said.
"Sawyer, Dallas." Richie called us as we reached them.
"Mr. And Mrs Harkin, thank you for your cooperation. It's a big help for us." I said shaking their hands
I saw Richie hitting Frankie, signaling her to speak too.
"Yeah, thank you." She simply said, and looked away
"I'm glad to help. You can ask us for any help you want, my company owned your department a lot." Mr Harkin said smiling
"Just hit us anything you want." Mrs Harkin said
"It's our duty to protect citizens here in Valentia's, and noted that ma'am, sir." Richie said
Mr. Harkin nodded, his smile still plastered on his face. "I appreciate your dedication. We'll make sure to support your department in any way we can."
We nodded, glancing at Frankie who was standing beside me, her expression stoic.
"Let's get back to the station and process Julian," Richie said, turning to us. "We've got a lot of work to do."
I nodded, following Richie towards the police car. Frankie fell into step beside me, her eyes scanning the surrounding area. The media swarmed around the hotel, trying to get a statement.
I glanced at Frankie, who was staring out the window, her expression still cold, usual. The ride to the station was quiet, each of us lost in our own thoughts. When we arrived, we got to work processing Julian and gathering evidence.
The investigation would take time, but we'd finally gotten our man. And with Callen Harkin's cooperation, we might be able to uncover even more about Julian's operation.
—
Hours passed. I didn't realized it's already five in the morning. We didn't sleep yet because of evidence we needed to gather before giving it to Lieutenant Finley.
"Alright! I'm going to pass this evidences. Take a rest. Go home." Richie exclaimed.
"Copy!" I replied, voice low. After the operation, and staying all night. I felt exhausted. "Frankie, wanna grab coffee before headed home?" I asked the woman removing her glasses and lead on her chair.
Her yellow eyes landed on me, usual there no expression. It's always cold as if she doesn't have any emotion. If I don't know her I'm surely gonna run.
"No, thanks." She replied, simply before standing up and grab her jacket the leave
I just watched her, shaking my head before leaving. I drove my car into my apartment. I doesn't have a time to shower when I felt my eyelid heavily. I collapsed onto the couch, my body sinking into the cushions. The exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks, and I couldn't fight it anymore.
As I closed my eyes, the events of the night replayed in my mind. The adrenaline rush, the gunfire, the thrill of the chase... it all seemed like a distant memory now.
My breathing slowed, and my muscles relaxed. I felt myself drifting off to sleep, the softness of the couch enveloping me.
The last thing I remembered was the sound of my own ragged breathing before I succumbed to the exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.
The darkness closed in, and I was out.