Fuego | Triple Frontier

𝟷𝟷

𝚈𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚂 𝙻𝙰𝚃𝙴𝚁

Val watches as Santiago drifts to sleep, his head lulling back as the sound of the helicopter is drowned out by Metallica playing over his headphones. She gives him a gentle kick in the foot, careful to not hit his bad knees. He jolts up and glares at her, making her smile as he all but turns up the volume. Her fingers are preoccupied flipping a coin around and around and around again.

She listens to the Colombian police give out their orders, and even though they say it's clear, Val knows a shoot-out is coming. It always ends in a shoot-out.

Santiago and Val exit the chopper, hands placed on their side as they walk in synch, sunglasses covering their eyes and Val pops the gum in her mouth. They walk up the steps, and Santiago gives a gentle fist bump to one of the kids who watches them in awe. They get up on the rooftop, walking with their heads down so they stay covered until they kneel down by the wall. With a nod, they peer over the side to see the empty street.

The SUVs block the path, one way in and one way out as the Colombian police pour out of the vehicles with guns in hand. The officer with a bullhorn gives his demands, and instead of being met with words, he's met with a song blaring through speakers.

" ¿Cuántos dijiste que estaban allí? (How many did you say were in there?)" Val asks.

" No más de diez (No more than ten)" Officer Diego responds.

The song continues, Santi and Val exchange a look before their heads turn in the direction of the building. From the window, the see the muzzle of a gun, and not one second later, out comes a grenade that blows up one of the SUV, providing a distraction before the shooting starts.

Val and Santiago are smart, they keep their heads down and stay behind the cover, advice that one of the officers should've taken. Santiago brings his hand up to bring the officer back behind the cover, but it's too late. By the time the officer is brought back down, he has a bullethole in his skull.

" Shit," Val curses as the shooting continues, " Ustedes mantienen esta posición, vamos a encontrar otra cobertura (You guys hold this position, we're going to find other cover)"

Val then grabs Santiago and another police officer by their sleeves, dragging them with her as she goes to leave the rooftop and get to the ground level. She and Santiago press their backs against the open door as the firefight continues before them, seeing the bodies splayed all across the dirt road.

Santiago picks up a grenade launcher as Val drags a wounded police officer to rest against a van, providing him some covers as he bleeds out. Santiago looks up, before tapping Val on her shoulder, followed by her tapping the officer. Santiago leads them through the building and up the stairs, where they crouch in the corner right by an open window.

First, Val makes sure the coast is clear, then gives Santiago a nod, allowing him to take his shot and launch a grenade into the compound, but gives the officer the credit.

Valentina Rodriguez and Santiago Garcia are advisors, nothing more.

It's made clear when the hostages are tied up and their enemies are held at gunpoint and taunted by the police, but Santiago and Val stick to the side and keep their mouths shut.

" Señor, podría encontrarlo (Sir, you could find him)"

But Santiago and Val keep their heads down, ignoring the man with a gun pointed at his head, for the moment they step out of the room, the man is already dead.

Val keeps a close eye on one of the hostages, watching her every move as the hostages get piled into a truck. But before as her target gets near the officer, she takes her chance and runs.