Disclaimer: I don't own anything you may recognise. This applies to the entire fic


Chapter 1

"I'm bored". Amber Middleton slowly sat up and slipped a large T-Shirt over her bikini and beautifully bronzed black skin. Next to her, Anglo - Chinese Li opened one eye half-heartedly.

"Oh Amber" she muttered, "I thought you loved sunbathing"

"I do," protested Amber, now slipping on her flip-flops. " But I want to do something together, we don't see each other much now, and we're wasting our time sunbathing".

Li grinned. Amber was speaking the truth. This was the first time Alpha Force had met up in a while, on Paulo's ranch in Argentina. They hadn't had a mission in ages. And, since the incident on the island they had been extremely close to one another.

Li stood up too.

"OK" she said, "Let's get the boys". Both girls peered down next to where Li was lying. Paulo was sprawled out, snoring gently. Amber giggled.

"Awwww" smiled Li "So sweet". She turned to Amber with a glint in her eye, "Let's wake him up!" She smiled wickedly

"What do you have in mind?" Amber said tilting her head

"Oh I'll think of something, you go and get Alex and Hex, I'll deal with Paulo". Amber walked off, a little reluctantly, she wondered what Li had in store, but she went in anyway.

She arrived in the cool interior of the lobby, and after the brightness of the sun outside it took her eyes a little while to adjust. She peered around. She couldn't see the boys anywhere. Both coming from England, neither of them had jumped at the prospect of lying in the scorching sun for hours on end, preferring cooler weather.

She heard a shout from upstairs. Amber trotted up the stairs that led up from the lobby. She came into a large room, filled with things like dartboards and pool tables. This was the part of the ranch where guests could come and spend their free time, in between riding lessons and trips.

Alex and Hex were at a table tennis table, and judging by the looks on the boy's faces, Alex had just beaten Hex.

Amber walked up.

"What's the score?" she asked, leaning on the table. Alex suppressed a grin, he didn't show off, or try to make out he was better or anything, but he still looked pleased.

"One game each" he said, "Want to sit in on the decider?"

"Actually" said Amber standing up "I was hoping that we could go and do something together".

"Like what?" frowned Hex, his green eyes squinting

Amber shrugged.

"Dunno. But there's no point in hanging around like this all day. We're a team, a force. We should be doing something, not just sunbathing and having tennis matches." She looked at Alex, "Come on!" Alex grinned and nodded

"Okay" he said, his Northumbrian accent coming through "Call it a draw eh Hex?"

"Yeh I spose" mumbled Hex. He looked at Amber "Where are the other two? Probably flirting again no doubt".

"They're outside" answered Amber "Come on".

The three of them made their way back outside, to find Li and Paulo in the middle of a full-blown water fight.

"What's going on?" laughed Hex ducking as the water came his way. Li, who ran past holding a hosepipe glanced at them innocently.

"I just woke him up!" Paulo, soaking wet, who had a bucket full of water glared at her jokingly

"I do not call soaking me waking me up!" He chucked another load of water at Li, but miss aimed and ended up covering – Amber.

Paulo and Li froze. Amber just shook her head, and then looked up, grinning. She grabbed the hosepipe from Li and chased after Paulo.

Hex getting in on the fun grabbed another bucket and joined in.

Soon it developed into a full-scale water fight, even the drawn back Alex joining in and two natural teams formed. Girls verses boys.

After a while, when most of the water had been sucked up greedily by the sandy ground, they calmed down and went inside to get dry. After showering and changing, they met up in Alex and Hex's room, in the guest quarters.

"Well I guessed we found something to do," sighed Li. Her long black hair was down, and still wet, making it shine. Paulo sat next to her.

"You did start it though," he laughed, patting her arm.

Amber, on the bed rolled her eyes.

"So what now?" She asked. Alex looked at Hex.

"Do you have your palmtop?" Hex grinned

"Of course, as always", he slipped out the small black computer from its case on his belt. "Why?"

"Why don't you e-mail John and see if anything's come up?"

Hex, without questioning began to load up the palmtop, his fingers flying across the keys. Amber sighed

"Alex we e-mailed my uncle just a few days ago, there was nothing then anyway. I really don't think that…"

"Got something" Hex cut her off. Amber did a double take.

"What? But…" She glared at Alex. "How did you know?" He shrugged.

"Instinct". Amber rolled her eyes

"Oh you and your stupid survival instincts!" She grinned at Alex to show she was joking, although knowing each other so well Alex already knew.

"So" said Li leaning forward. "What've you got Hex?" He turned and looked at them all.

"We're going to be helping some scientists do some research, they're short on staff at the moment, and from what John says, it could prove vital in future research"

"So what type of scientists are they?" asked Amber. Hex turned and grinned

"Vulcanologists". Amber's eyes grew wide, and Alex's eyebrows rose.

"Volcanoes? Wow!" said Li.

"So where will we be going?" asked Paulo. There was a slight pause before Hex continued.

"Columbia".