Authors' Notes: Okay, here goes. This is a joint story written by none other than UsagiPrincess (As Long As You're Here) and PrincessScout91589 (Fallen Angel). Basically what it comes down to is that we're two extremely bored teenagers just trying to make it through school. When you're reading, you might want to try and guess who wrote each chapter (yes, we are both writing different chapters). Occasionally, you may get an author's note from one of us individually, but just keep watching for these. Enjoy, and please review!

UsagiPrincess: Hi everyone. No, I'm not abandoning Life Goes On, yet.this is just one of three joint stories that I'm writing with my buds. Look for the other ones coming. Enjoy the first chapter, which (I'll go ahead and tell you) is PrincessScout91589's chapter. Please review!! :)

Chapter One

*Japan*

"Okay, Dixon, I'm going radio silent."

"Be careful Syd," he replied. I just loved these smash and grab jobs. This one was as simple as they got. I was in Japan, near the base of Mount Fuji, stealing a Rambaldi artifact from an underground cave. This letter was supposed to have directions to the secret lab of Rambaldi. The CIA had a field day with this one, seeing where they could get a fake letter to lead. I pressed a button on my necklace to connect me with CIA Headquarters.

"Bootcamp, this is Freelancer, do you copy?"

"Got you Freelancer." I recognized the voice: Vaughn. "What's your status?"

"I'm in the cave, near the back. I should be less than a half mile away from the letter."

"Good. No sign of Sark or anyone?"

"No, but I've still got a half mile, you never know." I heard him laugh on the other end.

"Way to be optimistic."

"Thanks. I think I've reached the letter. I'm switching back to Dixon."

"Okay, be careful." What, did everyone think I was going to go and get myself killed?

"I will." I pressed the necklace again. "Dixon, I've got the letter. I'll meet you at the extraction point in twenty minutes."

"Okay Syd, see you there." I started heading for the mouth of the cave when the ground started to shake. I switched to CIA signal and hoped that they knew what was going on.

"Bootcamp, what's going on? The ground's shaking."

"Syd, it's an earthquake, get out of there. Now!" I didn't know earthquakes came on this fast. Rocks started falling from the ceiling, giving me the great idea to run. As I approached the mouth of the cave, a figure came into view.

"Ms. Bristow, lovely to see you again," Sark said mockingly.

"I would talk to you, but I kind of have a cave falling on my head!" I retorted, started to run past him. He grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him. "Okay, hands off, jerk!" I jumped as Vaughn's voice streamed into my ear.

"Is that Sark?" he asked. I heard the worry in his voice. It made me smile for a second, but then I remembered the situation. "Syd, there's a gun in your back pocket. Aim at it Sark. Hopefully he'll let go."

"Thanks!" I pulled the gun from my pocket and put it to Sark's head. "Now, like I said, hands off." Sark immediately dropped my arm, but he smiled.

"Temper, temper, Ms. Bristow. You'll get away this time, but think more next time." He ran off, leaving me standing alone in the cave.

"You all right, Syd?"

"Yeah, Vaughn. I'm okay. Looks like my guardian angel strikes again" I practically heard him smile on the other end.

"You've got to meet Dixon, right?"

"Yeah, I'll see you later."

"See you at home," I started running to the place where I was to meet Dixon. He was waiting in the jeep SD-6 had provided.

"Syd, where'd you go? Suddenly you went radio silent in the middle of talking to me."

"Sark showed up, he must have had a signal jammer. I got the letter." I pulled out the fake, almost laughing. After analyzing it, it would lead SD- 6 to the middle of Zimbabwe. Good luck finding a secret lair there.

Dixon started driving and I got sort of sleepy. I curled up in my seat and let myself drift off to sleep.

I awoke to bright lights around me.

"Dixon, are we at the airport?"

"Almost, Syd. You've been out for a half hour. You should get up now though. We'll be there in five minutes."

I sat up and looked at my surroundings. We were at the edge of Tokyo, where the buildings were between skyscrapers and four level buildings. I saw the airport ahead, awaiting our arrival.

Dixon pulled up to a private terminal, where a jet was waiting for us. I got on and saw Sloane had gone all out on this one. The jet had nice recline-able seats and mini TV's by a couple seats.

I sat down and looked at the movie choices. Mission: Impossible, nah too close to home. Star Wars: Episode Two, yeah, like I needed to see a movie about a forbidden relationship. I soon settled with Legally Blonde. But five minutes into the flight, I fell back asleep, getting the rest I sorely needed.

The plane landed at about eight-o-clock, LA time. I left the plane and went straight home. Sure, I had gotten a good night's sleep, but I had to check in with Francie.

"Hey, Francie?" I ventured.

"You home already? I thought we weren't supposed to see you until next year!" she called back sarcastically.

"Funny, very funny. Why did you open up a restaurant when you could have opened a comedy bar?"

"Sorry, Syd. Where were you this time?"

"Japan. Boring foreign client who only spoke Japanese, so I had to have this translator." I had planned what I was going to say a while ago. "I think he tried to ask me out, but I said I didn't understand with his accent."

"Come on, you haven't gone out in so long! I swear, working for that bank is going to be the death of you.

If only she knew, I thought, if only she knew.