Demand her bunk.

Jane crossed to her bunk and looked down at the black woman, she was

large and shaven headed. Jane tapped her on the shoulder, the woman's

eyes opened and she pulled the headphones down so they hung about her

neck.

"This is my bunk." Jane said quietly.

The coloured woman sized Jane up and her top lip curled into a sneer

as she looked at the smaller woman in her crisp, new uniform.

"Eat me, cherry." She drawled.

Jane felt her skin flush as the black woman moved the headphones

back to her ears and closed her eyes. She could feel the eyes of the

other marines in the room upon her. To be called a cherry, an

unblooded recruit, made her mad after her three years of service.

With one quick movement Jane overturned the bunk. The coloured girl

landed reletively lightly in the zero gee and pushed herself upright.

Jane's adversary took up a fighting stance and Jane quickly used her

knowledge of unarmed combat to read her intentions. The attack, when

it came was swift and accurate, but to someone who had finished top

of her year in officers acadamy as Jane had, was predictable and

unimaginative.

Jane easily dodged the kick aimed at her knee, then swiveled to let

the follow up punch to swing harmlessly past her. She used her

opponent's momentum against her as she grabbed the black woman's

wrist and pulled her forward. The larger woman became unbalanced and

Jane swept her feet out from under her, then twisted her arm behind

her and slammed her to the floor.

The black woman briefly tested the wrist lock Jane held her in then

relaxed as she realised she was beaten.

"Ok, ok. It's your bunk." She conceded.

Jane released her hold of the woman, who got up slowly rubbing her

shoulder and wrist. She turned to look at Jane, who was surprised

to see no sign of animosity in her expression.

"I'm Skin." The black girl said, holding out her hand.