A/N: inspired by the works of Iain M. Banks - but everything in here is my own idea. (Iain's are better though- go read!!!)

WARNING: if lesbianism, lax sexual morals or swearing offends you, go somewhere else please. Thank you. Now enjoy!

She floated peacefully on her back, gazing up at the sky through the cracks in the leaves. Her fingers gently sculled the water to keep her drifting, and her hair billowed under her head in the water as if it were alive. Rays of sun through the trees illuminated patches of water all around her. As she glided into one of these patches, the golden sunlight hit her face and highlighted areas of her skin so that it seemed to shine incandescently of its own accord.

She closed her eyes to let the peaceful light wash over her, but suddenly a hand was clamped over her nose and mouth so she could no longer breathe. She tried to get herself upright, but only succeeded in her attacker shoving her head beneath the water. There was a wild, underwater scuffle as she flailed desperately, and she felt her foot come into contact with something soft and fleshy. The attacker’s grip loosened on her face, and she hoped it had hurt, but a violent punch to her stomach made her gasp and suck in water. She couldn’t focus on anything but the intense pain in her stomach, and bent over double in the water, clutching it. Then her chest started to hurt and she realised she needed air desperately. She fought her way to the surface and sucked in as much air as she could. It was only then that she realised the person who had attacked her was no where to be seen. She made it to the bank and dragged herself out, before lying on her side and breathing heavily, occasionally coughing up water. After a while, she rolled over and pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, her head hanging between her arms as she coughed up a little more water. Finally she looked over at her belongings her. Her bag was missing which made her swear loudly. As well as her much loved gun, it contained all kinds of valuable access cards that would have to replaced or discontinued before the thief could have a chance to use them. She was just about to reach for her communicator tech, when she realised that had been in the bag too. Cursing herself for not being more aware, she gathered up her clothes and walked back to the building, not bothering to dress since the only other person in the building was her best friend Kasie.

Her name was Ryanne, and she had long auburn hair to the middle of her back. She had considered getting it cut short many times, but never did, because Kasie always persuaded her not to. Her skin was milky pale – perhaps unnaturally so, because it was completely blemish free.

Kasie was sitting outside in a bikini sunbathing, not seeming to notice that the sun was in fact setting. She had olive skin with chin length dark brown hair and a precise, slender face much like Ryanne’s. If it wasn’t for their colourings, they could be sisters.

“You won’t fucking believe this,” Ryanne spat angrily, coming to sit on a chair by Kasie, who took out the ear pieces she had been wearing.

“What?” Kasie asked distractedly, watching water drip from Ryanne’s breasts.

“Someone went and attacked me in the stream!” She exclaimed, and only then did Kasie notice the large bruise on her leg and side of her mouth. “They’ve stolen my bag.”

“Shit,” Kasie breathed. “Are you ok?”

“Oh I’m fine,” she went on, “But it’s my bag I’m pissed off about! It’s got everything in it Kase!” She started to dress herself but winced as she leant over and squashed her stomach. Kasie straightened her up gently.

“Hey. Are you sure you’re ok?” Kasie wetted her lips a little. “Hmm. Don’t worry about your cards, I’ll sort it out. You said everything, yeah?”

Ryanne nodded. “Yeah. And my gun, and all my money… Ahh shit the Academy is going to kill me if I turn up without my stuff. I still haven’t got a replacement gun for the one Raze broke in Tiché…”

“You can borrow my spare gun for Monday, and then we’ll go and find another one that afternoon, ok? I’m going to go and cancel everything – hopefully I’ll have replacements for you by next week at the latest. Go and lie down, try not to do much bending over, ok?”

Ryanne smiled as her friend walked off, her hips swinging in the rhythm of her long legs hitting the floor. Closing her eyes for a second, she fell asleep before she even had time to move to the bedroom.

When she awoke, she was lying in her bed. Kasie must have carried her up during the night, because it was morning now. Light streamed impatiently through the blinds, and Ryanne rolled over, wanting to go back to sleep. Her stomach felt sore and aching, but compared to other injuries she’d had, it was nothing.

She lay in bed for most of the morning. Kasie came up at about half nine to give her some breakfast, but then left, explaining that she was going to sort out a replacement passport, which had been stolen along with the rest of the cards.

At about half past eleven, she was dozing lightly when her computer woke her up. “You have 1 new message!” It chirped delightedly. The voice was female, but with a metallic edge to it that meant it was definitely a robotic voice. Ryanne closed her eyes and ignored it. After about a minute, it repeated itself. She ignored it again.

“I said, you have 1 new message,” it recited again, this time with a hint of irritation in its voice. Ryanne grunted in the hope that it would satisfy the machine, but to her aggravation, it continued. “Would you like me to play your 1 new message?” Silence. “The new features of the XX-200 allow me to play your messages with only vocal commands. Play?”

“Fine!” snapped Ryanne exasperatedly. “If it will make you happy, play the damn thing!”

The computer made a noise that sounded uncannily like smug satisfaction, and then a male recorded voice filled the room.

“Ryanne, it’s me, JJ. Kasie told me what happened at the river – “ At this point Ryanne’s head fell back onto the pillow “ – and I was thinking, why don’t you take the day off tomorrow? No gun, no pass, no money, no tech… You’re not going to get very far around the Academy are you? I’ll tell the other tutors what happened and we’ll sort something out. The only other class you’ve got tomorrow is your physical which you cannot do with injuries and you’re acing that anyway. Alright? Unless you tell me otherwise I’ll assume you’re not coming in tomorrow.”

Click.

“End of message. Message received: 11:27 Message played: 11:35. Would you like to reply?”

Ryanne ignored the computer because she was too annoyed with JJ. How could he just assume that she wouldn’t be up to her training? He didn’t know anything about what had happened, except what Kasie had told him and Ryanne suspected she had twisted the tale to make it sound better.

JJ was her Academy gun tutor, but he was also more than that. They had to keep it fairly secret because of certain Academy policies, but she and JJ were much closer than student-tutor. Besides, everyone slept with at least one tutor during their three years at the Academy. It was just never spoken about.

“Would you like to reply to this message?” the persistent voice started again.

Ryanne sat up. “Yes. Computer, message reply to James Joleston. Record:

“JJ. Where do you get off telling me when to stay at home? I don’t care if I have no gun, no pass and no tech, I’m coming in tomorrow. Kasie’s lending me her gun so I’ll be there for class, and I heal quickly, remember?” It was true. The bruises on her leg and face had already gone purple and yellow, meaning it wouldn’t be long before they were gone. “Kasie said the Academy should have a temp pass for me tomorrow and by Wednesday I’ll have a new one. I don’t need you to give me a day off because I got robbed, JJ. I’ll see you tomorrow.

“Computer; end of message.”

“Send?”

“Send,” she confirmed, and the computer buzzed happily.

“Message sent to James Joleston at 11:46”

Ryanne lay back and fell asleep again, only waking up when Kasie yelled for her at about five, to tell her she’d got a barbeque going for them. Ryanne laughed to herself as she dressed, remembering Kasie’s passion for old fashioned cooking.

She had to admit though, as she went downstairs dressed in a pale yellow tank top, that it did smell fantastic. The top had a tear that wasn’t supposed to be there across her stomach, perfectly aligned with a very faint scar that ran across the same place on her body. She had considered getting the tear reversed, but decided she liked it. Three-quarter length jeans and hair shoved up messily into a looped ponytail added to the casualness of her look.

Kasie was wearing an olive green mini-skirt and bikini top. She never really wore very much, insisting that she got hot easily. Ryanne’s suspicion was that she just wanted to seduce as many people as possible, and it worked. She smiled, coming up behind Kasie whose back was turned to the barbeque and slid a hand round the other woman’s waist.

“I’m up.”

“So you are,” Kasie grinned, making no move to detach Ryanne’s hand from its position on her lower abdomen. Ryanne’s other hand rested on her shoulder and Kasie felt her friend’s breath on her neck. “Just a second, I got to flip this over…” Once she had turned over the two burgers she spun round and linked her arms behind Ryanne’s neck, smiling. Before she knew it, they were kissing each other silently and tenderly.

Ryanne closed her eyes and decided to enjoy it. Old habits die hard, she thought dryly. When the kiss came to a natural finish, Ryanne looked at Kasie who was smiling softly.

“How are you feeling?” She asked gently.

“Great. Except for JJ. Why did you tell him I couldn’t come in tomorrow?”

Kasie threw back her head. “I didn’t say that! I never said that – he jumped to that point himself.” She caught Ryanne’s look. “OK I might have pushed him a little, but he definitely got there himself ok?” She smiled sadly. “I’m just worried. If you’re performance at the Academy even slacks a little they’re going to kick you out because of what happened in Tiché. If you go in tomorrow, who can say that you’re not going to mess something up because of unforeseen injuries? At least if you stay at home you can exaggerate the problem and no one will know.”

Ryanne sighed. “I’m fine, Kase.” She detached herself from her friends embrace and sat down while Kasie turned back to the food. “Are we going out tonight?”

Kasie gave her a look as she spatula-ed the food onto plates. “You think you should?”

“For the last time Kase, I’m fine, honestly. And I’m bored, more than anything else.”

Her friend chewed her lip thoughtfully, carrying two plates and laying one down in from of Ryanne. “I don’t know… I don’t think it’s safe for you to go out anywhere busy without your ID passport or tech… let’s stay in tonight Ry.”

Ryanne sighed. “Fine,” she settled, taking a bite out of her burger. Then she grinned seductively. “But you’d better have something fun lined up to pass the time.”

“Oh believe me, I do,” came the equally seductive reply.

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