AVP Prey 10

She had awakened nervous and wanted to try to relax before starting the final roundup-but it had been almost a month since her last real practice and she could feel the muscles in her legs groaning from the stretch. She had gotten her brown belt in karate before she'd left Earth for Ryushi, and had not been far away from black. While there were holo teaching devices that she could train to at the rec center, she had decided to put her lessons aside for a while-at least until she had found a human sparring partner.

Holos weren't a bad way to go, but they lacked something. Dignity, perhaps. But she hadn't made any close enough friends to work out with ...

No friends, Machiko, close or otherwise. Don't kid yourself. Right. Most ranchers probably weren't into martial arts anyway. Her thighs trembled when she stood to form riding horse stance; her old sensei, Master Ko, would have put her on the floor for letting herself go like this. She ran through blocks and kicks to loosen up a little.-pg.54 chpt.7