The evening sky was stone-gray, except where the last slice of moon still glowed, blue and bright, through the clouds. Rain hammered down on the pavement and drummed loudly against the awnings and sloshed against the curb. And in the middle of the empty street, a woman with dyed-blue hair and a black canvas jumpsuit crouched down and placed a green metal tile - about two feet long on each side - on the asphalt.

She then stepped back.

A moment later, a man in a black suit and white shirt materialized, both feet planted on the tile. His features were severe; he had a high, broad forehead, flat, hard eyes, and a wide, thin-lipped mouth. He stared up at the towering skyscrapers above him as rain pattered down on his face and soaked his suit. After a long moment, he asked:

"Dinah, where am I?"

"You're in the load area for my martial arts training program. It's where I've been developing trainers for different fighting styles, and testing them out. Kung fu, jiu jitsu, capoeira, you name it. It's for another contract I'm working on."

Smith's chin snapped down, and his eyes locked on Dinah. "I am not provisioned to participate in load areas other than my own, Dinah. I am also not provisioned to acquire additional skills, beyond my own construct." He narrowed his gaze. "This is highly irregular."

"I know," she said - slowly, carefully. "But I'm asking you to expand your own provision and help me. Will that be a problem?"

"I -" - and he paused. "No. It will not be a problem."

"Good. Thank you, Smith; I really appreciate it." She raised one hand, and her fingers moved around as if she was typing on an invisible keyboard. The rain slowed for an instant, and Dinah's eyelids fluttered wildly. A moment later, the rain resumed in full force, Dinah's eyes opened, and she took a deep breath, inhaling through her nose.

"What did you do?", Smith asked.

"I loaded my own skin up with a martial arts program." Dinah examined her own hands, turning them over as rain ran between her fingers. "It's not the movements that are tricky, you see - it's the act of loading the program into the skin. That's what I need help with; the interface between the user and the loaded fight program."

Then, without warning, Dinah reached out with one arm, and pressed her open palm against Smith's chest.

Again, the rain slowed; and this time, it was Smith who reacted. He clutched his own head in his hands and doubled over, his face contorted in a silent scream. Then, a moment later, he stood up again; his face was calm, as if nothing had happened.

"I know jiu jitsu."

She grinned. "Show me."