I’d had run-ins before, but none quite like this. Squaring off with a machine hell-bent on capturing me? Probably not my smartest move without a weapon. But here we were. A pulse of fear flickered – a rare thing these days. That’s the thing about instincts; they don’t care if you’re facing flesh or steel. In my youth, I’d been cornered before. Back then, it was usually some guy mistaking me for an easy target, thinking a pretty face meant easy prey. I learned quick – real quick. After a couple of… unpleasant experiences, I mastered the art of baiting them in, pretending to play along. And then, right when they thought they had the upper hand… bam. I’d drive my knee so hard between their legs they’d be gargling bass for weeks. Once, I grabbed a guy by the crotch, dug my nails in, and whispered, “Next time I see you, I’ll turn these into tomorrow’s meatball special.” He didn’t stick around for a next time. But this thing? Hardly human, probably don’t appreciate a good knee-to-the-groin but heck, close enough. It lunged, red eyes flaring, metal claws reaching. I ducked, sidestepped, instincts firing. My backup weapon had clattered to the ground somewhere in the chaos, out of reach. So, I did what any street-smart girl would do: I played the game, letting it get close. And then I seized the moment – I stuck my hand to its head, cybernetic pulse sparking from my implant like an unleashed storm. My own body jolted with the backlash, but I gritted my teeth and pushed harder. It spasmed, metal creaking as I dug in, pushing every bit of energy I had through my hand. Its systems shuddered, stuttering… until, finally, it slumped, deactivated. I could’ve sworn it let out a whine as it powered down. I backed off, my breaths ragged, my muscles trembling with leftover adrenaline. My smirk faded as the rain mingled with the sweat on my face. The city had gone quiet again, but the weight of its silence wasn’t any comfort. There was a nagging thought in the back of my mind: I wouldn’t be able to use this trick again. These machines? They learn fast. Next time, I’d need something sharper, smarter. Lesson learned. Again.