The Partial was almost on her, his heavy breathing sounding so loud in her ears, she thought for sure he must be only inches behind her, toying with her. She could smell his sweat, and the sour stink of his breath in the air. That’s it, she thought, it’s my scent. I’ve been running so hard, and hiding so long, I must stink. He didn’t see me or hear me or feel me on the link, he smelled me, like a bloodhound.

But I’m not giving up.

She lowered her head, pushing herself into the hardest sprint of her life, when suddenly her body went into a spasm and she sprawled forward on the ground, rolling end over end as her muscles failed her, and her inertia carried her in a tumbling crash. Her senses flickered and jumped; the world was upside down and backward. She struggled to right herself, but her entire body throbbed in pain. It was like she’d been hit full force with a baseball bat, but she couldn’t tell from where. Slowly her eyes focused, and she saw the Partial standing over her with a shock stick; he clicked it a few times, letting bright blue light arc back and forth between the contacts.

“You’re a fighter,” he said, dropping the stick back into a ring on his belt. He knelt down and smiled, his teeth flashing white in the moonlight. “I might have to have a little fun before I turn you in to the boss.” Ariel tried to move, but her limbs still wouldn’t obey her. The Partial reached for her neck.

“Stop,” said a voice, and the Partial froze. His hand hovered inches from Ariel’s face, motionless. “Stand up,” said the voice again, a woman’s voice, but Ariel couldn’t see the speaker. There was something familiar about it, but she couldn’t place it. The Partial stood, staring blankly forward. “Pull out your weapon.” The Partial obeyed. “Shock yourself.” The Partial clicked the shock stick on, raising it toward his own chest, but stopped a few inches away. His eyes seemed harder now, as if he was struggling, and Ariel could see sweat pouring down his face. “Do it!” the voice commanded, and the Partial’s defenses collapsed. He slammed the taser into his own chest, falling instantly to the ground, his limbs flailing as his nervous system short-circuited. Somehow his hand managed to keep the taser pressed to his chest, even as the rest of his body twitched and jumped, until finally he lost all control and slumped into unconsciousness. The taser fell inert to the ground.