She slipped on the blood-slick floor, caught the impression of movement in front of her, and pulled the trigger without waiting. The bullets punched into the Elite's gut and purple blood splashed down on her face and neck. It doubled over, massive hands cupping its belly. Got a full-on cough of the
creature's fetid breath, those four spiny jaws twitching beneath the clenched fist of a head flexed wide in surprise, anger, or some emotion she'd never understand. Especially without their
armor,
That surprised her so much she shut up, listened with the alien. Benti heard a last bark of gunfire, the moaning gargle of a dying Elite on the far side of the hangar.
