The composite rounds bounced across the corridor to hit the creature with a cloud of projectiles. Sparks flared like fireflies from its head; it roared and powered forward, but the ricochets had damaged it somehow. As Alice ducked left, it couldn’t follow, barreling straight past her. She slashed out with her knife, the white fractal blade slicing deep. There was the odor of engine oil and dirt as thick green liquid arced over the opposite wall. The knife caught on something and the blade snapped with a dry crack that wrenched her sideways.