Blackout. (6)

The cut was clean. Cleo's energy blade hummed faintly as the head of the humanoid creature rolled off its shoulders, a grotesque stench filling the room as thick, black, mud-like blood oozed from the wound.

"Shoot them, Sharon." Cleo commanded, twisting her body gracefully to avoid the razor-sharp claws of another creature that leapt at her from the corridor.

To Cleo's surprise, Sharon reacted immediately. Without hesitation, she raised her laser pistol and fired. The searing beam of energy struck the creature squarely in its head, burning a hole clean through its skull.

The creature collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud, its limbs twitching for a moment before going still.

Sharon's hands trembled, but her aim was true.