OBSOLETE

Chapter 7

Locking eyes, both combatants crouched down simultaneously. With an echoing shriek of metal scraping against metal, two pairs of claws were unleashed. Warsmanv2 straightened his back and stood erect, glaring down at his prey through glowing crimson eyes. His height advantage, sleeker design and shiny appearance made the old, human-like Croe look increasingly ancient.

As the coach stared up at the one who came to destroy and replace him, the next action he undertook startled and bewildered both Kevin and Warsman2.

Lord Flash hissed, a grin suddenly spreading across his concealed visage.

If this was the day and time he was fated to die…

…at least he would die in the ring, completing the purpose he had been built for - combat.

Gazing upon the plain white walls of the hospital's interior, Warsman occasionally sent a glance over to the pacing Robin Mask. Although he did not truly understand what was going on, despite the Brit's multiple attempts at explanations, the fog of tension within the room was undeniable. All the robot could do was sit quietly with his hands in his lap, watching his companion walk around the room so anxiously. Seconds felt like hours. Minutes like days.

Finally, the doctor walked in.

"Congratulations, Sir Mask, you have a healthy baby son."

Scraping his claws along the ground, Croe lumbered towards Warsmanv2. He hoped to use the element of surprise to gain a preemptive strike. The old automaton needed all the advantages he could get.

Before his optics could even register the movement, Lord Flash suddenly found his claws slicing through air. Turning to look over his shoulder, he felt two powerful arms grapple him around his waist and pull him up into the air. Warsman2 fell back, slamming Croe in a monstrous suplex.

Pushing himself quickly onto his feet, the aging android looked up at his successor. There were few options for one who was obsolete. The most promising approach was that Lord Flash could increase his own energy output, like he used to do in his early days in the ring. However, knowing that such actions would initiate a burn out within a half hour compelled him to hesitate. What if he was unable to defeat Warsmanv2 during that time? If he failed…

…He would be unconscious and at his opponent's mercy.

Warsmanv2 dashed forward, his claw shooting out towards Croe's face so quickly that the coach barely had time to raise his arms in defense before feeling the sharp steel blades bite into his left arm. The force of the attack knocked him back and it was all he could do to remain on his feet. Pain shot through the damaged appendage as he ripped it from its lodged place in his successor's claw. Sparks emitted from the gaping hole as Lord Flash quickly backed up to obtain some distance.

Although he heard frantic cries from the Brit, Croe refrained from looking. He didn't want to see the disappointed and disgusted expression that had to have been on Kevin's face right now.

Is this what life is?

Warsman could only watch in amazement as the tiny being who, in his eyes, had never even existed up to this point, gripped his finger with a strength that seemed impossible for a creature this small.

His comrade, Robin Mask, along with his bride had together created this…

There were no wires, metal, plans. The parents hadn't even known the gender of the baby until he was born. The baby, Kevin, had been created from a force far greater than he could ever understand.

Watching as the parents swooned over the tiny bundle, Warsman felt a small spark that he could not identify. Although he at times liked to fancy himself human…this infant had an aspect of humanity that the robot could never dream of.

A beginning.

There was little choice now but to resort to the tactic he hadn't been forced to use since the last time he had a real opponent in the ring. Lord Flash could afford very few mistakes, and was well aware that he would likely fail against his more advanced brethren in a test of endurance. With his left arm dangling limply by his side, he knew now that defeating his successor would be almost if not entirely impossible. If he was to defeat Warsman2, he would have to do it quickly, while he still possessed most of his strength. His internal mechanics whirred loudly as they began to speed up. Simulating the rush of adrenaline, this heightened Croe's senses, abilities and deadened his pain receptors.

Lord Flash hissed loudly as he lunged forward, his body moving much more quickly than before. Warsmanv2 strafed aside. Croe fell back and stabbed his claw into the canvas, using the momentum to kick his legs up and slam his heels into his opponent's knees. A loud crack resounded as the superior robot stumbled backwards.

The old robot's eyes glowed brightly as he jumped back onto his feet. Not giving his opponent any time to think, Lord Flash charged forward and sent a flurry of punches and claws aiming for Warsman2's chassis. The sleeker android managed to block most of them, but a few of the blows landed and he was not currently able to form a counterattack.

He couldn't even hear Kevin's reactions, the clicking of his internal clock was deafening. Each click was like the approaching footstep of the grim reaper, bringing him closer to his burnout and the inevitable death that would follow if he failed.

28 minutes remained.

Author's Notes: Although I had hit a small writer's block, I had never lost interest in this story and I have a pretty good idea as to how this will turn out. However, nothing is written in stone and the story may turn and twist on its own, surprising me as much as it surprises you. It's happened before. After writing about half of the chapter, I took a small break to relieve my writer's block, and when I returned I realized that my idea had been a good one, because most of what I had previously written for this chapter before was crap. Fortunately, I think I managed to pick the flare back up again and polish this chapter off. Hopefully it was worth the wait! The next chapter will hopefully come sooner.