Chapter 42- Charging Dust Bunnies!

The water parted quickly, and with a loud splash, she leapt up out of the water, diving back in before gently floating back to the surface. "Liking the new accommodations?" Doctor Light asked from the edge of the swimming tank in his laboratory.

Splash Woman shrugged. "It's no ocean, but it'll do," she said, drifting towards Light.

"You know, I've almost finished repairing the rest of your colleagues," said Light. "If you want to participate, you'd better hurry up and change your mind. Who knows how quickly Wily will be back? We might run out of spots."

Splash Woman sighed. "If I ever see that detestable old man again, it'll be too soon." Then, pulling herself out of the tank to sit on the edge of the walkway, she said, "But my answer is the same."

"Not even for the thrill?"

"Not even for the thrill," Splash Woman repeated, stretching out. "Darling as I'm sure your Roll is, I find a severe lack of interest in entering your little contests. That and I don't like crowds."

"As you wish," said Light, pulling a remote from his lab coat pocket. "Mind if I watch a little TV poolside?"

"By all means," said Splash Woman invitingly, slipping back into the water and turning to the big screen at the other end of the tank. Light stretched himself out on the nearby beach chair, and switched the television on.

"Welcome back to the Wreckoning!" Came Rock's voice through the television.

The crowd roared as Rock continued to announce the day's matchup. "From the north end of the field, he's the perfection of dust collection, Dust Man!" The bulky blue robot trudged towards the middle of the arena. "And from the south end of the field, a one-track mind is all he needs, it's Charge Man!" The heavy orange robot lumbered forward to meet Dust Man in the center of the arena. "Ready for a real heavyweight battle?" Rock asked Roll.

"Ready as always," Roll sighed, unenthused.

Auto suddenly crawled out from under Rock and Roll's announcing table. "Ro-battle begin!" He declared before crawling back under.

Charge Man crouched low and charged at Dust Man, screeching along the arena floor as a wall of black smoke poured from his smokestack. Dust Man leapt out of the way, rolling on his side as Charge Man barreled past him, coming to a screaming halt at the arena wall. As Charge Man turned around, he was pelted with a ball of junk shot from Dust Man's head vent. The ball exploded in a shower of shrapnel, blowing Charge Man against the wall. Undeterred, Charge Man pushed himself off the wall, running as fast as he could at Dust Man. Again Dust Man bolted out of the way, letting Charge Man lumber past him. "Ole!" Dust Man cheered.

Charge Man stumbled to a stop again. "Ole this!" Charge Man roared as his smokestack belched out a giant cloud of smoke. Lumps of red-hot coal shot into the air, raining down on the arena. Dust Man dodged two burning lumps before a third came crashing down on his head vent, knocking him off of his feet. As Dust Man picked himself up, he was too late to get out of Charge Man's way, watching helplessly as Charge Man charged into him, sending him head over heels into the arena wall. Dust Man staggered back to his feet, and Charge Man was speeding towards him again, smashing his body against Dust Man's against the wall. Charge Man stepped backwards, letting Dust Man flop to the ground.

"Oh god, no!" Roll squealed, covering her eyes.

Leaning over, Charge Man grabbed Dust Man's chest tube with one of his massive hands, and pulled him into the air, letting Dust Man's feet dangle in the air. "Last stop!" Charge Man bellowed, clenching his other fist and winding his arm back.

Suddenly, Dust Man's eyes shot open, and a glob of garbage shot from his head vent, the Dust Crusher bursting in Charge Man's face. Charge Man screamed and dropped Dust Man, his hands covering his face as he stumbled away. Dust Man aimed his arm cannon at Charge Man's back, firing a volley of energy bursts into Charge Man's back. As Charge Man was pelted, he gave a loud roar and began to glow red, and Dust Man's shots began to bounce off of Charge Man's back harmlessly. Another thick plume of smoke erupted from Charge Man's smokestack, and flaming chunks of coal began erupting from Charge Man's head like a volcano.

As Dust Man danced around the falling coal, Rock shook his head. "Dust Man can't keep this up," He said.

When the fiery deluge was over, Charge Man lumbered around to see Dust Man aiming his arm cannon at him, slowly circling to his left. "What else have you got?" Charge Man taunted.

"Why don't you come at me and find out?" Dust Man sneered.

"My pleasure!" Charge Man roared, bending his knees and charging at Dust Man again. Dust Man crouched and readied himself, staring at the rapidly approaching Charge Man.

"What is he doing?" Asked Rock. "Is he seriously playing chicken with Charge Man?"

"Next stop, Dust Man flats!" Charge Man bellowed as he rushed ahead. Just as Charge Man was about to ram into Dust Man again, Dust Man leapt up, and grabbed Charge Man by the smokestack. Charge Man came to a screeching halt, and whipped his head forward, trying to throw Dust Man off. Dust Man hung on, and Charge Man bucked and threw himself in all directions, but could not break Dust Man's grip on his smokestack. "You want my smokestack so bad? You get coal with it too!"

As Charge Man glowed red and began to roar, Dust Man suddenly lurched forward and put his head vent over Charge Man's smokestack. And with a loud clanging noise, Dust Man fired something down Charge Man's smokestack. "And you get a Dust Crusher!"

Charge Man's face suddenly twisted into a mask of horror. "Oh no, oh no oh no no no no-!"

Dust Man dove for the ground and covered his head as Charge Man's train engine for a head exploded in a deafening blast. "And here is today's winner!" Rock announced to the cheering crowd as Charge Man's headless body fell over, "Dust Man!"

Asylum's note: I'm sure you dear readers have predictions of your own. Well, who do you see winning the main tournament? C'mon, it's been nearly 14 years since I started this, surely you've got your bets made by now.