Family of Steel - Man on Fire

[Proto Man]

With a grimace, Proto Man summoned his shield and slammed it down into the earth just as the burst of energy hit home. The impact shook the entire cave and instantly evaporated all of the particulate matter that hung in the air.

When the dust clear, Cell Delta’s smug grin faded as he stared at the splintered yet intact shield of the red robot. In a flash, the ruined bulwark dematerialized, and in its wake, a concentrated burst of energy rocketed forth. The blast slammed into the cyborg’s gut and threw him outside of the cave.

“Get up!” Proto Man rasped as he clasped his hand around Heat Man’s wrist and pulled the wounded machine up off the ground. “We need to move,” he added as he half-guided, half-dragged the other android out of the cave and into the soot-stained world. Without risking a glimpse in the direction of their foe, the two made their way hard to the right—their eyes set on small fissure that cut through the mountain. If they could make it, there would be a chance that Cell Delta would be unable to follow them.

Unfortunately for the pair of robots, Heat Man only managed to make it thirty yards before his bad leg gave out beneath him. With a dull thud, the android collapsed into a heap, creating a large cloud of ash upon impact with the blackened earth. “I can’t…” Heat Man muttered as he looked down at the broken limb. “You’re not going to escape if you have to drag or carry me with you.”

“I’m not going to leave you behind,” Proto Man replied sternly as he stooped down to pick up the smaller robot.

“Just watch out for my brothers and make sure they don’t do anything stupider than they already have!” With that, Heat Man pushed up off his back and slammed both his palms into the other robot’s chest, causing Proto Man to lose his balance and pitch backwards.

The prototype Robot Master fell back onto his haunches and watched as a beam of condescended energy punched a baseball-sized hole through the center of Heat Man’s chest.