24. Alfred, the Menace

- Batcave -

[Thud Thud Thud Thud]

The Batcave buzzed with anticipation as the battle reached a turning point. The sounds of their struggle echoed through the cave, but Zion, in his tuxedo, was resolute.

Robin's unpredictability forced Zion to use the suit's martial arts database. In seconds, the suit unleashed a variety of martial arts techniques, making the fight a showcase of diverse styles. Zion's counterattacks were well-planned and diverse, taking Robin by surprise. Techniques shifted rapidly, and it was as if Zion had the skills of an entire dojo.

Robin's initial confidence gave way to a fierce challenge as he faced the ever-shifting tactics. The complexity of the fight intensified, but his determination remained unshaken.

As the two circled each other in the dimly lit expanse of the cave, Robin's thoughts raced. He knew he couldn't rely solely on his martial arts skills and agility. Zion's suit's ever-changing tactics had shown the limits of those abilities.

He needed a new strategy.

With a burst of inspiration, Robin recalled one of Batman's fundamental teachings—use the environment to your advantage. In the Batcave, he had an unparalleled understanding of the terrain, and he was determined to exploit it.

As Zion launched a swift Taekwondo kick, Robin seized the opportunity. He dodged the attack and, with incredible speed, used one of the cave's stalactites as a pivot point. In a whirlwind of motion, he swung around and delivered a powerful spinning kick that sent Zion staggering.

The sudden shift in the battle's dynamics caught Zion off guard.

But his suit's algorithm prevailed as it used a multitude of martial art techniques and Parkour to keep up with Robin's relentless attacks. The opponents pushed each other to the limit as they reached a standstill.

The battle raged on as both were unable to gain an upper hand. Robin used the terrain to his advantage to keep Zion from gaining an upper hand in battle, while Zion's adaptability struggled to keep up with the ever-changing battlefield.

With every strike, they demonstrated their dedication and prowess. Zion's suit was a marvel of technology, and Robin's spirit was unwavering, driven by the resolve to uphold justice. The battle in the Batcave became a testament to the enduring spirit of a hero who could adapt and triumph against the most formidable challenges.

...

The battle escalated to its zenith. The relentless exchange of blows had pushed both Robin and Zion to the edge. As the tension in the cavernous space reached its peak, a critical moment arrived.

Zion, his tuxedo still immaculate, drew his weapon. A sleek and lethal-looking firearm was in his hand. The gun looked like a futuristic colt python. The cold black gun gleamed under the dim light of the Batcave. Its barrel had gold neon accents, and its cylinder connected to the barrel. Zion pulled the trigger, and the gun lit up as a golden condensed energy shot toward Robin.

[bang]

Robin dodged the bullet with swift evasive maneuvers, reaching for his arsenal with practiced motion. His gloved hand found the familiar shape of a batarang and hurled it with precision toward Zion.

Zion predicted the trajectory, evading the batarang with minimal movement. What followed after the batarang was a rain of bullets hailing down on Robin. Zion's gun was firing energy bullets with the same properties as normal bullets.

Robin executed a series of impressive acrobatic flips, using his cape to deflect incoming bullets. With uncanny precision, he deployed a trio of batarangs in rapid succession, creating a dazzling display of spinning projectiles that forced Zion to take evasive action.

In response, Zion's suit analyzed the trajectory of the batarangs and adjusted his movements accordingly. He used the Batcave's stalactites as cover, leaping between them with astonishing agility. Robin, however, was quick to exploit the environment. He fired a grappling hook, wrapping it around a stalactite, and swung in a wide arc to get a better angle for his next attack.

[swish swish bang bang] [bang swish] [bang bang bang bang]

As they exchanged blows, bullets, and batarangs, Robin unleashed a smoke pellet, filling the immediate area with a thick, disorienting haze. The Batcave's shadows became shrouded, and he used this concealment to disappear from Zion's view momentarily. Zion, relying on advanced sensors, detected Robin's movements and fired shots into the smoke, attempting to smoke him out.

[boom]

Robin's response was swift and unexpected. He deployed a miniature flashbang, temporarily blinding Zion's sensors. In the disorienting brilliance of the explosion, he darted in and out of the smoke, getting in close for a melee strike.

After Robin closed in for a melee attack, the Batcave witnessed a swift and intense exchange between two combatants.

Robin delivered a flurry of punches and kicks, each one precise and powerful. Zion, in his tuxedo, responded with evasive maneuvers and counterattacks, all executed with machine-like precision.

Their every exchange was a blur of action, leaving afterimages in the dimly lit cave. The Batcave's ancient stones absorbed the impact of their blows, echoing with the sound of rapid strikes and precision kicks.

Amidst their exchange, Zion, in a blur of movement, performed a sweep kick, causing Robin to leap back. Robin retaliated with a batarang. Zion deflected the batarang but lost Robin in the shadows of the cave.

"You are a good fighter," Robin's voice echoed in the dark shadows.

Zion's sensors quickly picked up Robin's location. "Playing Batman, I see?"

"Well, I wasn't expecting you to push me to my limit," Robin answered as he shifted through the shadows.

Zion's gaze followed Robin like an Autobot, "I can't say the same for you."

[swish swish] [bang bang]

Two batarangs fell to the ground. Zion was enjoying their fight; his prototype armor had shown potential. Even though it wasn't that different from his suit, the prototype was built for high-intensity combat, and from the data he gathered, it was capable. With some upgrades, it should be ready for field testing.

"Well, gentlemen, I must say, it's quite the spectacle you've put on," Alfred remarked, his voice dripping with dry humor. Alfred, who had been observing from the shadows, stepped into the fray with a touch of sarcasm. "But I do believe this is not what one would typically refer to as 'civilized' discourse."

Both combatants froze, their weapons lowered, and their gaze turned to Alfred, who had a wry smile on his face. Robin and Zion exchanged sheepish glances, realizing that their confrontation had escalated far beyond what was appropriate for the confines of the Batcave.

Alfred's sarcasm served as a reminder of their breach of decorum.

"Alfred, we—" Robin began, walking into the light, but Alfred raised a hand to stop him.

"Save your explanation for another time," Alfred interjected. "Now, kindly put away your toys and cease this childish quarrel before you damage any more of the Batcave."

Robin and Zion, chastened by Alfred's remark, holstered their weapons.

The Batcave, with its ancient stones and towering stalactites, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as the tension in the chamber dissipated.

"Sir Zion," Alfred interjected with a stern tone, "Don't you have your homework to complete?" Alfred pointed out.

"Ah, yes, yes," Zion nodded vigorously before taking the opportunity to evade Alfred's watchful gaze. Zion quickly rushed through the Batcave and disappeared into the corner.

Alfred redirected his gaze from Zion's back to Robin.

"Master Dick, wasn't—"

"Pennyworth, can I borrow Robin for a moment? I would like to get feedback about the suit," Zion's face peeked around the corner, his digital visage showing a sheepish expression. (^///^)

"Yes, Sir Zion," Alfred agreed, "We shall continue our conversation at a later time, Master Dick."

"O-okay..." Robin, with his head lowered, followed Zion back.

Alfred's gaze lingered on Robin until he vanished around the corner.

---

—"Man, isn't he intense," Zion complained as he melted into the chair, still clad in his classy attire.

"We did mess up the Batcave," Robin replied.

Zion turned his head, (¬_¬) giving Robin a meaningful look. His digital visage clearly represented his expression.

"Why don't look at me like that? It was you who started the fight," Robin pointed out.

"Yeah, yeah. All I wanted was to have some fun, party pooper," Zion replied as he removed his helmet.

Robin was [angry but not enraged] by Zion's comment. "Oh, I am the party pooper. You wanted to manipulate me into messing up Batman's plans."

"Whatever," Zion shrugged and turned to his study. He pulled out the paper he was using to plan and grabbed a notebook, turning to Robin, "Tell me about the suit's performance."

"Ha," Robin scoffed, [adding emotion]. "Why should I tell you?"

Zion looked up at Robin. "It's my suit, and I am asking, nicely?" Zion emphasized the word 'nicely.'

Robin looked smug, "You couldn't even touch me."

Zion only looked amused, "You really think that was all the Tuxedo could muster? You forgot who made the suit you are wearing."

"Even if you made it, I was the one who piloted," Robin replied.

"Robin, if I wanted to defeat you, all it would have taken is a bullet," Zion removed his revolver from its holster.

Robin raised an eyebrow, "I can dodge bullets."

Zion raised the gun and pointed it at Robin. "But not light," He pulled the trigger.

Anticipating the shot, Robin jumped to the side, but he grunted as he rolled on the floor. A sharp stinging sensation emanated from his abdomen; the bullet had found its mark. There was a hole in his uniform, with a crisp, burning smell emanating from it.

"You shot!!" Robin shouted.

"Well, now you know," Zion holstered his revolver.

"Yep," Robin got up and took the seat opposite Zion.

Robin winced as he inspected the hole in his uniform. "You certainly made your point," He admitted, his tone a mixture of annoyance and respect. The suit had stopped the bullet, proving its durability, but it still stung.

Zion leaned back in his chair, still sporting a sly smile. "Always be on your toes, Robin. You don't know when danger strikes."

"Alright, let's talk about the suit's performance," Robin said, putting their clash behind him for the moment.

Zion turned his attention to the notebook. "Great. Let's start with your observations. What did you think about the suit's agility and mobility."

Robin considered for a moment. "The agility is impressive, and the mobility is top-notch. It allows for quick, precise movement, but I did sense a delay, a lag, when I tried to perform multiple quick actions. Even a lag of a microsecond could cause serious damage in our line of work."

Zion quickly noted down Robin's feedback. "The lag is probably due to the suit not having enough space for me to integrate a whole neural circuit. I will fix that when I build the suit as a full uniform. How was the night-vision feature? Any issues with it?"

Robin nodded, "It's useful, but occasionally it gave false readings, which could lead to misjudgments in the field. It should be corrected."

Zion continued to scribble down the notes, his expression focused. "Alright, noted. Now for the next version, what do you think about wings, like flying."

Robin contemplated, "It would suit the moniker of Robin, but they should be flexible and durable enough to deflect bullets."

Zion nodded in agreement, "I can design it to imitate a cape when not in use. What about the communication system, is there any problem with them? And do you think I could upgrade the interface to be more game-like?"

"I didn't find any problems, and I didn't use it in our fight. The interface might need an upgrade. I don't know how you calculate HP, but I think you should account for other effects like poison and hallucinogens," Robin pointed out the flaws, the unaccountability when the drug only caused them to hallucinate and not harm.

Zion scribbled some notes, "Yes, I need to account for that. Probably better if I make the mask with an internal air filter. This could also help you survive underwater. The suit will be changed from innerwear to a full combat armor; this will give me enough space to work with. A cape made of more resilient memory cloth could help you turn it into wings, but I would need to add some anti-gravity properties to it. Nth element could work; I will just order some. Then the gadgets, utility belt, and such. Need to compress the compartments and reduce the size of the gadgets; micro mechanics could do the trick for now. I also need to make the design look menacing enough with its functionality high—"

Zion kept muttering all the upgrades he could do, leaving Robin taken aback.

*****

Okay, I know I am late to ask this,

Names for the new form, (Comment down)

Kryptonian:-(think Krypton suits)

Martian:-

And others:-

Give me the name!!!