*Writathon 2024 November*  Ben works hard. But not hard enough. His competition continues to improve and no matter how much he pushes they are always one step ahead.  His reality soon collapses and the dark future that awaits him and his kind unfolds. The future is apathetic. The future is better, faster, stronger.  Now his existence is primordial. His enemy doesn’t consider him. His existence is surplus to requirement. Ben is obsolete.