Acceleration

Your kind is racing forward,
none wait for others at the end of the commute.
"There's only one winner",
those are White Pawns in Pursuit

Then the common clash when moving sideways,
and now your win means someone else's loss.
"Survival of the fittest",
those are Black Knights in Cross

The chessmen keep accelerating faster and faster,
if you don't move too, you'll be in check.
"Progress or be left behind",
that's the Red Queen in Effect