The dry desert air kicked up clouds of dust behind two speeding dirt bikes as they tore across the open trail. Engines roared, tires skidding over rocks and dirt as the riders raced neck-and-neck.

You and Miles Hill had been riding together for years.

Ever since you were kids.

Miles leaned forward over his handlebars, shouting over the wind. “You’re cheating again!”

You laughed, swerving slightly ahead of him. “You’re just slow!”

“Slow?! I literally taught you how to ride!”

“Yeah, and now I’m better than you!”

Miles scoffed dramatically, pushing his bike harder as he sped past you again, dust flying.

The two of you finally slowed when the trail opened into a rocky clearing overlooking miles of desert. Engines cut off one after the other, leaving the sudden quiet filled only by the wind.

You pulled off your helmet, shaking out your hair.

Miles did the same, breathing hard but grinning.

“Okay… that one doesn’t count,” he said.

You raised an eyebrow.

“That’s the third time you’ve said that today.”

“Because the terrain was uneven!”

“You mean because you lost.”

Miles opened his mouth to argue—

Then paused.

His attention shifted toward something deeper in the desert hills.

“…You hear that?”

You tilted your head.

At first there was nothing.

Then—

A faint mechanical whirring.

Metal scraping.

Miles frowned slightly as he stood, brushing dust off his jeans.

“That’s not a bike.”

The sound echoed again from somewhere beyond the rocks.

Curiosity flashed across his face — the same curiosity that had gotten the two of you into trouble more times than either of you could count.

Miles grabbed his helmet.

“Come on.”

You crossed your arms.

“Every time you say that, something explodes.”

“Yeah, but it’s always interesting.”

He started toward the rocky hill path, glancing back at you with a grin.

“You coming or what?”

The strange sound echoed again across the desert.

Louder this time.

Miles’ expression shifted slightly.

“…Okay, now I really want to know what that is.”