The parched grassland backroads of Hardy County never saw much use by the people of Hardy County itself, especially since the local council built proper highways to use. Nowadays, only people passing from Factory County to Hills County or vice-versa used it out of sheer convenience, such as the old, run-down ute now trundling its way along.

Within, two very manly men jested.

"...So I says to the guy standin' nex' ta me," the man in mustard yellow guffawed as he drove, "'And you thought she didn't have any balls!'" His beard flopped around as he howled with laughter.

His companion in black, clean-shaved and youthful, giggled for a moment before releasing a single "HA!" Simmering down, he noted, "Aw man, I gotta remember that one for Speed."

A lightbulb clicked in his head. "Wait, Speed! I was supposed to call him and I forgot! DANGIT!" he cried in panic as he began to scrabble for something.

"Right 'ere, Wild," the yellow-dressed driver smirked, reaching into his shirt and pulling out a SmartBrain Kaixa.

"Huh? Oh, right, I gave it to you to hang on to," Shift Wild mumbled sheepishly as he took it. "Thanks, Dump."

"S'alright. Least you remembered you were s'posed to call this time, eh buddy?" chuckled Rumble Dump, watching his passenger spin the phone open and dial a number.

"Yeah," Wild smiled wistfully, bringing the phone to his ear.

After a few moments of dial tone, the familiar voice of his brother came through. "Hey Wild! Didn't realize Tech' wanted that status update already!"

"Uh, actually, that's not what I'm calling about," Wild clarified. "There's been a slight change in plan."

"Really?" Speed asked, sounding mildly confused. "I'm guessing Project Next is facing another hiccup?"

"Not at all! He's actually got the robot up and running, and he's called it Signal Mach!"

"...He built a robot himself," muttered Speed frostily. "I suppose this one has the free will to rebel?"

Wild sighed. "No, Speed," he said, "it will not do anything of the sort."

"It better not," Speed growled. "But at least that's all he's working on, right?"

"...Uhh…" Wild hesitated.

"Alright, what else is he doing?" probed Speed.

"...Studying Formula and Triple's Signatures."

"He WHAT?!" Speed yelled, furious.

"Ow!" Wild yelped as he leapt in his seat, dropping his phone.

"Hoo boy. Speed ain't happy 'bout the li'l ones gettin' involved, is 'e?" Dump observed.

"Not in the least," Wild muttered as he bent forwart to pick his phone back up.

"Uh, Speed? Is everything alright over there?" Vegas called from her couch, cradling a cup of tea in her hands.

"That… remains to be seen," Speed muttered, returning his SmartBrain Faiz to his ear.

After a moment, Wild's voice returned. "Darnit, Speed, why'd you have to yell into your phone?" he complained.

"If I hear from Technic that he intends to have them both - or even just Formula - join us in action, there are going to be some stern words exchanged," Speed spoke with venom.

"Technic built the first atom collider at her age, didn't he?"

"That's different," chided Speed exasperatedly. "The atom collider is for scientific purposes. We, meanwhile, are fighting maniacal machines!"

"...That is an excellent point," Wild conceded, "but I'd like to not rack up a huge phone bill. Can we discuss the original point of this call now?"

"Sure," Speed sighed, cooling down. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Well," Wild grinned, "turns out I have even fewer personal belongings than you do, so I'm moving in with you tomorrow!"

"...Seriously?" groaned Speed. "I thought I was going to get at least a week to myself."

"Nope!" Wild laughed. "You're gonna have to put up with me again, big bro!"

"Oh, for the love of the gods," Speed grumbled, before realizing something. "Wait. When you arrive, be on the lookout for a guy called Max Flare. He's a prankster, and he'll likely try to pinch something of yours."

"Is that so?" Wild chuckled. "Well, don't you worry. An old friend of ours is riding in the back, looking out for my stuff."

"Who, Spin Mixer?" Speed asked.

"No."

"Rolling Gravity?"

"Nope."

"...Road Winter?"

"Midnight Shadow," Wild finally revealed.

"...Huh. That'll be fun to watch."

"Probably. Say," Wild asked, "How'd you find out about this guy anyway?"

"He swiped my coffee," answered Speed.

It was several seconds before Wild managed to reply, and it was full of shock. "How is he still alive?!"

"He didn't know who I was. Chances are he won't know who you are either."

"You're kidding, right?" Wild said with disbelief. "Aren't we kind of important these days?"

"Only back home," Speed replied. "We're moving five counties across, and the Virals haven't noticed yet."

"Good point," Wild conceded.

Max Flare and Funky Spike's apartment was littered with books, yet not one of them was fiction.

"This is boring!" Flare groaned as he fell backwards from sitting crosslegged to on his back. "Why do I have to write about Winter County? Nothing interesting or important has ever happened in Winter County!"

Spike sighed and rested his face in his hand. "You haven't gotten to Star Surf's biography, have you?"

"Who's he?" Flare asked boredly.

"Star Surf is to theatre as Colorful Commercial is to advertisement."

"Wait," Flare said, sitting up properly, "we can do pop icons for this?"

"Well, yes," explained Spike. "The assignment states you have to write about an event that had a significant impact on history. And Star Surf, well…" he chuckled lightly, "there would be no Idiot Hero cliche if not for him."

Flare was already shuffling through the books around him, grinning excitedly. "Oh, rev yes! I can actually talk about the crazy events that lead up to the opening night of Revenge Force II! This is-"

"Hey Flare!" Monster called, peeking in the front door. "Old ute just showed up! New guy moving in!"

"-Going to have to wait."

Spike cursed under his breath. Flare had run off. Again.

He poked his eyes above the bushes, keenly watching the vehicle. He would not fail his mission.

Speed and his brother returned to the old ute, each taking a case of clothing. Wild's was at least twice as big as Speed's.

"Seriously," he heard Wild say, "I'm surprised you didn't just pop your Throttle Ring and lay into him."

Speed chuckled. "I was angry, but not that angry. Lacking coffee won't make me kill."

As they departed, another figure creeped around the opposite side of the ute. He shiftily watched the two brothers depart the vehicle, Wild telling a joke about a female golf player. Once they had gone inside, the figure edged to the back, preparing to take something.

This was not allowed.

"Don't." No theatrics, no threats, Midnight Shadow just appeared right in front of the would-be thief.

He paused, looking like a deer in headlights. "Uh- uhh… sorry?"

"Try this again," Shadow intoned, "and I will glady take a finger as punishment."

The thief's hasty fleeing would have been hilarious, if he'd been the kind of man to indulge in humor. But he had a ute to guard.