Author's Notes: Well, regardless of the fact that no one has reviewed, I decided to just finish this anyway. So have at it.

Chapter Three

When we arrived at our destination, I was surprised at how much it was like Martha's place. Most of the buildings in Satellite are crushed together with only a tiny bit of space between them, but this building was set apart from that by a grassy area. Before we had even reached the door, Pearson had told the kids (there were 3 girls and 5 boys I knew now) to get dried off and go to bed. We stepped inside, and the kids went off in one direction, Pearson in the other with me following behind. Sitting at the kitchen table, I told him what had happened in the last few months while he tried to carefully bandage my swollen hand.

"... I wasn't intending to end up down there; it just kinda happened that way," I concluded as he finished with my hand.

He didn't say anything for a moment, but when he did it was a complete change of subject - again. "I'd better get some ice for that," he commented as stood from the table. He went over to an ice chest in the corner, filled one of those plastic bread sacks with ice, wrapped it in a towel, came back over and placed it gently on top of my now wrapped knuckles.

"How much do you know about engines?" Man, this guy is the king of random.

"Some." I shrugged. "Why do ask?"

"Well, these kids and I have a bit of a project going: building an engine from junk. I'd be glad for any help you could provide."

"You mean you want me to stay here?" I could hardly believe it; I barely knew this guy.

"You mean Crow's gonna be our big brother too?" We turned to face the doorway and saw eight little faces peering at us.

"I thought I told you to go to bed." His voice was stern, but there was a smile playing around the corners of his mouth as well. All the kids giggled and smiled back. "And only if he wants to stay. So, Crow? You gonna stick around or keep wandering?"

When Pearson put it that way, the choice was obvious. I didn't want to be back on the streets, fending for myself, alone. Not to mention I'd already fallen in love with these kids in the short time I'd gotten to know them in. "Well, it's not like I have anywhere else to go anyway."

"YAY!" Next thing I knew I had eight grinning kids crowded around, all trying to hug me at the same time. I couldn't help but laugh. The last time I had felt this excepted was ten years ago when I had first met Yusei and Jack. Before that I had been on my own, fending for myself. But things change; more, people change. None of us are the same we used to be. Jori lost all hope and decided suicide was the only way out of Satellite. Kena and Keoka, twins the same age as myself, disappeared without a trace not long after. And then Kalin showed up, offered us hope, and then...

"Bed. Now." Pearson interrupted my thoughts, forcing them back to the present for the second time that day. "No arguing." To me he said, "C'mon. Let's head that way too. I'll show you where you can sleep."

A moment later I found myself in a room of my own. I'd always shared with someone, except when I had wondered alone. At Martha's I had shared with Jori, and when we formed the Enforcers I shared space with Yusei. It was kind of nice being alone in this room, knowing I wasn't really alone at all, but had Pearson and those eight kids around. Despite it all, I fell asleep that night thinking, 'I wonder how long this is gonna last...'

Three Years Earlier

"Hey, Martha?" I asked, peeking my head into the kitchen. "Have you seen Jori? I can't find him anywhere."

"Last I knew he was headed upstairs," she responded without turning form her work. "That was quite some time ago, but he might still be up there."

"Thanks!" I turned and raced up the stairs to the room I shared with the rust-color haired boy. Two years older and much taller then myself, I considered the freckle-faced Jori to be the big brother I never had.

The door was closed when I reached our room. That right there should have told me something was wrong, but I shrugged it off and pushed open the door, calling, "Jori! Hey Jor - !" I cut-off mid sentence, not believing what lay before my eyes. He was still there alright, lying on the floor, an empty pill bottle next to him. My eyes went wide; I couldn't breath, couldn't think, couldn't move. I don't know how long I just stood staring before I heard footsteps in the hall coming toward me, and still I couldn't do anything.

"Did you find him, Crow?" It was Martha. Then: "Oh my - !" as she gazed at the scene. Unlike me, she didn't hesitate. Quickly, she went to his side, tried to find any sign he was still alive. After a moment she shook her head, looked up at me from across the small room. "I'm so sorry, Crow, but he's gone."

Unbidden, a tear slipped from one corner of my eye, then another and other. Martha came over to me and wrapped me in a warm embrace. I'm not ashamed to say I cried and cried that day for my friend. Suicides happen all the time in Satellite, but I never thought Jori would be one them; he was always the one telling others it had to get better.

I would cry again a few months later when Kena and Keoka would disappear. All I ever knew about what happened was that one night they were there when we all went to bed, and the next morning they were gone. If they ran away or were kidnapped, no one was ever able to find out; they left no trace of their existence behind. I'd never admit it out loud, but in my heart I had a special place for Kena; it broke my heart when she and her sister left.

Present Day

The very next day, I started helping Pearson with his research on how to make this 'junk engine' of his run. I couldn't believe how excited these kids were to build it. We didn't have any idea if we could actually make it run, but they didn't care; a 'minor detail' one the kids told me. Unfortunately, after a few weeks Pearson told me he couldn't continue with the project; it would have to be put on hold for awhile.

"But why?" I asked. "I thought it was going really well."

"It was," he responded, shaking his head. "But I don't have the resources to continue further."

"What are you gonna tell the kids?"

"Nothing. They can still build on it; that's what it's there for after all."

It wouldn't be long before I learned the real purpose of that engine.

One of the kids told me Pearson was in the workshop, and when I opened the door I saw him talking to some guy in a dark suit and sunglasses. Figuring I'd better not interrupt, I just looked on from the door, which I left open a crack. I couldn't hear what was said, but my eyes went wide when the man plopped a briefcase on one of the worktables and clicked it open to reveal a boatload of cash. They went even wider and my mouth dropped open in surprise and a little anger when Pearson closed it again, shaking his head. I couldn't believe he was refusing it! After the man had left, I entered the workshop and made a point of it.

"Why'd you refuse it? We coulda continued our research with that kind of dough!"

"Because we don't need it, Crow."

"Whadaya mean? Of course we do! To finish the engine, remember?"

"No, Crow. If it's going to be finished, it won't be with any help from the City."

"I still don't think I get it."

"It's like this, Crow. The reason I started this project in the first place was those kids. If I accepted that money, I would be going against everything I've told them. These kids need to know that being from Satellite doesn't mean they have to rely on those of New Domino for everything - for anything.

"The need to know there is hope; they need to know they can do anything they set their minds to. They need to know that all is not lost them because of a bad situation.

"They may just be the ones to change the world someday, Crow. But how can they do that when they have no confidence and think they are second-class citizens? They can't. They have to realize their full potential in order to make a difference to those around them.

"That's what this project is about; that's why I couldn't take the money."

I shook my head. "They'll still never get it, Pearson. Look where we are; everywhere you turn there's nothing but despair and hopelessness. Nothing ever gets better in Satellite, just worse; take my word for it. I've seen enough to know that hope eventually runs out. No one in Satellite is ever gonna make any of kind of difference."

"You don't know that, Crow. Maybe you should brush-up on your history; some of the most unlikely people were the ones to make the biggest impact on those around them. These kids could too.

"I believe anyone can make an impact on at least one other person; most people just don't take the opportunity. So what about you, Crow? You gonna take it or ignore it?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"Sometimes all it takes is one person willing to take a stand. Because, yes, one person can change the world, or at the very least, change one person's life. Even it you never change the world, it could be that one person's life that you made a difference in that will."

It's almost scary how alike Pearson and Martha are; they both told me the same thing: Things start to change when one person is willing to take a stand, and sometimes that one person has to be yourself.

Who knows; maybe Pearson's right and those kids will change the world one day.

And, just maybe, I will too.

Author's Notes: For the record, I'd still love it if you guys reviewed^_^