It may have taken me longer than I wanted to update this, but here is the next episode. Please review and enjoy.

Light was barely beginning to creep over the horizon when Crow and Etsuo escaped from their beds and quietly slipped away on Crow's Runner. The two of them rode into the district where the old man's apartment was. Only a few people were scattered about the street at such an early hour, but an old woman passing by recognized Etsuo and greeted him, rejoicing.

"Mr. Tsukino! You have returned to us unharmed!"

"Yeah…I'm here to get my bike, Mrs. Lawson, is it still there?" He questioned. The elderly lady brushed dust off of her raggedy mauve dress. She leaned slightly and took note of Crow, who was waiting patiently.

"You're not planning to Turbo-Duel those cultists that are gathering people down below, are you?" She asked.

"Mrs. Lawson, you need to understand. These people kidnapped me and kept me prisoner. They took my granddaughter and did god-knows-what to her! She got away. I saw the bandages. She may be all cheery like herself but I know that it's not that easy to get over certain things- kidnapped and imprisoned being one of them.

Anyways, these people want to turn our home into a Dead Zone…"

Mrs. Lawson stopped him. "I know they're up to no good. I'm not blind. There are few of us left still on the streets. Anyways…you say Midori also escaped. Where is that little ball of sunshine?"

Crow smiled to himself. The woman nodded.

"She's been staying with some friends to recover from her trauma. She's coming back today." Etsuo told her.

"I see…" The woman replied. She turned to Crow.

"If I'm not mistaken, you used to be apart of Team Satisfaction, were you not?"

Crow hesitated to reply. The woman waved her hand, assuring him she meant nothing harmful by it. He shook his head, yes.

"You know, Etsuo here was apart of a group like yours when Duel Runners were first made." The old woman duly noted.

"It wasn't quite like that. It was a biker club that acted as a volunteer patrol unit. We basically did what Sector Security was SUPPOSED to be doing, back in the early days of the Satellite. But, unlike your group, we disbanded before we came into any real trouble with them.

…Let's just say we all knew when it was time to move on with our lives. For me, it was my son's marriage that made me decide to leave the team."

"So, what was the name of this group?" Crow wondered.

"Fire Patrol. We each named our Runners after something related to Fire…Cinder-Wind, Ember-Storm…mine is called Earth Blazer. I was the most grounded member of the group, but I could bring the heat when needed."

"Earth Blazer…" Crow liked the name. Mrs. Lawson pointed up to the window a few rows down. Crow guessed she was pointing to where Etsuo's place was.

"I suspect your Runner is still there. I saw it last night parked near the back entrance like it always is."

Etsuo thanked the woman and called for Crow to follow him back. As they went, they passed by the window of his make-shift apartment. Other than gathering dust, a few chairs that had been turned over and sheets in disarray from the home invasion, it had been left unchanged.

"Hopefully when this is all over…Midori and I can come back and fix things up."

Crow nodded. "If you need any help…just let me know."

As they snuck over to the back, they saw shadows fleeting and whispers wafted through the air. Crow gestured to Etsuo. They crept up to the wall just near the back entrance and titled their heads over.

"Are you sure we should be hanging around here? What if that old guy comes back and he knows someone to his ride?"

A pair of thugs circled around the old-fashioned Motorbike. Green flames and swirling snakes decorated the antique. One of the shady characters, dressed in a torn-up set of overalls, scratched his bald head. The other, clad in a red hoodie and beaten blue jeans glared at him. His eyes seemed dull and cold.

"Are you questioning me, Ko?" He hissed.

"No, but I hear this guy used to be one of the big cats around this joint."

Etsuo emerged from the shadows.

"Still am. Now, would you boys tell me what you're planning to do with my bike?" He eyed the one by his Runner. The young man grinned maliciously and without any fear of the old man.

"The name's Dante," He pulled back his hood to reveal matted black hair, "I've had my eye on this bike for a long time. I bet it's a sweet ride. It's a shame it has been sitting here to rust. Why don't I take it off your hands, old man?"

"Actually, I need it," Etsuo replied, "But you can have it if you can prove yourself to me. You're not afraid to take me on, are you?"

"A Duel? Why would I waste my time when my friend Ko and I can beat you black and blue…" Etsuo grabbed him by the throat. Crow gasped.

"Have it your way…"

"Wait! Wait! Maybe a Duel would be better. At least I'd get to keep myself in one piece…Or…" He gestures to Ko. Ko tried to grab Crow, but Crow quickly evaded him and jumped right over him, kicking him in the back.

"Ow! That hurt, you little runt!" He roared. Crow proceeded to stick his foot out and trip the tall man over as he tried to turn around. Ko came lumbering to the ground, flat on his back.

Crow put his boot to the small of his back and grinned as Dante's companion gazed up at him with an alarmed expression.

"Don't mess with me." Crow growled. Etsuo smirked as Dante's eyes widened in terror. He knew he wasn't going to win a physical brawl against two people who actually knew how to fight defensively.

"Fine! You've got yourself a Duel, for real this time."

"I thought you'd see it my way." Etsuo pushed him aside as his rolled up the sleeve of his jacket. He disengaged the Duel Disk from his Runner and turned to face Dante. The thug already had a standard Disk perched on his arm. He whipped out his deck and inserted it while Etsuo artfully did the same.

"Prepare yourself old man; you've never seen a Maelstrom like my deck!"

Etsuo sighed. "Probably not."

They went to opposite sides of the ally. Crow sat on top of an old tossed-out refrigerator while Ko scampered and sat crisscrossed on the ground behind his cohort.

"Alright, let's go!" Dante declared. The Duel Disks lit up and the decks were shuffled. The life point counters were set to 4000 each.

"Why don't you go first, old man? You might need to extra boost." He snickered. Etsuo grinned under his moustache and drew a card. As he adjusted his glasses, he reviewed the six cards in his hand.

"I'll begin with summoning my Lavaborn Panther in attack mode." He stated as he inserted the card. A black panther that was roughly the size of a small car appeared. It had an unearthly red glow to its eyes and its body seemed to be made of smoldering rock and lava. Smoke drifted up into the air as it growled at Dante.

(Lavaborn Panther is a level four Fire attributed Beast type monster. It has 1600 attack points and 1200 defense points.)

"As long as my Panther is face up on the field, you take 300 points of direct damage every time I successfully summon another 'Lavaborn' monster, including my Panther."

Lavaborn Panther scratched at Dante, leaving a stream of smoke at his feet. He felt the heat of the monster's claws as his life points dropped to 3700. The thug sneered at him. Etsuo set a facedown card on his field and ended his turn. In his hand remained Lavaborn Wolf, Raging Flame Sprite, Gravity Bind, and Burning Land. He knew he could easily win with what was in his hand, but he wanted to see if Dante was truly as skilled as he claimed to be.

Dante drew his card.

"I summon Marauding Captain! And with his ability I can special summon a Level four or lower monster from my hand!"

Two monsters emerged on Dante's field. The first was Marauding Captain, a blonde knight with a giant sword in a tattered red cape. The second monster looked like a cross between a dragon, an armadillo, and a rhinoceros. It stomped around, presenting the horn perched atop its nose.

(Marauding Captain is a level three Earth attribute Warrior Monster with 1200 attack points. Your opponent cannot select another Warrior monster as an attack target while this monster is face-up on the field.)

"I chose to Special Summon my Rare Metal Dragon!"

(Rare Metal Dragon is a level four Dark attributed Dragon type monster with 2400 attack points and 1200 defense points.)

"Not bad, you managed to summon a good monster. Too bad special summoning is the only way to get that card on the field…" Etsuo stroked his mustache.

"I'll have my Dragon attack your Panther. Show him who is boss!"

The dragon stampeded towards Lavaborn Panther.

"I reveal my Trap Card! Ash Storm!"

A whirlwind of gray and blackened ash whisked around his Panther and blinded Rare Metal Dragon. Out of confusion, the dragon ran back to the safety of its master next to Marauding Captain.

Dante gasped. "What just happened?"

"My Ash Storm cancels any attack made of a Fire attribute monster, and creates a force that your monster's can't penetrate. So it forces you to end your battle phase."

Dante grumbled. "It's not like I could have made a second attempt. I set two cards facedown and end my turn."

Ko clapped his hands. "Don't give up! You can take this old timer!"

Crow nodded in approval of Etsuo's strategy. He was certainly capable of holding his own. But he wondered if it would be enough to take on the Dark Signers.

Etsuo drew his card, which was Lavaborn Knightmare. He pulled Lavaborn Wolf from his hand. He took note of the two facedown cards. He wouldn't play his Gravity Bind and Raging Flame Sprite Combo just yet. The two facedowns could be trouble.

"First, I will set a card facedown before summoning Lavaborn Wolf in attack mode." He set Gravity Bind down. It was his one defense against Rare Metal Dragon until he could pull out something to get rid of it.

Next, a figure appeared in a burst of light. A coal-black wolf with fiery eyes howled at Dante's monsters without hesitation. As it exhaled, smoke wafted up from its nostrils.

(Lavaborn Wolf is a level three Fire attributed Beast type Tuner monster with 1300 attack points and 700 defense points.)

"Now my Panther's effect hits you for another 300 points of damage."

The panther swept at the ground; small embers shot from its claws. Dante's life points stood at 3400. Etsuo knew he couldn't afford to waste time by simply picking away at his opponents life points, but it was the only thing he could do for now.

"I attack your Marauding Captain with my Panther!"

"Not so fast! I reveal my trap! It's called Astral Barrier! I take direct damage in order to spare my monster!" Then, a green sheet of glass formed around Marauding Captain, and shattered when Lavaborn Panther tore into it.

Dante was left with 1800 life points. But he was done, because he continued by activating his second facedown card.

"My second trap is Numerous Healer. It recovers my life points by 1000, and if activate any others after it, I gain an additional 500 points for every Numerous Healer in my graveyard!" His life points went back up to 2800 as a cloak of light swirled around him. Etsuo then called upon his Wolf to attack. Dante had no defense this time.

Lavaborn Wolf exhaled a ray of lava that consumed Marauding Captain in its wake and melted him out of existence. Dante took minor damage from the battle.

"So you managed to take me down a notch! Big Deal! I still have my Rare Metal Dragon on the field." At this, Etsuo grinned. Dante took a step back. Crow perked up, and Ko wrung his hands.

"My Lavaborn Wolf has a special ability. On the End Phase of a turn it destroys a monster in battle, I can search my deck for another 'Lavaborn' monster with 1500 attack points or less and add it to my hand."

It was an opportunity he hoped for. He searched through his deck and selected Lavaborn Saurus before reshuffling it. His turn was over. Dante drew a card.

"I summon Harlequin Rogue in attack mode!"

A fiend dress like a clown with red and black sequin appeared, laughing at Etsuo.

(Harlequin Rogue is a level four Dark attributed Fiend type Tuner monster with zero attack and defense points.)

"Now I can perform a Synchro Summon! I tune Harlequin Rogue with Rare Metal Dragon!" Both monsters dissolved as eight orbs of light formed a giant pillar.

Out of the pillar came a massive creature. It looked like a giant blue dragon made of smoke and acid swirling in a blender, with electrifying eyes glaring down at Etsuo's monsters. Etsuo knew it would be trouble.

"Meet Maelstrom Dragon! Prepare yourself, old timer! When I used Harlequin Rogue to Synchro Summon it, it gave my dragon an extra 1000 attack and defense points! Do you think you can handle a monster with 4000 attack points?"

(Maelstrom Dragon is a level eight Dark attributed Dragon type Synchro monster with 3000 attack points and 2500 defense points.)

Etsuo gulped. He revealed his facedown.

"You're going to have to hold on there. My Gravity Bind prevents you from attacking with monsters at level four or higher. The same applies to me, but it will at least lend me some time to try and stop you."

"Oh, I'm quaking in my boots. You're Duel Runner is as good as mine! Why don't you just give up now while you still can?"

Etsuo clenched his free fist. Crow glared at Dante. Ko wanted to crawl into a corner as the elderly man gritted his teeth.

"I won't give up, you twit! If it were any other time, I would have let you take the bike because I don't really use it that much anymore…except for transportation. But right now the Satellite is in trouble. Don't you understand that? Haven't you seen anything?"

Dante snickered. "Frankly, I don't give a rat's behind about what happens to this place. I just want to make a quick buck so I can get out of here and live the good life…"

"Arrogant jerks like you only shine for a moment. I need that bike because this place is my home. It's in danger, and people need my help. A group of people and I are going to save the Satellite. But mostly, I want my granddaughter to be safe and happy again…like it was before the Dark Signers came." Etsuo closed his eyes. Dante had no other cards he could play and was forced to end his turn.

Etsuo looked at Crow. "I only have one shot at this, you realize that?"

Crow solemnly nodded. "I get it. But I have a good feeling you'll win this."

Etsuo broke out into laughter. He took a deep breath to regain his composure. The elderly man adjusted his glasses and put his hand on the top card of his deck.

"If I lose, I want you to promise me that you won't when it comes time to face those cretins." He slowly pulled the card from his hand. Crow agreed to the promise.

"I know you like my granddaughter…" Crow's face turned red, "I've been around long enough to know a thing or two about people. And the truth is… I'm ok with it as long as my grandbaby is happy. Besides, I won't be here forever and I don't trust Security when they say anything about what's going on with her mom and dad…"

He turned over his card and grinned. It was just what he needed.

"Ah, the heck with it, I'm just a mumbling old coot!"

Crow laughed when he got a glimpse of the card from behind. Ko peeked up, anxiety clearly written on his face. Dante tried to look tranquil but anticipation was eating him up inside. Whatever card the old man drew, it was probably something that could do him in. He laughed nervously.

"Are you going to take your turn or what? I'm dying over here!"

Etsuo smirked. "You'll be dead when I'm done with you and your dragon, because you're going to eat those words. I rise from the earth when things heat up, and that's why I named my Runner 'Earth Blazer'. This duel is ablaze, Dante!"

To be continued in the next episode. This was kind of a filler until I can figure out where to go from here. But, I did want to put my minor character, Etsuo in the spotlight (I mean, he's a cool grandpa)! Be sure to review and be here next time! And besides…Crow needed more love, too. He's underappreciated! See you!