The news is plagued with news for days, and as a child, Alfred is disgusted. His father's leaving the family is just some… Piece of publicity? No. It was difficult to cope… Didn't Arthur love him…?
-12 YEARS LATER-
Alfred had reached the wonderful age of 19. And! He had changed his last name. Why be a 'Kirkland' when your dad didn't even remember you right? Jones! Now that was a good name. Alfred F. Jones. It made him feel more heroic! Not so forgotten.
Sure, it was his place to own ENCOM, but Alfred really didn't care. There were only a few things on his mind: clubs, his dog, babes, and… well. Pranking his company every now and then. 3
He was the rightful owner, he could do what he pleased with ENCOM, even if it… Was the wrong thing? To just let Ivan run it.
Kiku frowned at what ENCOM had become. Ivan was doing what his father did… Whatever it took to make a quick buck. It wasn't right! He knew that if Alfred stopped what he was doing, then his life would be set. The 19 year old wasn't going to college; he was sitting around, playing video games, and spending time with his scruffy little mutt-dog.
However, Alfred wasn't stupid. He was just like his faster; a keen programmer and hacker. Otherwise, how would he be able to replace presentations with crummy videos of his dog, trees, and strippers?
Then, one day… The Japanese man discovered a strange development:
His pager went off. Kiku picked it up, brows furrowed in confusion… It was Arthur.
Kiku decided to have a word with Alfred, so he dropped by the boy's home: a rugged little apartment, that typically looked like tornado blew through it. He knocked at the door only to be greeted with squeaky little barks from Alfred's dog, followed by a voice calling, "Door's open!"
Kiku walked in, the dog seeming happy to see him as it hopped up, whining to be pet. Kiku obliged by petting the scruffy black and white mongrel's ears. Alfred paused his game, and laughed, "Down, Superman! Down, boy!", and with that, the dog sat down, highly obedient, he practically bounded in bed, "Good boy!", he praised before turning to his guest, "Honda, my man! How have you been?"
"It is nice to see you, too, Alfred", Kiku said, softly. "You should know the minor key point of why I've come to visit you. I'm here to talk." Minor? No, when Kiku came for a visit, he usually came to talk to him about ENCOM.
Alfred quirked an eyebrow, "Go on with it, then.", he said, passing Kiku a mysterious drink. The Japanese man subtly sniffed it. Coka-Cola.
"You know… Rather than releasing ENCOM's material to the public, you could take over and call the shots." Alfred was quiet as he listened, though he made it apparent that he was uninterested, by flopping backwards on the couch and resting his chin against his fist. Kiku let out a soft chuckle, "Alfred, you're acting like a child…", he sipped at the carbonated soda, "It's what your father would've wanted, Alfred."
The blonde frowned, "Dad didn't want anything to do with me. That's why he left…", Alfred mumbled, looking away, "He was in hysterics on the night he left, talking about a virtual world with characters I barely remember." Kiku moved closer and rested a hand on his shoulder, "Alfred, he wouldn't have just left you… I was with him that night. With Arthur. That story was about… TRON and MCP, wasn't it?" Alfred stiffened, and adjusted his glasses, "How do you know…?"
Kiku smiled, "Alfred F. Jones, I have some news you may be interested in." Now he had Alfred's full attention. "I got a message last night", he said holding up a small black square. , "A pager…?", Alfred snorted loudly, as he let out a giggle. "Laugh all you want, but Arthur told me to sleep with this. I still do.", "You got a message? Who still carries around a /pager/?", "Your father apparently. "
Alfred grew quiet, "It came from Kirkland's Arcade. I think you should go." Alfred blinked, why on Earth… "What makes you think /I/ should go? He didn't message me.", "Alfred you don't carry a pager…", Kiku said, kneeling to look the boy in the eyes, "Arthur adored you more than anyone else in the world, I think you should be the first to see him.
Alfred gave a little smile, though in his eyes, it was clear he thought this was all bullshit.
"You act like I'll see him sitting there at work with a big smile… Like… He'd turn to me and say… 'Ello, lad. What took you?' When we all know-", Kiku cut Alfred off, "You may be surprised. Tell you what. I'll shut up about ENCOM if you go. No more pressure to take it over."
"Deal."
