*** Your Title Here ***

[b]Dom & Ed: AaLS (FINAL ACT,"The End?")[/b]

[i]"...Promise me you'll come back!"[/i]

[i]"I don't know, I can't! My mom said..."[/i]

[i]"Just say it... Please? I've never told you what to do ... Just this once! Couldn't you..."[/i]

[i]OK. I promise. Good bye ...[/i]

"Precious...My precious", a deep gurgling voice emits from the cheap plywood and fibre glass constructs of the E-ward. EJ nibbles on Ed's sock hidden inside his tunic, like it was some sort of delicacy.

EJ(to himself): "Mmm, my precious likes thisss... yes, you do, you do you do..."

Dr. Honda: "EJ! Stop fidgeting there and help me here. They're both displaying anomalies I've never seen before. It looks like they're resisting the treatment, but there's something else here... It's replicating... Like a virus... Get me a mutant sensory module quickly! And another neura-stat amp and some multi-plugs."

EJ: "Yess, masta!"

Little Dominic (probably no more than 7 years old right now) bent over to examine a patch of mimosa on the unkempt front lawn of his new home. He was going to pluck off one of the small pink flowers when he sensed someone looking at him from the pathway. It was Ed on his bicycle ,with training wheels on the back and other frilly bits, including a picture of Simon LeBon ripped off from some magazine and stuck on the front plastic wind-shield between the handles.

Ed: "Oh. Hi... *Loses balance, almost dropping his bike* Heehee. *Grin* I've noticed you around. You're new here, right? I'm Eddy, but you can call me Ed! Only my mom calls me Eddy. Pleased to meet you! *Steps forward onto the grass*"

Dom: "Well, my mom told me not to speak to strangers. And you're trash-passing on my propaty! *Pushes Ed back*"

Ed: "Sheeesh.. Girls should be more gentle. And polite?"

Dom: "Girl?!? Who's a whiny sissy now? *Stands up with fist*"

Ed: "*Pulls out a cigarette from nowhere and lights it* Drop the act ,Dom. I knew you just wanted to pull me inside and 'play house' with you."

Dom: "*Expression changes from open-mouthed shock to tired stare*Don't think you're always so damned f^cking special. *Relaxed*"

Ed: "Man... *Exhales* If I knew you were such a fag, I would have taken you on my ride sooner. Heheheheh..."

Dom: "You're an asshole, Ed. *Turns his head*"

Ed: "Ah. You're breaking my heart, Domy. Is that really the last thing you want to say to me before I'm gone?"

Dom: "What? Oh right. I almost forgot. *Looks around* I can't believe I still remember this house... "

Dom & Ed: "*Touch one another's face*... I don't think I even remember what you look like anymore. *Embrace*"

Ed: "*Nudge Dom* Look. Is this it?"

Their surroundings swirled around them. Seconds later, they were no longer in the town that they both grew up in. The day rapidly shaded itself out to night. They're at the jetty on that fateful night, but all the details looked "fuzzy" , like they were standing on a water-colour painted movie set. Dom is back in his adult form with the trademark shirt, but Ed still looks like a kid in his T-shirt and shorts.

Dom: "...I can't ensure your safe passage out of Tokyo if you don't accept my offer. C'mon, Eddy. You're the reason I became a Sega fanboy in the first place. It's not like Sony's power is going to last forever. And I've heard rumours about the PS3 harddrive... Can you really trust those guys anymore?"

Ed(with high-pitched voice): "Stop! Rumours are just that. Rumours.You know I don't care about that. I have always been faithful to my beliefs... I know damn well what I'm fighting for, and I'm not just another hired gun! *Cocks his weapon* And you ..."

Dom: "Wait, Ed. Don't do this! Ed? ED!!! ..."

Ed: "Woah! Cool it. Fsck, everything sounds bigger in a kid's body..."

Dom: "I thought this got deleted already..."

Ed: "*Still slapping his ears* No. It's different."

The water colours seem be melt all around them.

Ed: "*Shotgun fades away* Don't forget me."

Dom: "I can't... *Hands over head. Looks down at shoes* I can't stop them now... I can't!"

Ed: "Try ..."

Dom stopped staring at his feet and forced his eyes to look at Ed one last time. He saw only a blur, a figure standing where Dom himself was originally standing, pointing his .45 Magnum at him. Two shots were fired as was expected. His visions whites out before he guessed what hit him.

A Sega Black Ops minivan pulls up next to Dom, who was kneeling down all alone , gazing glassy-eyed into the black empty canvas of the night. Some Latin American Guy steps out of the minivan with a loud splash. He looks at his black pants soaked with water colours.

SLAG: "Yo,mon! Wat shite have you been smoking?!?"

The sound of "Something Changed" by PULP fades out, as the minivan drives off into the streets of Tokyo. "It looks so peaceful tonight", Dom looks out from the window and surveys the city lights, wondering if he had forgotten something...

A year later, Dom heads back to Sega HQ to file in his report in person. He now wears contacts. Hair, long with a mullet. His face is unshaven. Throw in a bandana and he would look like a "Metal Gear Solid"(or should that be "Full Metal Jacket"?) fanboy. He looks at his watch and it's already late. Turning around, he decides to get home early to watch re-runs of The Sopranos on cable. At around the same time, Ed leaves his office. He has just been promoted to "Junior Director of Operations". He's got his hair all combed back with an egg of moouse like some 80's yuppie. He wears a tie everywhere he goes. As he unlocks his Coupe, he recognises Dom running off to his bike.

Ed: "Dom? Wait! Hey stop! ... I'm a new junior director, you'll be reporting to me starting tomorrow!"

Dom: "*Pauses and jogs on the spot* Is that so? *turns his head and sees Ed's face for the "1st time"* You! THE Ed Bolan himself? The newbie high-flyer who single-handedly stopped the Northern Rock Star insurgency by converting all their spies to our side... I'm so jealous. I've never seen anyone achieved that much in my 3 years here."

Ed: "Haha. Thanks, I guess. By the way, have you eaten yet?"

Ed's handphone suddenly rings.

Ed: "Hello."
???: "Section Balioth, Team Alpha!"
Ed: "Yessir!"

???: "A week ago, we've received reports of John R reviving operation BLUE HELMET, recruiting 3-D graphics artist and engineers. His recent migration of engineers with knowledge specialising in beam weapons is of great concern..."

Ed: "I heard about that..."

???: "Well. We now have confirmation that beta-testing is in progress. You are to report to Diamond Bar Rendezvous Point at approximately 1925 hrs with any other agents at your disposal,on short notice. I will send the pictures from our latest reports and GPS coordinates on the way. Godspeed."

Ed: "Aye, Captain Surly."

???: "Damnit. I thought my John Wayne accent was perfect! Arrr... Get your ass moving already! *Hangs up*"

Ed: "*Notice Dom running off already* Agent Li!"
Dom: "Yeah?! *Turns his head* I mean... yessir...*looks the other way*"

Ed: "Now don't get cranky on me just because I'm your new boss. GET IN THE CAR, I'VE GOT A MISSION FOR YOU! We've got a mission...*Wink*"

Dom: "I've got my own ride... *pulls out a motorbike helmet from nowhere*. Johnny boys back, eh?!? I'll meet you there! *Runs off*"

Ed: "Sonuva... *Hammers the hood of his car and smiles*"

Ed plugs in his baby blue I-Pod into his car and the sonic blast of "Men of Destiny"(theme song from Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory) penetrates the evening air, along with the roar of Dom's Aprilla. "Good times?", Ed wonders as he switches gear and sticks the acceleration pad to the floor.

END FINAL ACT