The Project Integration Saga
Volume One: Project Integration

A young man found an old, tattered box on the roof of the Lincoln Memorial. He slowly opened the tiny box, to which it revealed an old journal. He took the delicate journal in his hands, opened it up, and a detached note fell from the inside into his lap. The text inscribed on it was tiny, and it looked more deliberate and thought out, as opposed to a simple scribbled note. The young man began to read.


To Whom It May Concern,

This journal is the true account of my life. It contains controversial topics, sexual situations, mild language, and gore. This journal is not to be taken lightly, for its messages are sincere. Take heed in its meanings. Read on, curious discoverer, and become enlightened on the past that you were never taught.


Intrigued, the man flipped over the inside cover page and started reading.


Prologue: Mr. Pokémon

A tall man, whose dark brown hair flailed about wildly in the brisk breeze, took the stage, carefully focusing on the stairs as he looked at his jet-black dress-shoes. He then glanced behind him, finding his beautiful wife following him up to the stage with her sea-foam blue dress flowing in the wind. The man's tuxedo was sharp, with no visible wrinkles anywhere, and it was being accented by a velvet red bow-tie. Once they both stood on the stage, which was situated right in front of his modern white mansion, they approached the podium in the center of it, with a roar of applause coming from the onlooking crowd. The man looked at his attendees. They all ranged in age; some were young children while some were around his age, 37 years old. Cameras flashed and reporters impatiently filmed and broadcasted the man, waiting for him to say something juicy and exciting for their watching audiences. He would not disappoint.

Before he spoke into the microphone perched upon the podium, he looked over at his wife with an unsure look on his face. His wife returned his look, staring into his eyes. Her sparkling eyes gave him reassurance as if her eyes were saying, 'It's alright, I'm here. It's time to tell the world.' Content, the man looked back at the crowd and sighed. After that, he began to speak.

"Hello and welcome to my new home in beautiful Southern California. Thank you all for coming on this rather windy morning," he paused as a gust of wind hit him as if on cue, causing the audience and the man chuckle. He quickly recovered and continued, "Many of you are wondering about why I have moved here and opened up a laboratory. Today, after a few months of research at this new lab, I have a huge announcement for all of the Pokémon lovers of the world."

Everyone was silent, waiting to hear what he had to say. Earlier in the month, the man had announced that his research would lead to a revolutionary development in the world of Pokémon, generating quite the buzz throughout the world.

"I am happy to announce that a breakthrough in our top-secret research has occurred. So big, in fact, that I can confidently say what I'm about to say to you. But first, a little preface on my passion. I was born in the year 2000 and grew up around video games, namely a franchise called Pokémon. Now, 37 years later, I still love it's ingenious concept. Now, I can officially say that the game will become a reality on Earth."

Upon him saying this, gasps and a few claps came from the crowd.

"That's right, we have successfully genetically engineered the first Pokémon ever. By 2040, I am confident that my research team and I will be able to fill the world with Pokémon." More applause and cheering came from the excited crowd. "That is all I have time for today, now I must really be getting back to work, thank you all."

He turned away from the podium to look at his wife, who was smiling happily at her husband, proud of their accomplishments. Through the roar of a crowd, a loud bang rang out. The man flinched and saw his wife of 14 years fall limp onto the stage floor. His wife had been assassinated.

Today, it's June 12, 2052. The 15 year anniversary of when my team, my wife, and I created Arceus, our first Pokémon. Yes, I was the man in the tux. Yes, I am Richard Jonas, better known as Mr. Pokémon. The nickname came from my 'fans,' who couldn't help but compare me to the old man from the game who researches Pokémon. Apart from a simple nickname, I feel that it is necessary that you understand who I am, so read on.


I: Early Experiments

I stood at my wife's casket. Her face looked peaceful, it seemed to be glowing as if she was vibrant with life. I knew full well that it wasn't, that bastard sniper made sure of that. I began to cry silently as I laid a bouquet of light pink roses, her favorite flower, on top of her.

I turned away, tears covering my eyes as I heard a voice in my head; it was Arceus. 'Master, I am deeply sorry for your loss, know that her soul is in good hands.'

I returned a message in my head, as he could read thoughts, 'Thank you, Arceus. She was a good woman. She was there for me through it all. I don't know if I should continue the research.'

'Master, she wouldn't want anything more than for you to carry on.'

I wiped away my tears and took a seat by myself in the rows of seats, waiting for my time to speak about my wife. I knew that I could never experience love again.

Months went by before I continued with my team. They were adamant on not producing any more Pokémon until they were given the OK to do so by me. It was a funny thing, being 'Mr. Pokémon.' With The Pokémon Company collapsing from bankruptcy a while back, no one owned 'Pokémon' anymore, not even Nintendo, Game Freak, or Creatures. They just couldn't keep up with the evolving video game platforms, which began to become more virtual-reality based. But I never took the Pokémon brand, I just kind of inherited the concepts.

The events leading up to my wife's murder seem hazy. As if I have been slowly erasing my past. I realize now that my past is important. Important for others to know, but not for me to dwell upon.

(Flashback)

I wasn't always that popular. Sure, I graduated top of my class in high school and got my doctorate in biology two years after that, as well as a masters degree in education, but after all, I was just some 21 year old boy teaching a high school biology class in Ohio. I was an idea man, who would invent things and sell the concepts to large companies for lump sums of money, I was fortunate to have such a creative mind. With some of the money, I did some mad-scientist experiments in my free time, involving things like the Miller-Urey Experiment and whatnot. I messed around with the origins of life, trying to crack the code. I was told by my then-girlfriend that I should stop trying to play God. She was also a biology major, and was still in college at the time. Of course, stubborn me didn't listen to her.

As the months went by, my experiments grew larger and with it, my curiosity grew larger as well. I could feel it. I could feel myself getting close to the answer. One day, I found it. I created life, albeit a few bacterium, but I created life. I told nobody, not even my girlfriend. The consequences of my findings could be devastating to the world. I was so ecstatic at my accomplishments that I made a rash but still very wise decision.

I bursted out of my house, hopped in my car, and drove down to the jewelry store by my house. My heart was beating fiercely, with my body listening to its every command.

I went in, walked straight up to the jeweler and said, "what is the most beautiful diamond engagement ring you have?"

He told me to wait where I was as he went to fetch a catalog. I tapped my fingers on the display case glass, impatient as all get-out, my passion booming. He returned and I hastily flipped through my options. My eyes fell upon one specific ring and I fell in love with it. It was speckled with small white diamonds around a rose gold ring. In the center, a larger crystalline diamond was perched in another lining of rose gold.

"This is perfect."

The jeweler looked at me in confusion, saying, "Sir, this ring is $34,000. Do you have that kind of money?"

I glared at him, with a hint of offense being shown on my face. "It is not wise to assume the well-being of others. I know I look like I'm fresh outta high school with no money to my name, but I can assure you that I am no ordinary man. I have the money."

Although I did have the money, I knew deep down that the ring costed me a large portion of my entire year's salary from teaching. I silently thanked my younger self for selling his inventive ideas.

I bought the ring and returned home, hiding the ring in a safe to make sure that Sarah, my girlfriend, would not find it. Her birthday was coming up, and I decided that that would be the best time to ask her.

Weeks later, the day came, Sarah held a quaint little family party at her house, which I was invited to. The entire day, my heart pumped out of my chest. I arrived early to help her set up, the ring was tucked in my inside coat pocket. While I helped her clean, my mind raced with memories of us being together. It seemed like we had been together for an eternity, but it felt that it was just yesterday that we were in high school, cracking jokes and going to the movies with her. My worries replaced my memories, 'what if I mess up? What if she says no?' My head throbbed in pain. I looked over to Sarah, who was staring at me as I was sweeping her kitchen floor. Her eyes darted away and she blushed. I smiled and continued sweeping.

Later, her parents and her sister arrived. After we ate dinner and talked for awhile, I found a time to pull her parents to the side, as Sarah was deep in conversation with her sister. I told them about what I was going to do and asked for their permission, they were shocked beyond belief. They both said yes, albeit with a little hesitation, and hugged me tightly. I happily returned their hug.

Everyone brought out her gifts. Sarah was not one for gifts, as she felt that she was always obligated to return the favor. Hesitantly and shyly, she opened up one present after another, acting surprised and happy as she received them, thanking whoever got it for her. After every gift I got more nervous, as my time was nearing. After all of the gifts, I stood from where I sat on the couch, walking over to her. Sarah looked at me confusedly, her wavy dirty-blonde hair resting beautifully at the sides of her head. I reached into my suit pocket, where I had relocated the ring to. Taking it out of my pocket, I stared into her loving, warm eyes as she gasped and brought her hands to her mouth. I knelt to the ground, never losing my gaze on her beautiful blue eyes.

I held out the box to her and said, "Sarah I love you with all my heart. I cannot imagine my life without you in it. So, Sarah, will you marry me?"

She started to tear up as I slowly opened the box, revealing to her the dazzling rose gold diamond ring.

What she said made me the happiest man in the world, "Oh my God, Richard! Of course!" I smiled, stood up, and embraced her in a warm kiss. After the kiss, I wrapped her up in my arms for the longest and warmest hug I have ever had. I held her close, with her head over my shoulder. She whispered, "I love you," into my ear and I whispered the same back. Her parents and sister sat on the couch, all teary-eyed, and clapped in happiness. I knew that my life was going to be great.

We waited until after she graduated college to get married and when we did finally get married in 2023, I told her about my newest experiment. I told her about how I had created life. She was not into the idea of it at first, but she still supported my efforts.

Later in life, when I began to genetically engineer larger animals out of thin air, she began to start supporting and assisting in it, as we found that it had serious medical applications as well. I even created her own German Shepherd puppy for her, she named it Bosco. Our experiments remained secret until her sister found out about them. She leaked it to news reporters, who began to interview us. I never forgave her for that. It was then that we became household names; the people who played God and succeeded.

The world became divided, those who were in favor of synthetic life and those that were against it. Those who were for it began to follow me as a kind of fan-base. I was never fond of having fans of my work, I liked it more when it was just my wife and I. They took all the fun out of my work, replacing it with stress. I couldn't let the people who followed me down.

After a while, we had run out of things to create and run out of ideas. Our time was being wasted by the media and interviews with the press. During the night, we would sit there at our desk, brainstorming what animal to create next. My mind kept going back to one idea, but I kept pushing it away. I thought, 'I will not make that synthetically, that needs to happen naturally.' I looked over to Sarah who was deep in thought, unaware of my staring and sudden blushing. I had always wanted a child, but I could never have one. Not because I physically couldn't, but because we were just too busy. If it had not been for the press, we would have had a child.

Sighing in realization, I looked over to my shelves on the wall of our home in an attempt to distract myself. Resting on a custom-made stand was my ancient Game Boy Color. It reminded me of when I was a child, when my life was simpler. I would play 'Pokémon: Special Pikachu Edition' religiously, becoming enveloped in the feeling of pride as I would smash through challengers with my powerful team. I did every chore imaginable to get enough money to buy it. I sighed, reminiscing on the past. Sarah snapped out of her thoughts and looked at me.

"What are you staring at?" She asked.

I replied with, "Oh, just my old Game Boy. Such good memories."

She looked at the old device as well and said, "I remember when I used to play 'Pokémon Gold' on my Game Boy."

She sighed, resting her head on her hands as she stared at it. A few seconds went by before we both jolted upwards and stared at each other. We both knew we had the same idea. We knew it was crazy, weird, and most likely not going to work, but we both said the same thing in unison. "Let's create Pokémon." Now, sometimes I wish that I had never looked at that damned Game Boy.