Mr. Fuji is okay! But what does he have to tell our friends? This chapter we'll finally get the answers to a lot of important questions, and learn just what's going on with the µ Gene, and get a closer look at Project ADAM! I hope the wait has been worth it! It's big!

KedharS: That's definitely true. Hopefully they won't have to be apart for much longer, though.

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: Well, we'll have to see. I hope nothing bad happens to him.

JoshGamerV: We'll be learning more about Project ADAM in this chapter.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 850

"Mr. Fuji!" Akira gasped in disbelief. "What are you doing here?! Are you okay? You should be resting in the hospital!"

The old man gave him a quizzical look. "In the hospital-? Oh! Oh, my, no, it seems like you all have misunderstood what happened to me!"

Sylvia was curious. "Oh? Then what did happen to you?"

"Well, judging by this lad's reaction, it looks like I've found the right folks," Mr. Fuji laughed, taking a seat at their table. "You see, I always travel to the Pokemon Tower regularly to pay my respects to the dearly departed pokemon."

"Yeah, we know," Akira said. "And then you had a heart attack or something, right? You really scared the ghosts! One of the Gengar was so worried that she put the whole town to sleep in order to get my attention!"

Mr. Fuji sighed. "Ah, yes, they've been known to play tricks like that," he admitted. "But you see, that's nothing. I wasn't in any real danger. Now, what was your name again, kiddo?"

"Oh, I'm Akira, this is Sylvia, and that's-"

"Yes, yes, I know her name," Mr. Fuji laughed, winking at Misty. "Gym leader of Cerulean City, Misty the Tomboyish Mermaid, I read the papers. It's a pleasure to meet a celebrity!"

"The pleasure's all mine," Misty replied, "but what was that you were saying about not being in any real danger? Akira and Sylvia found you passed out in the Pokemon Tower!"

"That's because the Ghost pokemon that live in that place, their bodies are made up of a special composition," Mr. Fuji sighed. "Toxic gases and such. They weren't a threat to me usually, but I'd been going there so often I must have gotten weak and passed out. But it's not like my life was in danger or anything! As soon as I was taken out and given a good night's rest, as you can see, I'm good as new!"

He slapped his hand on his chest to show that he was fine. Everyone else sighed in collective relief, even Sylvia.

"So you're really okay?" Akira asked.

"Well, if I'd stayed there for a couple of days, I might have had some respiratory problems," Mr. Fuji admitted. "But other than that, yes, I'm perfectly fine. Thanks to you kids."

Akira nodded. "Well, that's good."

"I still think you should be in the hospital," Sylvia observed. "I know a thing or two about Ghost type pokemon, and I don't think you're fully healed."

Mr. Fuji laughed and shook his head. "Nonsense, nonsense, I can recover just fine back at my house. I just have to make sure to stay away from the Pokemon Tower for a few days, maybe a week at most, don't worry."

He looked around the table at the others and scratched his chin. "Well now, what's the matter with you kids? Why the long faces? I didn't come here at a bad time, did I?"

"No, it's not that," Misty assured him, shaking her head. "It's just, well… we were in the middle of a rather tense decision."

"Oh, I see, well, I'm sorry to bother you then," Mr. Fuji apologized, rising to leave.

"Wait, no, it's okay," Akira assured him, taking a seat across from the old man, which unfortunately put him right next to Sylvia. "In fact, you might be able to help us."

"Oh?" Mr. Fuji asked, raising his eyebrow. "How so?"

"Akira, are you sure that's such a good idea?" Misty asked, giving him a wary look.

"I think it's fine!" Sylvia chirped. "After all, Mr. Fuji would be happy to help, isn't that right, sir?" She asked, putting on the sweetest smile she could.

Mr. Fuji was a little confused, but he shrugged his shoulders. "I would be happy to help if you like, it's the least I can do for my saviors. But I don't see how someone like myself could be of much help with your problems, I'm sorry."

"Actually, Mr. Fuji, you're exactly the person we need to speak with, isn't that right, Akira?" Sylvia asked, elbowing Akira in the side.

Akira frowned. He wasn't very comfortable with this, but it was the sort of situation he had been waiting for the whole time. He'd resolved to not go talk to Mr. Fuji when he thought that the old man was in poor health, but now Mr. Fuji was here, looking perfectly fine, and actually OFFERING to help.

Could Akira really pass up on this opportunity? No, of course he couldn't! He needed to confront this situation head-on.

"Actually, Mr. Fuji, the reason we came here to Lavender Town… was to see you," Akira confessed, giving him a wary look.

Mr. Fuji only looked more confused. "What's this now? To see me? That's an odd thing, what could a bunch of young people want with an old fuddy-duddy like me?" He wondered. "Of course, if there's anything I can do, feel free to ask."

Akira took a deep breath and silently exhaled. This was it.

"The reason we came to see you… is because we have some questions about the µ Gene," he finally managed to get out.

Mr. Fuji froze. His kindly expression slid off his face and was quickly replaced with a troubled grimace as he eyed Akira suspiciously.

"Where… did you hear about that?" He asked warily.

"From a professor by the name of Johanes Decker," Akira said, narrowing his eyes. So Mr. Fuji DID know. This entire time, he'd harbored the smallest trace of doubt that Sylvia was telling the truth. As if she'd been leading him on and this had just been one big con. But Mr. Fuji's reaction just confirmed it. He continued, "he's a professor of genetic research."

Mr. Fuji sighed. "I see. So it's that, is it?"

He moved to stand up, startling everyone at the table.

"W-Wait, Mr. Fuji, this is important!" Akira said, moving to stop him, but Mr. Fuji raised his hand and shook his head.

"If this is about Decker and the µ Gene, then you're right, it's VERY important," Mr. Fuji sighed. "But it's not something we can discuss here."

Akira was surprised to hear that. "W-Well, I see. Then…"

"Come with me you kids. I'll take you to my house. And then we can continue this discussion in peace." He looked around the Pokemon Center. It was nearly empty, like the rest of Lavender Town, but apparently "nearly" wasn't good enough.

Without another word, Mr. Fuji walked towards the door. Everyone else moved to follow him.

The walk to Mr. Fuji's house was conducted in silence, which unnerved Akira and Misty. They both felt uncomfortable about Mr. Fuji's attitude in the wake of what had happened, but neither one could say anything in this awkwardness.

Sylvia followed behind them without a care in the world. She couldn't wait to hear all about what Mr. Fuji had done!

Finally, they arrived at Mr. Fuji's little clay hut, and headed inside. Several pokemon came up to greet him, but he hastily shooed them away.

"Wow, you let your pokemon wander free in a house this small?" Misty asked, surprised.

Mr. Fuji shook his head and sat down on a comfortable chair. "No, no, they aren't mine. They're pokemon that have been abandoned by their trainers. I just look after them to make sure they're taken care of."

He let out a long, regretful sigh.

"It's my way of… taking care of them," he admitted. "And taking care of myself. Atoning for the things that I've done."

Akira didn't like the sound of that. He didn't know what Mr. Fuji felt so guilty about, but he had a pretty good idea it was connected to the µ Gene and this "Project ADAM" he kept hearing about. But he didn't press the old man. Mr. Fuji would tell them what they wanted to know in time, he wouldn't have brought them here otherwise.

The others sat down wherever they could. Luckily, there were an abundance of mats and cushions in the house for the pokemon, so they were at least comfortable. Everyone was staring at Mr. Fuji, waiting to hear what he had to say.

Mr. Fuji stroked his beard. "Before I tell you about the µ Gene and Decker, can I ask, what business is it of yours? Those things aren't often brought to the surface I'll have you know."

"It's important," Akira said. "Professor Decker, he… he used the µ Gene… on someone very important to me."

Mr. Fuji narrowed his eyes. "That's what I feared. The µ Gene is very unstable, if used on a pokemon, there's no telling what could happen to it."

Akira shook his head. "No, it wasn't a pokemon, it was my girlfriend. But if it's that bad for pokemon, are you telling me that it could be even worse on humans?"

Mr. Fuji nodded. "Yes, yes, the effects on pokemon are serious, but when used on a human, they would…"

His voice trailed off as he realized what Akira had just said. His face went deathly pale and his eyes widened with shock. "Are you telling me," he murmured, his voice going incredibly small, "that the µ Gene was given to a human being?"

Akira didn't like the look of that. He was scared, what had happened to Dakota?! But he couldn't help himself. He needed to know. He nodded in agreement with the old man. "Yeah. The professor gave her the µ Gene because she was dying, and it was the only way to save her. And she was! She was totally healed from her wounds, but now… now she's trapped in a coma, and she won't wake up. So I was wondering, could you… do you know anything that can help?"

Mr. Fuji looked aghast. He shook his head numbly. "No, no… that's not possible… and you're sure that this girl, she's alive?"

Akira nodded. "She… She isn't AWAKE, but she's definitely alive," he assured him. "Why? What's the matter, Mr. Fuji, what's going on?" He didn't like the sound of any of this.

Mr. Fuji sighed. "So it means that he's finally done it… that crazy old fool… he ignored everything we saw, he's forgotten everything that happened… I can't believe this… and he was successful, to boot. A real, human subject compatible with the µ Gene…"

Akira was getting sick and tired of no one giving him a straight answer. Mr. Fuji was just mumbling to himself, but he wasn't saying anything that could help Dakota! "Please, Mr. Fuji, you have to tell me!" Akira begged. "What's going on with Dakota? Is she going to be alright? This µ Gene, what did he do to her?!"

Mr. Fuji let out a long, tired sigh. "It's… not that simple."

Of course it wasn't. It never was! But Akira tapped down on his anger and decided that it was better to just talk this out.

"Please," he begged. "If there's something you can do to help Dakota… even just a small thing!"

Mr. Fuji shook his head. "I don't know if I can. I don't know if there's anything that can help your girlfriend, not after what Johanes did to her."

Sylvia frowned. This was going nowhere, so she decided it was time for her to step in. "Well, if you can't help with that, can you at least tell us what we're dealing with here?" She suggested. "Instead of beating around the bush? What is this 'µ Gene' anyway?"

Mr. Fuji glanced at her, surprised. "Yes, I… I suppose I can tell you," he finally agreed. "But believe me, this isn't something to be taken lightly."

"That's fine," Sylvia shrugged, glancing at Akira. "He and I are ready to hear whatever it is."

The old man was clearly reluctant to tell Sylvia what she wanted to hear. But he also figured that there wasn't much of a choice. So he decided to talk.

"The µ Gene and Project ADAM were, at one time, the things I was most proud of," he admitted. "But not anymore. Now they're my greatest shame. The damage that resulted… it was catastrophic. And now you tell me that my old colleague is trying to perfect the µ Gene, even testing it on humans?"

"Wait, sir, Professor Decker only gave Dakota the µ Gene because I asked him to," Akira said. "She wasn't a test subject or anything like that."

"Maybe that's the reason he did it, but I'm certain that he'll be using those results to further his own ends," Mr. Fuji scowled. "He's that sort of man, after all. The kind of person who cares mainly for his research. He believes that by unlocking the truth of pokemon genetics he can help people and pokemon everywhere. And… maybe he's right. But that doesn't excuse what he's done… what we did… to get to that point."

"This is about Project ADAM?" Akira asked. "Because I've heard about that… but I don't know any of the specifics."

"No one does," Mr. Fuji said, shaking his head. "The only people who know everything were the members of the research team that worked on it, and most of them are dead now… Only Johanes and I survived, although maybe that Gleiss could still be up and kicking somewhere… oh, well. It really doesn't matter at this point, does it?"

He stared into Akira's eyes, and Akira could feel the remorse burning in them.

"Before I tell you about Project ADAM, let me ask, what do any of you know about the symbol µ?" He asked.

Misty frowned. "I know that it's a letter of an old alphabet, right?"

"Yes, exactly," Mr. Fuji said, nodding. "In the context of genetics, however, 'µ' is used to represent the mutation rate in population genetics. That is, the frequency of new mutations in a single gene or organism over time. I won't get into the deep parts of it, but suffice to say, it's a symbol inherent in not just mutation, but in pokemon evolution. You see, what we consider 'evolution' of pokemon are really just them undergoing growth and transformation into their next stages, but that isn't necessarily growth on a genetic level, does that make sense?"

It made sense to Sylvia, but Akira and Misty were both lost.

"So… what does that have to do with the µ Gene?" Akira asked.

"The µ Gene was a genetic sample we extracted from the genetic code of µ," Mr. Fuji explained. "Did you know that all pokemon can be traced back to a single common ancestor?"

"Wait, what? A single ancestor?" Akira didn't know what to make of that, it sounded crazy. "But pokemon are incredibly different from one another, what do you mean they all come from a single common ancestor?"

Mr. Fuji sighed. "Consider it like this. µ represents the mutations that occur in the genetics of the pokemon population over an extended period of time. But all pokemon DNA can be traced back to a single source. It's only due to the mutations in the populations over time that have led to the different species of pokemon. But they all come from a single pokemon."

"So what you're saying is that this pokemon is the ancestor of all other pokemon?" Sylvia asked, genuinely surprised.

"That's correct," Mr. Fuji nodded. "We discovered this pokemon, and traces of its genetic code. The pokemon, which we named µ, or 'Mew' after this genetic phenomenon, contains sources in its DNA that ascribe to all pokemon that exist. We derived the µ Gene from its genes, because of what it's capable of doing."

"And what would that be?" Sylvia asked.

"Mew is capable of transformation. It can change not only its appearance, but it can change itself on a genetic level. The µ Gene is capable of replicating that. It alters itself to bond with the host, thereby turning into a copy of their genetic code- but it still retains its original DNA as Mew."

Akira couldn't believe what he was hearing. But as they were talking, something was coming back to him. "Wait… Dakota, Dakota she… she was talking about a pokemon called Mew!"

Mr. Fuji raised his eyebrow. "Oh?"

"She said… she said it was an incredibly rare pokemon, and she always wanted to take a picture of it… is that… is that what you're talking about?" Akira asked.

Mr. Fuji scratched his chin. "Well, in that case, your girlfriend may be in luck. She might not get a chance to witness Mew for herself, but if she ever wakes up, she'll find that she's become Mew."

"What… What does that mean?!" Akira exclaimed. "Dakota has… become Mew?!"

The µ Gene doesn't just bond with the host's DNA and replicate it perfectly," Mr. Fuji said, shaking his head. "It imprints itself onto the host's genetic code, turning them into a genetic copy of Mew. But because Mew's genetic code is unstable, it's capable of mimicking the original gene sequence of the host. They become what they originally were, but they also become part Mew. At least, that was the theory, anyway. But something like that should only be possible in pokemon, not humans! The µ Gene only works because of Mew's compatibility with its progeny, due to them being genetically linked. I never would have imagined that it could be possible to actually bond with a human's DNA…"

"So you're saying that Dakota… is transforming into a pokemon?" Akira couldn't believe what he was hearing. "No, that… that shouldn't be possible, I don't… why didn't Professor Decker tell me any of this?!" He exclaimed.

"Because the professor is trying to use the µ Gene to suit his own ends," Mr. Fuji sighed. "He truly believes that his experiments are for the best. He's trying to replicate Project ADAM and created another genetic abnormality."

"You've been talking about Project ADAM a lot," Sylvia said, stepping in now that Akira was temporarily out of commission. "What is that? Professor Decker said that the µ Gene was a byproduct of that project, but I'm starting to doubt that's the case."

"It isn't… quite off," Mr. Fuji admitted. "It was our discovery of Mew that led to the genesis of Project ADAM. When we analyzed Mew's DNA and developed the µ Gene."

"What is it then?" Akira snarled. "What did Professor Decker do to Dakota?!"

"Project ADAM was an attempt to create a genetically perfect pokemon," Mr. Fuji explained, his tone filled with bitterness and regret. "We tried cloning Mew. But we weren't satisfied with just creating another Mew, no, Gleiss, Johanes, even myself, we were all convinced that if we altered Mew's DNA using the µ Gene, we could create a version of Mew that was even stronger than the original."

"So that was Project ADAM? A clone of Mew?" Sylvia asked.

"The clone was going to be the first of its kind, an Adam for a new race of genetically grown pokemon," Mr. Fuji explained. "We named it ADAM, or Augmented DNA: Advanced Mew, in the hopes that we someday might be able to create an entire species. But the project… had catastrophic results."

Well, we've gotten a lot more backstory done on the µ Gene. I hope this answered some of your questions! We'll see more soon enough!