WHERE ARE WE GOING?

In which Natsume learns about the first human clone, Ai Fuji, and realizes the girl is also a psychic.

From: oshirog at canalavelib . org

To: himuran at eiok . edu

Subject: J. Fuji's Essays on Human Cloning

Headmistress Himura,

My apologies for sending this message to you so late at night. I know your interests are inclined to the social sciences, but I also know your reading tastes are as eclectic as my own. The attached essays have just been released in two of the science journals I'm subscribed to and may be of interest to you.

They will probably be leaked to the public tomorrow. I thought you would want to read them in advance and prepare yourself for the controversy they will cause. I suspect there will be quite a few upset people once word gets out, especially in your area.

While I am sure you will take the proper precautions, do make sure your empaths are properly insulated. The same goes for yourself. I know you are sensitive to things like this.

Please let me know your thoughts on the essays.

Sincerely,

Goyō Oshiro

Member of the Sinnoh Elite Four

Director of Acquisitions at the Canalave Library

Attached Files:

ME, MYSELF AND AI: the first human clone.

Fuji, Jirou

University of Kanto - Fuji Institute for Biotechnology

Journal of Bioengineering & Biomedical Science (2014): 855-74

HUMAN CLONING: the question of genetic determinism

Fuji, Jirou

University of Kanto - Fuji Institute for Biotechnology

Genetics (2014): 855-74

Natsume read the e-mail and tried to quell the mixed emotions it caused. She hesitated to say that she was fond of any of her colleagues, but if she was, Director Oshiro was the one she felt warmest towards. He was her peer with his strong psychic abilities, his high position in his region's League, and his bookish personality. He also never failed to send her interesting reading material.

That being said, sometimes he was overly friendly with her. That he was comfortable talking about something so personal to her - her sensitivity to controversies, due to the psychological backlash they caused in those around her - was an example of that. Even so, she was grateful for the warning and for the essays. She opened and read them with interest. From an academic standpoint, Jirou Fuji's breakthrough in human cloning was fascinating and promising. That he had succeeded in making a viable human clone meant that science might soon be on its way to cloning organs and finding new ways to overcome hereditary diseases. Medicine might get a huge push forward from this. On the other hand, what he'd done was ethically dubious. Doctor Fuji dodged the subject in his essay on genetic determinism, spending most of his word count focusing on Ai's autonomy instead. Perhaps because of his relationship with the clone's donor, Doctor Fuji was in favor of it. The clone, who he'd named Ai, had a human body and mind. Regardless of how she had been brought into the world, she was still a person.

Would the scientific community see her that way, though? Would the world? Natsume was under no delusions about how prejudiced people could be. Throughout history, they'd dehumanized one another over differences in culture, religion, and skin color. So how would Ai, who had never asked to be created, be treated? How many people would see her as a laboratory specimen first and a girl second? No matter how hard her uncle might argue in her favor, it would be hard for her to overcome what she was. She probably wouldn't if she remained in that laboratory her whole life. She definitely wouldn't if she never found her own voice.

Natsume felt a surge of sympathy for the girl. She could understand the pain that prejudice could cause. For several years of her life, the people around her had seen her as inhuman, even monstrous, because of her abilities and what she'd done with them. Even now, some struggled to see her as one of them – as a woman instead of a witch. It had made finding her identity that much harder. In truth, even now Natsume did not fully understand who she was or who she might become. She imagined Ai's journey would be even harder, thanks to the circumstances behind her birth and her life thus far.

"Poor girl," Natsume murmured, closing the essays.

She had a difficult time sleeping after that. Part of it, she realized around two in the morning, was that despite her psychic abilities she hadn't seen this coming. The cloning experiments had been conducted in this very city, but she had never suspected anything. Yes, she had been aware of the secrecy surrounding some of the laboratories in the Fuji Institute, but the same could have been said for the research departments in the Silph Company. Having consulted for the company on their teleportation tiles, Natsume knew there were good reasons why that was the case, so she had never thought to question it when she'd seen it elsewhere.

Perhaps she should have. There was a suspicion growing in the back of her mind about this clone. As attuned as Natsume was to the presence of other psychics, she knew when they teleported in and out of the city. Similarly, she could sense when subtle psychic gifts began developing into something more. There was a theory in her circle that every child, when they were born, had infinite potential. Every child could develop psychic abilities, if their guardians and environments nurtured them. Yet over time, as parts of their minds were no longer used and atrophied, one's ability to access their psychic potential was cut off. Only one in a hundred thousand avoided that, and of those few, even fewer developed their talents beyond minor gifts. Natsume had certainly never met another human who could match her skills and strength.

Mostly when she searched for other psychics, she had to wait until they had hit puberty to confirm the development of their psychic abilities. If present, they would usually start to strengthen at that point as the influx of hormones enhanced their emotions and, from there, enhanced their abilities. Natsume had thought she'd sensed someone growing stronger in the Fuji Institute, but her investigations had never turned up anything. There hadn't been any reports of objects moving around on their own, mysterious fires, or people who could tell the future, read minds, or speak to the dead. Most likely, if there was a psychic in the Institute, they were either unaware of their gifts or not strong enough to use their abilities for mischief. She had lectured there a few times and left pamphlets about her school, just in case there was a psychic in hiding, but none had emerged.

What if the psychic she was sensing couldn't? What if she was imprisoned in a laboratory and no one, not even her, was aware of her abilities?

There was no way for Natsume to confirm that suspicion unless she actually met Ai. Doctor Fuji and his colleagues were no doubt restricting who the girl could meet. Natsume doubted she would be allowed to without proof to back up her suspicion. She would have to wait and see what the upcoming weeks would bring.

As it turned out, Director Oshiro had been right to warn her. As the story broke over the next week, public enthusiasm and outrage thickened the air around the city like a miasma, sometimes making it difficult for Natsume to breathe, let alone concentrate. Despite quarantining her empaths and weaving psychic shields around them, many came down with debilitating migraines. Natsume's mother, as well as the medics on staff, did their best to calm them and ease their pain.

Natsume was sick as well. Her shields might be strong, but so were her empathic abilities. While she hated taking time off, she had to stay in her apartment to wait it out. She huddled in her bath and in bed, drank several pots of tea, and turned her music on louder than she ever did to drown out the mental noise. Her father came by with food, looking strained, and gave her medicine to help with the headaches. Natsume didn't like taking unnecessary medications – anything that could influence her mind didn't seem wise to take – but in the hours preceding the live interview with Doctor Fuji and Ai, she didn't have a choice. The anticipation building around her, like a storm that no one else could see, made her head pound.

The pills helped. By the time she joined her parents to watch the interview, the pain was a dull ache. She didn't feel queasy or off-balance, either. It was a welcome reprieve, and one she was even gladder of when it was time for Ai to be interviewed.

When the girl came out on stage, the city, for the first time in weeks, hushed. A million pairs of eyes stared at their television screens, assessing her. The girl had long teal hair, deep blue eyes, and pale skin that had never seen sunlight. There were touches of makeup around her eyes and across her cheekbones to give her some color. She wore a long white skirt, a pink and tight-fitting blouse, a white lab coat, and a wooden pendant. Natsume was not sure what everyone had been expecting, but she sensed this wasn't it.

They hadn't been expecting see a girl - no, a young woman - like this. They had expected to see something that would set her apart from other, "normal" humans. Natsume smiled wryly. Of course they had.

The essays had mentioned that Ai was mute, but as the interview went on, it nonetheless chaffed that the scientists were all speaking for her. Ai could write – her uncle had mentioned that – so why not give her something to write on? There might be a few moments of silence on the air while she wrote, but this was the introduction of the first human clone. Natsume knew the world would be willing to wait for Ai's answers. She could feel that as strongly as she could feel the clothes against her skin.

"It's so sad that she can't talk. I'm sure we would all love to know what she thinks," Lilian, the interviewer said, turning to face the camera.

Natsume agreed, but then something happened that made the hearts of everyone watching – including her own – speed up. Ai, with some hesitation, stood and stared at the camera with a desperate, inquiring expression. That expression made it clear that she had questions of her own. Then, in a voice that Natsume knew very few could hear, the girl began to scream.

"Who am I? Where am I? Why am I here? Is there anybody out there who can hear me?!"

Natsume stood and stared at the screen. It took every ounce of her willpower to not answer, but getting a response would probably agitate Ai more. That would not endear Natsume to Ai's guardians when she contacted them. It would only make them suspicious, especially when they realized she'd contacted Ai first. As much as it grated on her to treat a clearly grown woman like a child, that was how the people around Ai saw her, so Natsume would have to handle the situation carefully. Still, it was still vindicating to have her suspicions confirmed.

"Natsume, did that girl-?" her father asked.

Natsume nodded. "She's a psychic. I can't be certain what the extent of her abilities are, but I will know soon enough."

Her mother looked uncertain. "What are you going to do?"

"I am going to ask Doctor Fuji for a private interview and go from there. Would you both be kind enough to mind the school and the gym for a few more days?"

They both nodded. "Of course. Just be careful," her father said.

Natsume gave them a slight smile. "I always am."

As Ai was led off the stage and the interview completed, Natsume returned to her apartment. It took some searching and a few transferred calls, but eventually Natsume reached the office of Doctor Fuji. When she called, the secretary picked up. "This is Doctor Jirou Fuji's office. He isn't available right now, but I can take a message." There was tension in the woman's voice, as though she was bracing to be yelled at.

Natsume, in a gentle voice, said, "Good evening. My name is Natsume Himura."

"Natsume Himura? Like the gym leader?" the woman asked, sounding confused but excited.

"The very same. My number is," she listed it off, then listened as the woman repeated it back. "That's right. Would you let Doctor Fuji know that I need to speak with him?"

"May I ask what this is concerning?"

"I would prefer to keep that between Doctor Fuji and myself. Please give him my message. I have the next few days free to meet with him."

"I'll let him know."

"Thank you. Have a good night."

Natsume ended the call and stared at the ceiling. Now came the hardest part: the waiting. She went to make herself some more tea, found one of the books Oshiro had sent her, and did just that.