ANIMATED EARTH II: FAITH OF THE HEART
BY WILLIAM RAYMER

Earth.
Over two billion people live, work, and play on this planet. Most of us are blissfully unaware of the fact that there is another Earth, on which live the people and animals we see on television and motion picture screens. This is the story of four of those individuals and the start of their biggest adventures. For two of them- Ash Ketchum and Misty Williams-they will take a step into the world of wedded bliss. And for the other two-Daniel and Sawyer Goldsmith-an even bigger adventure will begin….

Author's Notes and Disclaimers: This story is my creation, but the characters aren't. Cats Don't Dance and related characters are owned by Warner Bros. Pokemon and related characters are owned by Nintendo Co. Ltd. and The Pokemon Company. Battlestar Galactica (2005 TV series) and related characters are owned by NBC Universal Television. Other shows and their characters will be credited on a chapter-by-chapter basis.

Chapter 4-
"The First Duty"

The Nausicaä's cockpit was silent. Its occupants were tense, waiting to see if the Cylon Base Star would take the bait. Finally, a voice crackled over the communicator. "Number 15, you are clear to land. A party of Centurions will escort you and your prisoners to Cryobay 7."

"By your command," William said.

The Nausicaä landed. As it did, William put handcuffs on Danny, Sawyer, Ash and Jaden. "Don't take this personally, guys," William said.

The Cylon Centurions led William and his "prisoners" to a room deep within the Base Star. William pressed a button on a PADD he kept hidden in his pocket. "Good-bye, old friend," William thought.

In the landing bay, two Centurions were examining the Nausicaä, when the runabout exploded.

A voice came on the P.A. "Attention, all Centurions. There has been an explosion in Landing Bay 17," the voice said. The Centurions who were escorting William and his "prisoners" departed to investigate.

As soon as the Centurions were out of sight, William deactivated the handcuffs. "What happened?" Jaden asked. "I borrowed a few Electrodes from the Pallet Gym's emergency power supply," William said.

"Admiral Janeway provided my with 15 personal force field emitters. I outfitted the Electrodes with the emitters. Then, at a command signal, I shut down the emitters, causing the Electrodes to self-destruct, destroying Nausicaä in the process," William added. "Now, let's go rescue Voyager's crew!"

"William! Over here!" Danny said. "What, Danny?" Danny pointed to a cryotube. In it was a female Bajoran. Danny tapped a few buttons. The tube opened. The Bajoran opened her eyes. "Where am I?" the Bajoran asked.

"You are aboard a Cylon Base Star," William said. "Who are you?" "Ensign Sito Jaxa, USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D," the woman said. "And you?"

"Captain William Todman, Starfleet Intelligence. Let's go! The crew of Voyager needs our help!"

Danny pointed to a docking hatch. "Through here!" Danny said, gesturing with a tricorder. William was about to start the airlock cycle, when Sawyer put her hand on William's wrist.

"I'm reading massive amounts of a Cylon neurotoxin in there. It can be countered by Federation neurozine gas, but we need to get to Voyager's Bridge to vent it!" she said.

William reached into a nearby supply drawer and pulled out six rebreathers. Handing one each to Ash, Danny, Sawyer, Jaden and Sito, William put one on himself. With them on, the rescue team made their way onto Voyager.

On Voyager's Bridge, Sito ran to the OPS (Operations) console. "Venting neurozine gas to all decks," she said as the rescue team checked the condition of Voyager's Bridge crew. The Bridge crew began to stir as the neurozine gas began to counteract the Cylon neurotoxin.

Chakotay groned as Sito said, "Air is safe to breathe." William took off his rebreather and turned to Sawyer, who had assumed the Tactical console. "Mr. Goldsmith, target the docking clamps. Quantum torpedoes, full spread. Dispersal pattern: Sierra. And fire!" William commanded. "Aye, Captain," Sawyer said before pushing the firing button.

On Voyager's viewscreen, seven blue-colored torpedos slammed into the Cylon docking arm, destroying it. William turned to Jaden, seated at the helm. "Mr. Yuki, set course to rendezvous with Galactica. Ensign Sito, when we're within range, hail the Galactica. Tell Admiral Adama to launch a full attack compliment." "Aye, sir," Jaden and Sito said.

Aboard Galactica, Admiral William Adama looked at Lieutenant Gaeta as he said, "Admiral, sensors detect a massive explosion at the equator of the Base Star."

"Cause of explosion?" Adama asked. "Federation quantum torpedo fire," Gaeta reported. "Now reporting an Intrepid-class starship approaching at full impulse power."

The main sensor display lit up with the image of Voyager. "Voyager is hailing," Petty Officer Dualla said.

"This is Captain Todman aboard Voyager. The Base Star is en route. Recommend all capable ships launch fighters." Adama turned to Dualla. "You heard the Captain! Launch all fighters!"

On Voyager, the Bridge crew had replaced the rescue team. Danny smiled as the Base Star detonated under the sustained fighter assault.

"Mr. Paris, set landing course for the Presidio. Mr. Kim, inform Admirals Janeway and Uhura of our success," Chalotay said. "Aye, sir," Kim said.

THE PRESIDIO, SAN FRANCISCO, NORTH AMERICA

"Tea, Kathryn?" the wizened African woman asked. "Or, do you still prefer coffee?"

Admiral Kathryn Janeway looked at the woman. "I'll try tea today, Nyota," Janeway said. Admiral Nyota Uhura, head of Starfleet Intelligence, poured Janeway a cup of tea, then frowned.

"Are you worried about the Voyager rescue mission?" Janeway asked. "A little, to be honest," Uhura said. "Captain Todman is my best young operative. I am also concerned about the civilians on his rescue team. Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmith have recently had children. Gym Leader Ketchum is getting married on Friday. And…"

The communications unit on Uhura's desk beeped. "Admiral Uhura, this is Lieutenant Jenkins. We are receiving a message, text only."

"What does it say, Mr. Jenkins?" Uhura asked. "'Look out your window,'" Jenkins said.

Uhura pressed a button on her desk. The blinds opened, revealing Voyager. Its running lights blinked a message in old Morse code.

"What did it say?" Janeway asked. "'We are all right. Captain Todman,'" Uhura said. The running lights blinked in another sequence.

"What is it?" Janeway asked when she saw the shocked look on Uhura's face. "'P.S. We located Ensign Sito Jaxa, late of the Enterprise-D, while we were on the Cylon Base Star.'"

After Voyager landed, Uhura smiled as William and his rescue team plus Sito resolved. "Welcome home, Captain," Uhura said. "Thank you, sir," William said. "Captain Todman, I have said it before and I'll say it again: you are the best operative I have ever trained, which makes my next announcement all the more exciting."

"This morning, I tendered my resignation from Starfleet, and recommended to President Roslin that you be promoted to Admiral and replace me," Uhura finished as she took the four captain's rank pips off William's collar, took off her own Admiral's rank insignia, and put it on William's collar.

"Congratulations, Admiral Todman," Danny said. "Thanks, Danny," William said. "Now, let's head back to Pallet Town. We have a wedding to go to."

A few hours later, the quiet of Pallet Town was shattered as Voyager landed. On the Bridge, William-resplendent in the uniform of his new rank-sat in the command chair.

The next day, as the sun rose over Pallet Town, the final preparations for Ash and Misty's wedding began.

Ash and Misty invite you to their wedding, next time…