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 6: "Round 1: Cassidy vs. Danny"

As the first fall began, William pulled Ash and Sito aside.

"Sito, think back to the accident on the Darladdin set 20 years ago. How long was the wire in contact with the tank before you blacked out?" William asked. "30 seconds, at least," Sito said.

William smiled. "Computer, on the command 'Initiate Conversion Beta,' remove any surface under the feet of Lieutenant Sito and Darla Dimple, causing them to fall into a pool of water," William commanded.

Ash turned to Pikachu. "Pikachu, when William calls for help from Sickbay, use Thunder. Your targets are Darla Dimple and Lieutenant Sito," Ash said. Pikachu nodded, accepting Ash's command.

"Now, let's get back to the battle," William said. "I want to see how Danny is doing."

William, Ash and Sito re-entered the stadium in time to see Cassidy declared the winner of the first fall.

The computer had randomly chosen a grass field as the battle stage for Round 2 and chose Butch and Admiral Todman as the competitors for the second fall.
Butch sent out a Marowak. William reached for a Pokéball on acart that Ash wheeled out to the field.

"Any last words, Admiral?" Butch said in a snide tone. "Yes, I have exactly four words," William said.

William held up four fingers. One by one, he tucked the fingers into a fist as he said, "Computer, initiate Conversion Beta."

Pools of water opened up under Darla and Sito. They fell in. After the pools merged, William tapped his commbadge. "Todman to Sickbay. Medical emergency in Holodeck 2!"

With that, Ash sent Pikachu into the water. Darla shook her head wildly, as if to say "No! Don't do this!" Sito smiled, then said, "As the Borg say: 'Resistance is futile.'"
That was the last thing Darla Dimple and Sito Jaxa remembered as independent entities.

Ship's Log, Stardate 60127.14. Admiral William Todman, recording.

It has been two days since our attempt to reunify the individuals once known as Darla Dimple and my fiancée, Lieutenant Sito Jaxa.

The Doctor has not kept me abreast of the situation for reasons, he assured me, would soon be clear.

"Sickbay to Admiral Todman. Please activate the Emergency Medical Holographic Channel."

William gestured for Chakotay, Danny, Sawyer and Ash to fall silent, then pressed a button on the monitor.
"Todman here." The Doctor appeared on the monitor. "Admiral, please report to Sickbay." "On my way, Doctor," William said.

As William entered Sickbay, The Doctor smiled. "Admiral, our patient is awake," he said. William walked into the main examination room.
Seated on one of the biobeds was a woman whose features looked like a mix of Darla and Sito's facial features.

"Sito?" William asked. "And Darla," the figure said. William tapped his commbadge. "Commander Tuvok, report to Sickbay." "On my way, sir."

A few minutes later, Lt. Commander Tuvok entered Sickbay. "Mr. Tuvok, I want you to perform a mind-meld on this individual-" William gestured to the figure on the biobed. "-to see if our operation to reunify Darla Dimple and Lieutenant Sito was a complete success."

Tuvok nodded, then looked at the woman on the biobed. "Will you permit the meld?" Tuvok asked. The woman nodded.

"My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts. I am examining you in order to see if your two sides are one," Tuvok said.

Images of Sito and Darla's lives flashed through Tuvok's mind: the accident on the Darladdin set… Sito's memories of life on Bajor during the Cardassian occupation… Darla screaming for Max on the Lil' Ark Angel set… the Nova Squadron Incident and subsequent cover-up… Darla proposing that Danny and his friends perform for L.B. Mammoth… Sito undergoing the "Gik'tal Challenge …" Darla and Max sabotaging the soundstage water pipes… Sito volunteering for the mission that led to her supposed death … Darla attempting to sabotage Danny and Sawyer's performance at the Lil' Ark Angel premiere… Sito being put in the Cylon cryotube… Darla joining Team Rocket… Sito accepting William's marriage proposal. Tuvok broke the meld, opened his eyes, then turned to William. "The operation was successful, sir," he said.

How will the new Darla be involved in the events to come?

Find out next time…