Hi! It's me with another (late) exciting adventure of Silence Bridge! This one is L-O-N-G LONG!! Eleven pages in Word! A PR! Enjoy!

Key: "Human and untranslated hybrid and Pokemon speech," "*Pokemon and Hybrid speech translated,*" * thinking * Present action.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Goldenrod was bustling and booming as ever. The Skyscrapers towered and the Radio Station towered over all. The Gym was the thing that greeted the Hybrid group as they drove in their Mustang to the Magnet Train. Nik scratched her ear as they pulled up to a gas station. Barry muttered something about petroleum being the cost of a car itself as he opened his door and got out to pump gas.

They did go back to the Black Thorn Gym after talking to Hagane. They ate lunch there and talked to Kioshi about how Hybrids live, the organization K.K., and the OHA. Kioshi was a good storyteller, as they found out. He told them about battles, Legendaries, and dragons too. That was behind them though, and they would probably never expect help or even contact from the Gym Leader again.

"Do you think there are any Hybrids we can talk to here?" Nik asked.

"Even if there was, and there probably is, Kobra hasn't assigned it, and we'd be in trouble bringing in a lone Hybrid when we've been having issues with the ones that we already have." Mike looked back at her.

"Of course Kobra would have called us by now if he wanted us to get another Hy-" Samantha was interrupted by a cell phone call.

Nik grabbed her phone, "Hello?"

"Nik, I need you to talk to this boy." Kani said shortly, "He won't talk to anybody but you."

"Aidan?" Nik asked.

"Nik?" Aidan's voice was wavering and breathy, "Where are you?"

"I'm in Goldenrod at Two-hundred Ninety Sixth Avenue north and Eevee Street west. Why?"

"You got to get to the Magnet Train. There are hunters everywhere."

"Wh- How do you know, Aidan?" Nik asked a bit harsher than she intended.

"I- I just do!"

"But Aidan-" Nik's reply was a dial tone.

"What was that about?" Mike asked.

"He said that there are hunters everywhere." Nik put down her cell phone.

"Who? Who said that there are hunters everywhere?" Samantha repeated.

Nik shook her head and stepped outside. A white and blue van sped down Eevee Street. "Barry," Nik urged.

"I see them," Barry said as he got out his credit card from the gas pump, "We'll make it. I hope."

Nik went into the car again and bit her lip.

Barry came into the car, but it was a little too late.

The white and blue van parked next to the black Mustang and three men filed out of the van. One tapped on the window. He was a dark-haired man with a thin scowl and two black eyes that were sunken in deeply. "Roll down your window." he ordered.

Barry did so, "Yes, sir?"

"I'm Monterey Vegas of the Official Hunters Association. Get out of the vehicle so that we may assess you to verify that you are not Hybrids."

"Sir, we-"

"Get out." Vegas repeated coldly.

The four stepped out and Vegas and one of his henchmen dragged Mike and Barry to outside their van. The third watched Nik and Samantha cautiously.

"This is against the Fifth Amendment, you know." Samantha growled.

"It would be unwise for you to cause us any . . . need to take drastic measures." Vegas chose his words carefully as he looked the young ladies' way.

Nik inhaled sharply "Why are you destroying all Hybrids? I know some are-"

"They are a threat to the citizens of Johto and Kanto!" the young man who had been only watching cut her short.

"Pardon Sergeant Shaw, but most Hybrids are incapable of controlling their . . . powers, and they could hurt hundreds of thousands of people." Vegas turned on Nik, who backed away, "You're acting very suspicious."

Nik's hand brushed against a gas pump. She grabbed it and, handling it like a gun, she brought it in front of her and squeezed the trigger. A split second went by as Nik realized that she had to pay before she could get gas. Nik hurled the pump at the hunters. By luck, it hit Shaw, who was the closest, in the head.

The Four Hybrids scattered, each in a different direction. Nik jumped onto the nearest roof and ran. After three roofs, she looked behind her. No one was in sight, but she hopped to the next roof and kept running. She almost lost her hat as she ran up a slanted roof. As she caught it two feet from the very top, a bullet clipped her ear, and she was sent down. Tumbling across the slanting roof, she twisted around before she landed in an alley and did a small hand spring to lessen the shock of landing on her feet.

"The judges give her ten points, and the crowd goes wild!" a voice in the alley said.

"Who?" Nik turned and added flatly, "Oh, it's you."

A young woman with bright blue eyes, shocking pink wavy hair, creamy skin, and an attitude of a narcissistic super model stood with her arms akimbo wearing a pink halter top and a too-tight pink leather mini skirt with high white leather boots. She grinned, "What do you expect? I heard you were dropping by, so I thought I'd say hello."

"I've got hunters after me, Pinky," Nik called the woman by her nickname (which she hated), "Do something useful, or be gone."

"Well, aren't we a mad kitty today?" 'Pinky' smile broadened.

"Kagami, you'll be caught too if you don't do something," Nik used the woman's real (supposedly) name, "They'll be here any second."

Kagami frowned, "Fine, be that way." She stepped in front of Nik and morphed into a brick wall that was tall enough and spanned the alleyway. After ten minutes, Kagami's head popped out of the brick wall, "They're gone now."

Nik sighed, "A Ditto Hybrid would be useful to have as a K.K agent. Too bad you're so ditzy."

"I prefer the term 'too happy girl with a short attention span'"

"That takes too long to say."

"Nik, you haven't changed a bit."

"Neither have you. Obviously you know where the locals gossip."

"Likes always. You want to know about Hybrids? I want to know-"

"About Hyoga. I know. Why are you still chasing him?"

"It's not about getting him to marry me. Hyoga owes me fifty thousand yen," Kagami noticed Nik's skeptical grin, "No! It's so over! Kitty, if you breathe one lie about me and that- that- that poor excuse for a Dewgong anthropomorphic and I will hunt you down and hurt you!"

Nik laughed, "He's been around Olivine of late."

"That thief, running off with a debt! Oh. Yeah, I heard nothing important, 'cept about a mean ol' man named Vegas whose been tearing Goldenrod apart." Kagami winked, "Sorry to disappoint you." Kagami wrapped it up with her "special goodbye. "Take care. Don't die. Buh-bye!" She then changed into a Fearow and flew away.

"Show off." Nik muttered.

Nik walked down Eevee Street westward. Her ear was still bleeding a little bit. She slammed her hat down on her head and silently sulked. A gunshot rang in the distance, and she suddenly got very worried about her fellow agents.

The shot sounded closer. Nik didn't hang around long enough to find out who held the gun. Turning a corner, she saw another hunter and turned back suddenly. Two more came from where she did and another came from the opposite direction of the first.

The Persian Hybrid broke into a run westward again. The bounty hunters became an angry mob of four and started their hunt. Nik ran into a residential area and went through a small patch of trees. A branch snagged her coat pocket, and she heard a thump or two as various items fell out of the ripped coat. Not daring to look behind her, she dashed out of the woods and came to the back of a house.

Concrete stairs leading downwards meant a basement, which also meant a good hiding place. She found the door unlocked and the basement dark and empty. Nik quietly blocked the door and squirmed her way through the boiler pipes to rest in a dingy corner. She sighed as she sat down. *Now how do I get out of this mess?* she thought.

"Hey!" A young man's voice echoed as a door opened, "What are you doin' in my house?"

Nik gulped.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Barry fumed, "I think that's the third Mustang the OHA has stolen from me."

Samantha looked at him, "Don't be so worried about your car, you jerk! Nik and Mike are still out there! They may be dead, or worse, captured!"

"Calm down, jeez. I can call Nik." Barry pulled out his cell phone and speed-dialed her.

She didn't answer. Barry tried again. Nothing. "C'mon, Nik . . ." Barry fiercely whispered.

"What happened?" Samantha asked impatiently.

Barry tried a third time. She finally picked up.

"Um . . ." A voice belonging to a young boy spoke.

"What the- who is this?!" Barry demanded.

"Who're you?"

"Where is the lady who owns this phone?"

"I think I saw her run off into a house. She was being chased by four guys in uniform."

"Thanks. Keep the phone." Barry hung up and gave a pathetic look to Samantha, "I don't know if she'll be okay."

"But- but!" Sam was cut off by a wave of Barry's hand.

"She'll be fine. Don't think of it. Let's concentrate on Mike now."

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Nik's eyes widened. In the dim light, she could make out a boy of about fifteen, blond hair, medium build, brown eyes, wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

"Who are you?" the young man asked with a slight Italian New-Yorker accent, and when Nik didn't reply, the youth walked closer, "I'm callin' the cops-"

"No, Joey!" A feminine voice cried out, "She's okay."

"Kitty? You just said-"

"I'm sure of it. She's okay. Come up, please."

"What about-"

"Yes, bring her too."

Joey turned to Nik, "Um, well. . ."

"My name is Nekome, though people call me Nik."

"I'm Joey Hawke, though people call me Joey. Are you comin' or am I gonna have to drag you out?"

Nik stood up and followed Joey up the stairs. It was a humble minimalist style home. The basement led to a hallway that spread out into a living room. On the couch on a wall facing the hallway was a girl about the age of Joey. She had pale violet hair and skin, a bandana around her head, pointed ears, and sharp green eyes.

"I'm Kitty. I'm a Hybrid, like you." The girl said to Nik.

Nik's face felt hot for a second, then she took off her hat and took a bow, not being serious, nor mocking, "I'm Nik. I'm from an association that helps Hybrids who need protection and homes."

"I knew somebody would come!" Kitty's face brightened, "Hunters have been everywhere. . ."

Joey spoke, "Things have been harder to keep control of."

"I know the feeling." Nik said.

Suddenly, from somewhere a door was being pounded and muffled shouts were heard. By habit, Kitty turned into an Espeon. Nik followed suit and became a black Persian with a silver chain around it's neck.

Joey answered the door, "If you're sellin' somethin', we don't want it. If you're lookin' for my parents, they're at work. If you're lookin' for my little sister, I'm gonna hurt you right now."

Sergeant Shaw stood on Joey's porch and chuckled, "You're a spitfire, aren't you? I'm an officer of the Official Hunter's Association. I am going to inspect your home, as a very dangerous Hybrid may be in your home. It was seen last in this vicinity."

Joey gave Shaw a dirty look, "Why should I let you? You hunters think you're heroes, but you're nothin' but criminals."

"I have a responsibility to protect people! Now move aside, or I will arrest you!"

Joey gritted his teeth but moved.

Shaw looked through the house and finally came to the living room, "You know, I think I've looked through this house before. You're Joey Hawke, right? Yeah, you're the kid with that stupid Espeon that won't go into it's ball."

Joey growled but kept quiet.

Nik lay behind the couch, belly up, trying to look harmless, cute, docile and boring all at the same time.

"*What are you doing?*" Kitty asked.

"*I'm hot. This is how I cool off. Besides, If I'm asleep, then maybe this idiot won't kick me.*" Nik replied.

Kitty decided to huddle in a corner behind a plant, "*Who is this guy anyway? He's been here before.*"

"*His name is Shaw. He's a hunter, albeit a stupid one.*"

"Hmm. You caught a weird looking Persian." Shaw said as he peered over the couch's back.

"It can do tricks. Sometimes." Joey said to say something.

"*Oh please, don't.*" Nik moaned. She got up and pretending to be groggy, she sauntered over to Joey and sat back down on his foot.

A Growlithe ran into the room, "*I can't find Spike, Kitty! Oh!*" He noticed Nik, "*Hi! I'm Tiger! Are you a Pokemon or a Hybrid?*"

"*Hybrid.*" Nik yawned, "*I'm Nik.*"

"You know, I think that Espeon should be taken to a doctor or something. Those eyes are creepy." Shaw approached Kitty, who ran into the other adjoining hallway and into Joey's room, "What's wrong with that crazy Pokemon?" Shaw walked down the hallway

"Hey, that's my room!" Joey complained as an excuse for Shaw not to go in there, "You'll mess up my stuff!"

"Shut up, kid."

Joey snapped "Get out of my house, murderer!"

"I warned you-" "What're you gonna do? Kill me like all the other innocent people you wasted?"

"That's it!" Shaw said enraged, "I challenge you to a Pokemon Battle!"

Pokemon battles were rarely for sport anymore. You accepted a battle to protect your honor or dignity, or because it was your profession.

"I accept!" Joey spat.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

"Joey, you idiot! What have you gotten us into now?!" Kitty yelled at him.

"Jeez! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Joey cringed.

Joey, Kitty and Nik sat on the couch thinking of what to do.

"It's a single four on four battle at ten o'clock and you only have two Pokemon!" Kitty continued her rant.

"Spike and Tiger can handle whatever he has. You two can just be there for show. I think."

"What if Spike and Tiger need help?" Kitty asked.

"Don't worry," Nik interrupted, "If Spike, Tiger, and I can't handle four Pokemon, I'd be surprised."

"Are you sure?" Kitty asked.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

"I'm here." Joey said as he arrived at a Pokemon park's battle top.

Shaw laughed, "I see you don't have any respect for Trainer's laws."

"There isn't any law that says you have to keep your Pokemon inside Pokeballs." Joey scowled.

"If I win, I'm going to take that Espeon!"

"And if I win, you'll never bother me, my Pokemon or my family ever again!"

Shaw ignored him, "I will win! Go! Gligar!" Shaw threw his Pokeball, and a purple Gligar appeared.

"Go! Spike!" Joey said as Spike, a Houndour, charged the field.

The two stared each other down. "Gligar, Poison Sting!"

"Dodge it, Spike!"

Spike jumped and bore down on Gligar.

"Use Crush!"

Spike opened his jaws and sunk his teeth into the Gligar's wing. He shook him around, then threw him up in the air. The Gligar landed with a thud.

"Gligar, return!"

"Yeah, not so tough now are ya?"

"Go, Scizor!"

Scizor screamed a battle cry and charged. "Use Steel Wing!"

The hit connected with Spike's jaw, and he went flying. He recovered and flipped in mid-air so that he landed on his feet.

"Flamethrower!"

A burst of flame erupted from Spike's mouth. The Scizor fell also.

"Return!" Shaw growled, "This one isn't going to be easy! Go! Croconaw! Use Hydro Pump!"

The blast of water hit Spike full force. He grimaced at the reptilian Pokemon and went unconscious. Joey ran over to Spike and picked him up.

"What do I do now? Sending Tiger in would be suicide." Joey said to Kitty and Nik as he reached his side.

"Persian." Nik stated firmly and headed out onto the battle top.

"Er," Joey said unstably, "Nik! Use Slash!"

Nik ran towards the Croconaw and leapt into the air. She landed behind it and unsheathed her claws. With one swipe of her paw, the Croconaw turned and backhanded her. She felt blood dripping down her forehead and started her next attack.

"Use Ice Punch!" The Croconaw pulled it hand back and threw a punch. Nik rolled out of the way and lashed out with her back feet. The Croconaw fell. Nik raised a paw to give one last swipe when a lady dressed in a blue uniform with blue hair drove up on a motorcycle.

"Hey! This isn't a designated area for battling anymore, that Persian is wounded, and you kids shouldn't be out this late anyway!"

"Kid?" Shaw demanded, "I am a Sergeant in the Official Hunter's Association!"

"We don't like you rebels here!" The officer said, "There are no Hybrids in Goldenrod, at least none that cause trouble. Even our local gangs aren't as violent and disquieting as you!"

"I am doing my job!"

"*Nik!*" A voice came from over the bushes, "*It's me, Mike!*"

"*Mike!*" Nik would have smiled if she could have, "*How close are we to the Magnet Train?*"

"*Just through these woods, and we'll be at the back entrance.*"

"*Oh, I'd hug you if you wouldn't hurt me afterwards.*"

"*Yeah, I'd take my game cartridges and chuck them at you.*"

"*Can we take one- no scratch that, two more people?*"

"*How fast can they run?*"

"*Fast enough.*"

Shaw and the Officer were still arguing about who had more responsibilities to keep the peace and other things along those lines.

"*Kitty, would you like to come along with me to Viridian City?*" Nik asked.

"*Why? I couldn't leave Jo-*"

"*Don't worry. Joey will be coming too.*"

Nik and Kitty started to creep away. Joey, carrying Spike and with Tiger behind him, caught the drift and slunk away too.

Soon Nik and Kitty were in their partial forms, and, joined by Mike, the party ran through the forest. A huge building loomed into view. "Hurry!" Mike beckoned.

They entered a side door and ran through jostling crowds and finally found a boarding train.

"That's them!" Hunters piled through the front doors.

Joey basically pushed everyone on board and almost made it through the doors when a hunter grabbed his arm.

"You 'Brid lover!" He spat in Joey's face.

"Joey!" Kitty ran to the back of the train.

"Kitty! I'll be fine! Take care of Spike and Tiger!"

The train started to move, "Joey! Hurry!" Kitty screamed.

A Fearow appeared out of nowhere and dived into the mess of hunters. It picked out Joey and started to fly away.

"Damn 'Brids!" the hunter yelled as he got out his gun.

A shot rang out barely heard in the other sounds of confusion. Even harder to hear was a boy's cry of mortal agony.

"JOEY!!"