Viridian City, The Schwarz Building, 21:00.
Cigarette smoke filled the parlor of the 7th floor of the Schwarz Building; to most who would enter the seldom used location it was a welcome change to the usual smell of imported Scotch and Gin from Saffron City that clung to the draperies like a Shellder to a newly evolved Slowbro. Sterling Norman, ashed the cigarette, he glanced at the phone, narrowing his eyes. Surely she'd call soon.
He swiveled around on his chair and glanced through the vista of the parlor, the emerald hue of Viridian City's skyline was lit up - it was a grand sight. But tonight was a fairly quiet one for the city. There was an uneasy chill in the air. Sterling glanced to the corner of the room, now turning around to face the heavyset doors of the parlor.
"You're a pretty lucky Pokémon, you know that right?" he spoke to his Umbreon whom was lying in a custom made Pokébed. "What do you think pal, you reckon she'll show?" Despite only receiving a friendly 'breon...breon...' response, that would sound like nothing to most - Sterling seemed to understand his partner perfectly well, "She said it was pretty damned important, I'll be pissed off if she's made me wait all night for nothing."Umbreon simply replied with it's typical rhetoric.
Sterling put out his cigarette and, flipped on the small desk-sized television. "And Pokémon trainer Tobias has successfully defeated trained Ash of our native Kanto. This moves him into the final round of the Valley Conference here in Sinnoh." Sterling frowned as the televisions announcement, "I had some good money on that Umbreon, guess that teaches me, can't always bet on someone just because they come from your home region." He reached to light himself another cigarette, however was stopped by a rapping on the door, Sterling smiled, "So she decided to come."
"Enter." Sterling smiled, keeping his gaze fixed on the dooras it opened and his long expected guest entered, the Celadon City Gym Leader Erika stood in the door, her usual blue hair had been dyed black and she wore a black frock opposed to her normal kimono. "Hello Sterling." A small smile was evident on her lips, as Sterling got up from his chair to greet her in a hug - to familiar to suggest they were or had only ever friends. "How are you doing darl?" Sterling inquired, offering her a cigarette, which she politely declined.
"Not good unfortunately..." She trailed off, her smile diminishing into a frown, "It's Giovanni again..." Sterling frowned, as he poured himself and Erika a glass of Scotch from a corner-side table's decanter. "That son of a bitch back in Celadon is he?", he inquired taking a sip, Erika simply nodded accepting the glass of liquor.
"Well I guess I'll have to pay him a visit then won't I? I have some Pokémon who need a workout." Sterling smiled, placing a hand on Erika's shoulder as he guided her to a couch in the parlor. "You're not the best trainer in the world anymore you know?" Erika stated half teasing, "Never was, granted I've fallen extraordinarily far since my debut two years back. Regardless, I think I can smack some sense into the idiot."
BLAM!
The entire building shook, and fire alarms began to blare, it took but a few seconds for Sterling to realize a bomb had just exploded in the hall way.