//File 0.1 - Eunbyeol//

Eunbyeol tried not to judge her marks, that smacked of unprofessionalism. But this suit was loud and smarmy, and just about rubbed everyone the wrong way. He had swaggered in two nights ago into club Dis, only the latest club to open in the Vegas Strip, with his entourage of corp bankers and wannabe trideo actresses, and dropped enough nuyen to raise eyebrows even among the jetsetters. The night with him drinking from the private collection with the club owner, before he waltzed away in his Eurocar Westwind GT.

At least that was how her club manager Xing Liu described it to Eunbyeol. Things were quieter further down the Strip. Xing Liu had gotten a call from Dis' own manager, and okayed Eunbyeol on loan to work the gig. Something about not wanting to embarrass the owner's misjudgement. Nothing too rough, just enough to see the hefty bill repaid discreetly, with everyone's face still intact.

Eunbyeol had waited for him to return to his suite at the Palladio, one of the penthouse units on the fiftieth floor. He had tossed his keys to the chauffeur and entered the hotel lobby.

What do you do?

Eunbyeol had arrived outside the Palladio, and instantly considered if she was adequately prepared for the job, given that she was used to shake down those lower down the food chain. The Palladio was sixty stories of techno opulence, done in the style of new futuro-wave. Shaped like a diamond obelisk, with exterior walls edged with chromatic lighting that began from the nanoglass driveways and stretched up to split the sky like a bolt of reverse lightning, its porch was a steady stream of limousines and luxury cars, discharging its guests at its east entrance, through which lay the hotel lobby.

Visitors there for shopping entered by the doors at its north entrance, an arch of centrifigual neon, as if its purpose were to hypnotise and draw its supplicants to worship at the shrine of capitalism. Unlike other arcologies, the Vegas Strip never converted itself into one: its hotels, casinos and entertainment centres far surpassed any central arcology design. The Palladio was a prime example of such. And this target of hers, one Daniel Wu, seemed to be native to such a place. This job would certainly keep her afloat for a much longer while than her usual bit scores.

The arcade atrium opened out into at least four radiating corridors of stores, shops, boutiques as far as her eyes could see, and that was just the first floor. The atrium itself was a dome, the ceiling of which was twenty stories above her, and displayed an ever-changing kaleidescope of sky, if one's idea of sky consisted of artificial constellations revolving their diurnal path around a hovering holographic billboard the size of a small building, whose advertisments competed with each other for attention and for epilepsy.

"Welcome to Nu-Liminal." A programmed voice greeted Eunbyeol as she entered one of the fashion boutiques, minimalist rows of synthwear in this season's cut and colour. Shoulder epaulettes and high collars seemed to be all the rage, paired with knee high boots with metallic embellishments down the side. The prices appeared to be as sky high as the atrium itself.

Discreetly a boutique assistant appeared next to her, "Annyeong hashimnikka." and bowed slightly, ready to serve her next customer.

If Eunbyeol had noticed one thing it was that people were their shoes. The richest person trying to slum it would still show up in new shoes that cost as much as the club they were diving in; a drunk in a new suit would still be wearing roughed up old brogues. She could probably count on the hotel staff to make the same assumption, or so she hoped.

Based on that, she checked the price on a set of black, fitted boots with a silver inlay that ended in a thick silver sole. "I amkaedeul-eun eolmaibnikka?" How much for these bitches? If something happened she wanted to be sure she could still stomp heads in. If she had enough left over after that, she might buy a dress.

A holographic display of sizes and prices immediately popped up next to the shoe rack she was next to as she reached for the pair of Jean LaPerle boots. 360Y. Before she could indicate anything else, the sales assistant had brought her a pair to try, and electronically moved the clothing racks so that complementary styles of the latest fashion were displayed before Eunbyeol. The dresses also cost in the same ballpark, from 500Y and onwards.

The attendant brought the items to the fitting room for her and announced in a cheerful voice in Korean, "There's a discount when you purchase an outfit, only 780Y total," and held out the cred stick reader for Eunbyeol to make payment. She was ultra helpful to ensure that the dress and shoes fitted perfectly. It was certainly a fashionable, almost glamourous look.

"Welcome to the Palladio!" The man behind the counter greeted her with a big smile. Immediately behind him a holo display popped up with a welcome trideo of the hotel and its various facilities, and talking heads in various languages directly speaking through Eunbyeol's augmented reality feed. "Certainly, whom shall I say is calling on him?" The smile became even larger and warmer.

She decided to fall back on a ruse that usually worked, though it was probably the highest-class place she'd used it in, so she cleaned up her language a little. "Naneun donglyoui seonmul-ibnida!" I'm a gift from an associate! It should still get the message through, she thought. "Fun things!" she adds, holding up her backpack a little.

The guest service employee at the front desk didn't bat an eyelid when Eunbyeol implied that she was the entertainment, used to as he was in catering to the whims and fancies of the powerful and well-heeled. His smile remained just as wide, even though his eyes steeled themselves ever so slightly. "Mr Wu's appetite is impressive, but he doesn't seem done yet with his previous gift." There was no mistaking the euphemism, there was some other escort staying in his suite whom he returned to.

[translated from the original Korean, in the way that movies do after a conversation has gone on a bit]

"I was under the assumption that he was able to multitask. I suppose I can just let his associate know that he doesn't appreciate his offer..." She starts to dial a number out, slowly so that he can change his mind if need be. "I don't know what he'll do." Her eyes widen. "You have insurance, right?"

The man was used to seeing all kinds of guests and their behaviour, ranging from the sweet and whimsical, to the downright mean and threatening. He didn't think of Eunbyeol in either of those ways, but neither was he about to let any two bit Sunset Boulevard escort past his watch, seeing as it was his job to guarantee the privacy and security of his guests. But Eunbyeol's persistence made him pick up his phone.

It seemed to ring for a long time before someone at the other end picked up. "Mr Wu? This is the front desk. You have a visitor who is here on behalf of ... " Here he paused, and gave Eunbyeol a split second to answer, so that he could finish his sentence.

... Mr Liu." the hotel staff paused as he listened to whatever Wu's reply was. "Yes she is here for a social visit. Certainly, Mr Wu." He looked at Eunbyeol, fake smile still plastered on his face. "Mr Wu says he would very much like to see you." An elevator attendant showed Eunbyeol to the lift lobby, and gestured with his secure commlink at one of the lifts. The door opened, Eunbyeol and other guests entered, floor destinations already programmed on their behalf, the latest classical synthwave playing in as elevator muzak. Wu's suite was on one of the highest floors of the hotel. Eunbyeol stepped out and into a corridor with neo-corinthian columns created by illuminated neon strips that stretched from floor to ceiling, part of the garish charm of the Palladio. Wu's suite was the door at the left end of the corridor.

Eunbyeol's hackles were up. Something wasn't right here. He wanted to 'see her', the attendant had said. She moved toward the door. As she did, her eyes darted back and forth along the corridor. Nothing really of note. It was posh, but if there were any security cameras or other devices they were discrete enough not to bother the rich people that used the hotel. She did get a little satisfaction out of knowing that if anyone was listening to the feed, it might seem as though she was edited in badly, as she made no sound walking down the corridor.

She stopped in front of his door, and knocked, a firm sound, but not hard enough to alarm anyone. Let's see what's going to go wrong now...

Eunbyeol wasn't mistaken to suspect cameras on the corridors of every hotel floor, which was pretty much standard security in any proper hotel, and more so in posher ones that took greater care of their guests privacy. Such more secure suites might further include Matrix level security against online intrusion, and perhaps also some basic level magical wards to prevent disturbances on the astral plane. Wu's room was one of the penthouse suites, so it was reasonable that it might have such.The door opened, and Eunbyeol was greeted by a rainbow-haired woman wearing very little, and holding a cocktail glass of some indeteminable liquid. Underneath her lingerie her breasts seemed to glow iridescently, in sync with the colour of her hair and fingernails, and in time and rhythm with the loud synthwave beat that was pumping out from within the suite. "Hello!" The woman greeted Eunbyeol too brightly. "Come in!" She took her hand and pulled her into the room. It was an opulent affair, high ceiling, over-decorated in every conceivable way, as if the designer was high on novacoke when they conceived it. The main living room was much further in, and a man was seated on the bed-sized couch within. What was immediately noted by Eunbyeol when she entered was the presence of another woman, this one sprawled on the dining table to the far right, clad in a skin-tight transculent outfit with an opaque print that shifted as if she were a Rorschach test. This second woman was unexpected.

Great. She stepped in, shutting the door behind her. She wasn't going to let this get very far. She'd got in; that was all she wanted. The second woman was a problem, but... was she? The way she was dressed made her seem like she was another plaything, but there was always the chance that she was muscle, hiding in plain sight. Well... better to have her in front of her than behind her.

"Daniel Wu. The owner of Club Dis sends his regards. He'd like to be repaid for your theft. Would you like to handle this appropriately? I was asked not to break your very pretty face unless necessary."*

---

Tamade!* Who the hell are you to come in here and threaten me? I told Rick my money is good and I'll have it covered. If he's sending a girl my way it better be pussy, not muscle! I'm calling hotel security." The woman who opened the door scampered away back onto the couch next to Wu. The other sat upright on the table, watching, but made no further moves.

Eunbyeol isn't really very threatening looking, and isn't really the type to do it. She's just trying to not have to take this all the way. "He apparently does not believe you. Would you like to call him?"

On the off-chance though that this is actually threatening...

Wu was unimpressed with Eunbyeol's bluster, this small-sized Asian woman in a tight little qipao and boots. He spoke to the commlink that patched him to hotel reception. "Daniel Wu. You let some bitch come up here and threaten me!"

She reaches behind her and cracks open the door again. "Out." She'd rather not have innocents in the mix.

The two women were bewildered by Eunbyeol's command. She sounded threatening, but they didn't seem to understand the nature of how dangerous Eunbyeol could be, if at all. The one on the couch did get up warily to distance herself from Wu while he was on the phone. If it was a spat or a misunderstanding she was happy to scuttle away nearer to the bedroom door further back. The other one at the dining table was much farther away from the action. She backed off a little towards the kitchenette counter. Both women continued to watch what was going to happen next.

Eunbyeol moves through the room as if on rails, no extra motion that she doesn't have to use. There's an odd, efficient grace to her, and it's probably the first time that anyone in the room can see that she's actually capable of being dangerous. Within seconds she's right up next to Wu, pointing her Browning at his gut. "Tell them never mind."

Wu had no time to react to Eunbyeol's lighting speed and grace, which took her from the main entrance of the suite, past the hallway, over a coffee table and holo projector, and right up to Wu's face as he fumbled on the couch to talk to hotel security while scrambling for a means to defend himself. He lashed at Eunbyeol with a kick as he tried to get away, climbing over the couch to head towards the bedroom.

She decides to leave her gun where it is, and chases him down again, throwing a quick, hard punch into the middle of his mass.

Wu kicked wildly, more to leverage himself away than to do any real damage. He was clad only in boxers, with his robe flung open, which didn't help his movement to get away. Eunbyeol focussed her attention solely on him, not on the two girls, and was easily on top of him with her attack.

Eunbyeol managed to skillfully launch herself at Wu, and her punch connected as Wu continued to dart forward towards his room, but barely hurt him. Eunbyeol realised why he was headed there, to grab his gun! Wu crossed the bedroom door into the bedroom, and there he went to an armchair where he had left his clothes and weapon before trying to duck behind the armchair to gain some cover.

Eunbyeol gave chase once she realized what he was going for, and followed right behind him, deftly sidestepping the detritus left in his wake. She didn't draw her gun though. She wasn't here to kill him. Yet. "I'll take that gun. That ought to make up for some of your tab." She attacked, spearing a foot out to try to catch him in an inconvenient spot in his midsection.

Wu reached his gun, and swiftly turned around to try to pop one at the aggressive Eunbyeol.

Wu whirled around to fire point blank at Eunbyeol, but she saw that coming a mile away, and even as he swung his gun out towards her, she grabbed his hand with both hers and, with a deft move, twisted the pistol out of his grasp even as his shot fired wide. His gun was now with her!

"Alright that's enough of that. Lone Star, that's the cops to you. Drop the gun and put your hands up. You too Wu." A female voice from behind spoke loudly and clearly. Eunbyeol could see on Wu's face a visible expression of surprise at who it was that issued the command.

With two weapons pointed at him, Wu raised his hands, muttering something about stupid c**ts in English under his breath. "Badge, cop, police, 警方, 경찰. You're in trouble now bitch."

"Sounds like you're ignoring me or not understanding what I'm saying." The voice behind Eunbyeol continued in English. "Tell her to put her gun down."

"Persistent. Not a jealous ex then. You're just full of drek aren't you Wu." The voice behind seemed to draw her conclusions about the relationship between this intruder and Daniel Wu. It was a short little stand off, whose circumstances changed by the arrival of others. Eunbyeol heard the main door open, and a number of heeled boots enter the hotel room. Seconds later, it sounded like at least two or three more people came into the bedroom. It was either hotel security, or the woman must've radioed for reinforcements.

"Put the gun down." A new voice, male, who spoke first Japanese, then Mandarin, with a slight UCAS Los Angeles accent. "You're not in trouble. Yet."

"You're an over-enthusiastic collector, I get it. But nothing good is going to happen unless you put that gun away." The voice continued. A holo-beam from his cyber-eye mount beamed his credentials in front of Eunbyeol, so that she could see for herself where she stood. Richard Crenn, National Security Branch, UCAS. While law-enforcement was outsourced to private corp companies like Lone Star, this agent operated beyond that; he clearly had federal jurisdiction. Something huge had to be going on here, far beyond a low-life businessman like Daniel Wu warranted.

"Not so fast. Lone Star here still has jurisdiction. Trespass. Assault. She'll want to see some ID and licenses." The man spoke matter-of-factly, but the Lone Star policewoman in the skintight outfit was much more brusque in handling Enubyeol, having been slighted by her. She didn't speak to Eunbyeol, having no language in common, but held out a standard security scanner so that Enubyeol could present her commlink for identification.

Things were not looking good. She had no doubt what would happen if she didn't use her SIN, but she also knew that the one she'd bought wasn't anywhere near good enough for anywhere that was actually going to check it. Still... What choice did she have? She was going to have to show it. She held out her comm, sliding her fake SIN to the top. She braced to throw herself back into a fight if need be. She might just be able to get out the door if she was lucky.