A/N: Welcome, all.

For those who don't know, my name is The Salty Isles. Or Salty, preferably. What you're reading is my first AO3 exclusive of mine!

Now I know what you're thinking: "Salty if this story's an AO3 exclusive, why is it on FF?" I can explain. This first chapter will be a preview, so I'm posting it here and AO3. ONLY this chapter will be on both sites. Since I'm marginally more known on FF, I decided to post the first chapter of this story on FF, too, to give it more buzz. To further show that the beginning notes of this chapter will be completely different on AO3.

But that's enough explaining. No prologues this go around; we're jumping right in.

Take it away, Kato!

Outworld. A wasteland of plotters and schemers, but most importantly... opportunity.

It certainly is one for me. After my last day in Earthrealm, my life is a paradise compared to the dangers of Outworld. I have the means, skills, and tenacity to make it work for my employer. I wish I could say the same of my new co-workers. They all have different opinions, but they're almost unanimous.

They don't like me much, if at all. Ask that snake, Shang Tsung. He'll say: "Kato is insufferable. He thinks he's better than everyone else in the kourt. If it weren't for the Emperor's favoring him, I would have him killed."

Quite a hypocritical statement. Take me literally when I say that no one has not a single positive thought for Shang Tsung, that smarmy old-timer.

Reptile isn't much of an improvement, feigning allegiance as we both serve the same emperor. That means he's more skilled in hiding the disdain he harbors for me: "That Kato. He marches in after a few assignments from the Emperor and receives promotions and favorable treatment."

It's not like that at all. I do what the Kahn orders and stay within the authority these assignments allow me.

What princesses? Let's not overcomplicate things. I've never talked with Princess Kitana, Princess Mileena, and Countess Jade. It's better. I like being the enigma of the kourt to make things easier.

Speaking of jobs, I'm on the way to the Palace to report on another job completed for the Emperor - a report on the financial statements of the surrounding territories. It's a simple task compared to what I usually get assigned. I reach the palace and make it to the throne room.

"Kato," Shao Kahn's powerful voice called my name.

I bowed in his presence. "Emperor, I have returned with the reports."

"Excellent. Shang Tsung," he commanded the sorcerer as I handed him the documents.

We share a contentious stare at one another as he walks back to Shao Kahn's side. "Here, Emperor."

The words slithered out of his mouth. I'm grateful my sunglasses hid the contempt look I had for the man. Shao Kahn reads the reports, his expression content.

"Well done, Kato. With Kollector stuck doing collections, it must fall to you to pick up some of his work. You have been nothing but a blessing since joining me. You are ready to take on more jobs. Like assassinations, for example."

I nodded in understanding but wondered why he never gave them to me before, considering an assassination got me in the kourt in the first place. The target was a Karfallah Warlock, their name unimportant. He was the last of his kind, as Shao Kahn eradicated them before I joined. But one escaped. All the magic he possessed couldn't stop an unsuspecting Sniper Bullet to the head. Magic is overrated, anyway.

"I've been meaning to ask you about that, Your Excellency. My assassination of the last Karfallah Warlock got me into your service. You must have known I was capable of them before this moment?"

"Correct, Kato. But Shang Tsung and I were prepping something for you before deciding to assign more of them to you."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, slightly perplexed.

"Follow Shang Tsung, Kato. He will explain on the way."

"This way," the old man spoke as he brushed past me.

Complying with the order, I bow at the Emperor before following Shang Tsung. It didn't take long for me to end up on an operating table in this sick fuck's flesh pits. And if you couldn't tell, I'm unhappy about it.

"Shang Tsung, you slimy bastard! What the hell is going on here?"

"Being this quick to anger is uncharacteristic of you, Kato. You don't trust me?"

"I don't trust anyone in the kourt, especially you, Sorcerer. Now let me go!"

"A wise choice. There's no need to worry, Kato. You are in my Flesh Pits because your reward is down here."

Shang Tsung's Flesh Pits. The test tubes, skulls, the fading green color resembling Reptile skin, and the smell. Its vileness makes me want to vomit everything I've ever eaten.

"Does this blasted reward require me to be tied to one of your damn tables?"

"It does," his raspy voice says before taking out a syringe with a mysterious liquid that glew a bold blue like a cloudless Earthrealm sky. He flicked the needle and laughed. "This may sting."

Shang Tsung laughed as he thrust the syringe into my arm despite my vocal complaints. Pushing the fluid further into my arm, I immediately start feeling the pain of unexplainable magnitude. It felt like every atom comprising my being threatened to create a hole in my body. My head throbbed like my brain was a makeshift battering, repeatedly crashing against my skull. My muscles tensed as I screamed at the top of my lungs. Many of my veins became uncomfortably visible. Shang Tsung looked like he was pleased while laughing at my torture.

As suddenly the pain started, it went away just as fast. I started breathing heavily as I fought the urge to faint.

"That was unexpected," Shang Tsung noted with indifference.

I glared contemptuously and broke the restraints on my wrists before grabbing this decrepit old bastard by the neck. "Don't you dare say that whatever the hell you injected didn't work!"

Shang Tsung slightly panicked for the first time since I started serving Shao Kahn. "No, not at all, Kato! The mutation was a success; I wasn't expecting the changes to your appearance, is all!"

"MUTATION!?" I repeat, utterly flabbergasted.

"Shao Kahn wanted you to be stronger, faster, and more durable to continue serving the kourt. Especially now that you will be taking more assassination assignments from him, so I concocted the Mutagen I injected you with to do this."

Thanks to this mutagen Shang Tsung was talking about; I have broken out of the table. I release him (reluctantly) before looking in a mirror. He certainly wasn't wrong about my face changing. My black hair became snow white, including my beard. And my eyes went from a dark brown to a bright blue.

"Be grateful the mutation worked, Sorcerer. Or I would've done the realm a service by blowing your damn head off while you slept," I said to Shang Tsung as he stood up. "I'll be going now f that's all."

"That will be all, Kato. I will see you tomorrow."

I couldn't get out of there sooner and walked back to the upper floors of the palace while putting my sunglasses back on. I start for my home, but another voice stops me.

"Kato. Do you have a moment?"

I turn to see Kollector, the Naknadan.

He then noticed my white hair. "What has happened to you?"

"I'd rather not get into that right now. But I can spare a few moments, Kollector. What do you want?"

Kollector is one of the few members of the kourt I respect. Simply because he's like me - he does what he is told of him and doesn't do anything unnecessary.

"Let's talk in my office. Follow me."

He led me into his office.

"Now, what is it that you wish to discuss?"

"The last assassination job you took from the Emperor. Is it true you stole the Karfallah Warlock's amulet?"

"It isn't stealing if I killed him beforehand. But yes. I always take something of value off a target's person to guarantee a kill since the would-be mark wouldn't normally part ways with whatever I took."

"I see. I was thinking of starting a fencing racket. I do not know the princesses enough to do that, as they are all Shao Kahn's assassins. But since you will be getting more assassination assignments, I wanted to offer you to be my partner in this deal, Kato."

I needed clarification on this. "But why, Kollector? You don't strike me as the type to enjoy taking from people experiencing poverty. Isn't Fencing a textbook example of this?"

"I do not enjoy raping the poor with tribute; you are correct. But the Karfallah Warlock is an anomaly. The mark is always rich when you get a new assassination target from the Kahn. The rich, I have no quarrels with stealing from. And you do what the Emperor commands you to with little to no questioning."

"But I thought you made more than enough money from your collection jobs?"

*Tch* "What I am about to tell you, may not leave this room, Kato. Understand?"

"Understood."

"The money I retrieve from the Kahn for the collections, I send to my family. The Naknadans are primarily enslaved people, the lowest of low-class citizens in Outworld. I send what I can to support them, but the collections are insufficient. Which is why I am planning on starting this fencing racket."

"This also explains why you can't ask any princesses or the countess. You're afraid they'll rat you out to Shao Kahn."

"Exactly."

"Okay, say that I am on board. How will you have the time to fence whatever I bring to you properly if you're generally up to your neck in collections?"

"You can do my collections for me. You already do every other job for the kourt and do so better than the members that usually do those jobs."

"And the payout?"

"I sell whatever you bring to me for quadruple the price, and we'll split it evenly."

"And you're sure they will always repurchase the valuables?"

"We both know the rich are more than enthusiastic about giving their money away. They will repurchase them, especially if it can be summed as a memory of the deceased," Kollector explained.

That makes sense. The rich are all for spending their money when they have it. I never understood that mindset personally.

"Do we have a deal, Kato?"

"Indeed, Kollector. But what are we going to tell Shao Kahn? Will he even be informed of this?"

"Not if I have any say. The fencing stays between us and whoever we trust enough to bring in. And I refuse you bringing in Tanya. You two may be well acquainted, but I will not have a deceitful woman like her a part in this. Deceit and greed go hand in hand, Kato. We will pitch you taking more of my work tomorrow, Kato. For now, we both should get some rest."

"I agree. This damn day has gone on long enough," I agreed. "What say we meet outside the palace doors in the morning?"

"Alright. Until then, Kato."

I left his office and walked back home.

The following day I woke up, shaved my now white beard, and walked outside after getting dressed.

"Kato!"

"Ellie? You're far from the teahouse."

"We're just concerned, is all. It's been a while since you last came by. We assumed the worst."

I chuckle lightly. "I'm fine, and you can tell everyone else. I'll be there later today or tomorrow."

"I'll let the others know." Ellie saw my hair and face. "What happened to your hair? And where's your beard?"

"Things, Ellie. Don't look too deep into the matter. I must go to the palace. Hopefully, I'll see you and the others soon."

"Of course, Kato. We look forward to seeing you soon."

She bowed at me before leaving my company. I go to the palace and see Kollector once I arrive.

"Kato. I was not expecting to be here before you."

"Apologies, Kollector. I had a small matter to address concerning the teahouse I frequent. Shall we go?"

"Ahh, the infamous Kato Teahouse. Many of the kourt believe the place to be mythical that you made up."

"And they wonder why I never invite anyone there. It's in a part of Outworld that no one in the kourt is willing to travel by foot. Despite the kourt's various abilities, they are all too lazy to walk there."

We walk through the corridors of the palace.

"Remember, Kato. If Shao Kahn approves, I don't want Tanya in any part of it."

"Yes, Kollector, I remember. Greed and deceit go hand in hand. But to that, if Tanya were as greedy as she is deceitful, you would already be without a job."

We open the doors to the throne room. As standard, Shao Kahn was sitting on his throne with Shang Tsung standing beside him. Kollector and I bow at the Emperor.

"Kato. Kollector. If you two are together, I can only imagine that one of you is brewing an idea."

"The Emperor is certainly more perceptive this morning than normal," Kollector complimented.

"The last thing we wish to do is waste your time, Shao Kahn. We will be brief. I wish to take more collection jobs for Kollector."

"And what does Kollector have to say about this, Kato?"

"I suggested it. Kato has done every job you have assigned him efficiently and precisely. It would greatly benefit my workload if I had Kato to take more of my collections."

"That would make sense and would allow you to work faster." Shao Kahn saw it our way.

"But why the sudden request? Despite the amount of work you have had, Kollector, if you truly thought about employing Kato, why not suggest it to the Emperor earlier?"

Of course, this old bastard has inquiries. This matter doesn't concern you at all, you slimy fuck.

"Kato is the newest member of the kourt, and I didn't want to entrust him to my main line of work until he proved his value to us all. Now that he has, now is the time to pitch the idea."

"I'm merely lending more of my aid where needed, Emperor. And I view Kollector as a high-ranking member of the kourt. Higher than most members, save for your daughters, Countess Jade, and you, Your Excellency. I feel like showing my respect to him by taking some of his work, therefore doing his job and making his life easier." I seamlessly add to Kollector's pitch while ignoring Shang Tsung's nosy behavior.

"How noble of you, Kato. And Shang Tsung said you haven't shown much ambition since joining us."

"I find that to be hysterical. Despite his many centuries of life, ambition and scheming are two completely different things that Shang Tsung hasn't realized."

I spat with a professional amount of hatred, enough to make Shang Tsung move out of his position. Shao Kahn bellowed loudly, amused by the point and counterpoint of that silent argument.

"You two make salient points. Very well, I will allow Kollector to personally give you the rest of your collection jobs from henceforth."

Accepting this victory, we both bow in gratitude. "Of course, Emperor. We will not abuse this privilege you have granted us. I understand Kato is a busy man, and you will need him for tasks that hold more priority over my collections, like assassinations and espionage."

Kollector added that Shao Kahn still has the most control as a man of his stature has the most fragile ego.

"Funny you should mention that, Kollector. As with your array of great points has brought up another." Shao Kahn looked at me directly. "If Kollector is a high-ranking member of the kourt in your eyes, he is one of my longest-serving allies. That point of logic must also apply to those of similar or higher positions, like myself and my daughters."

"Of course, Emperor."

"I'm glad you can see that. With your new personal work with Kollector, I will now allow Princess Kitana, Princess Mileena, and Countess Jade to summon and gift you personal jobs."

"And what of me, My Lord?" Shang Tsung reinserted himself into the conversation.

"Unless Kato is willing to take your position as personal advisor to me, he will be of little use to you, Shang Tsung."

You want to talk about dodging bullets to the head. Suicide sounds more appealing than doing Shang Tsung's dirty work personally.

"Yes, My Lord."

The defeat was apparent in his tone. Serves you right for overstepping, overzealous freak of nature.

"With that matter solved, I usually had nothing planned for you today, Kato. Therefore, if Kollector has nothing for you, you may leave the palace until tomorrow."

Kollector and I bow one last time at the Emperor. "Thank you, Emperor."

"Of course. If you will excuse me, I must inform the ladies that they can employ your services. Come, Shang Tsung."

As we leave the kourt room, Shang Tsung and the Emperor head out through the back exit. We both take a deep breath before exhaling t in relief.

"That was more uncomfortable than it had any right being," I remarked before we walked to Kollector's office.

"I agree. However, I am slightly worried about you now working for the Princesses."

"Why is that?"

"All three of them are Shao Kahn's assassins. While the Countess pulls double duty by training the soldiers, Princess Kitana and Princess Mileena's extra duties are unknown to most. When those two call upon you, be prepared for anything. Especially if they wish for you to accompany them on their assassinations."

"I doubt they would have me double them on jobs like that. As the newest and youngest member of the kourt, they have little reason to do such a thing unless they wish to show why Shao Kahn trusts my work so much. If anything, the work they'll have me do is small in comparison."

"Time will tell. As you normally don't have to work today, I will give you a small task. Territory north of here, their collection day is today. Take Tanya and get the collection money from them. Every citizen there is complicit. Go and bring the money back to my office," Kollector commanded.

"I'll be back shortly. Where is Tanya?"

"How in the hell am I supposed to know? You are the only one who regularly makes contact with her. Whether she helps you or not is of no importance to me."

I leave his office without another word. For all I know, Tanya may not even be in the area. She's an ambassador of the kourt, meaning she's the prelude to the potential disaster of whatever territory she visits. But we have worked together the most out of everyone else in the kourt, so I spend the most time with her whenever I'm here. I trust Tanya more than I do Kollector, which surprises everyone because Tanya is infamous for her history of betrayal. Despite my relations with the other members of the kourt, they have all warned me of Tanya's impending and some cases, inevitable betrayal to climb the ladder. The way I see it, if Tanya would've stabbed me in the back by now. Dare I say it...

I go as far as to call Tanya a friend. She knows and abuses me relentlessly, but I put up with it due to our friendship.

*Whistle*

"You're not supposed to be here." Tanya approached me before laughing at my hair. "What happened here? Tired of being the baby and decided to look old, Kato?"

I still find it bewildering that at 44, I'm still the youngest member of the kourt by a landslide.

"No, Tanya. That old bastard Shang Tsung injected me with a mutagen because Shao Kahn plans to give me assassination missions. He wanted me to be more physically capable of ensuring I won't fail since I haven't yet."

I notice Tanya has her pupils back. "I see you got that demon exercised out of you now that I can see your irises again."

"Funny, Snow White. We both know my irises disappear when I activate my pyromancer powers. What are you doing here? I thought Shao Kahn didn't have anything planned for you today?"

"He didn't. But Kollector and I decided to have me take more collection jobs to ease his stress."

"How noble. Want me to come with?"

The moment she knew I was heading out to do a job, Tanya was coming, regardless of whether I wanted her to.

"Do you have to give me the illusion of choice, Tanya? Come on."

"Always so serious with your attitude, Kato."

"I have to be with you as my partner more often."

We exited the palace.

"So, where are we heading?"

"Lei Chen."

"Ahh, it must be collection day. Kollector has the most issues up there despite being subservient to Shao Kahn like the other territories. The residents were displeased that Zefeero did so without resistance. As a result, his denizens are often discriminatory to members of the kourt, especially Naknadans."

"I assume Kollector is sending me because we're not a creature or mutant?"

"The most likely reason. We'll have an easier time, but I'd still expect some resistance."

"No job is easy, I see."

We continued marching to the walled city of Lei Chen.

"Tanya, seeing as we have worked together before-"

"No killing unless presented with no other options. For the love of Argus, Kato. We've been on and off partners since you started working for the kourt. You don't think I remember the protocols?"

"Just being sure."

"I understand you don't want a bloodbath on your hands since eighty percent of the kourt are psychopathic murderers hiding under a layer of diplomacy. But I won't kill unless the option is the only way out. Especially if I'm working with you."

She then pulled on my coat. "I know you don't like getting blood on your coat."

"After my own heart, Tanya."

"As if. Otherwise, we would've slept together by now. And I know you can't handle this ass."

"Says you," we joke as we reach Lei Chen.

"How much resistance do we think we'll get?"

"I'd wager the first will give an attitude. Get one to comply; the rest will fall in line."

"Follow my lead."

"Always."

We walk up to the first door, and I knock. *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

Out comes a man who looks around my age. "What do you want?"

"Good afternoon. My name is Kato, and this is Ambassador Isis. We are here on behalf of Kollector. Today is collection day, and everyone in Lei Chen is complicit."

"I'm not giving you or that rat-faced Naknadan a single koin."

"It wasn't a request, old man."

"Both of you can rot."

The man tried to close the door, but I stopped him. I look at Tanya. With a simple nod, she walks before the man and immediately palms his neck, causing him to wretch and spit up whatever he just drank.

"We're trying to be diplomatic, sir. But if you don't give us what you owe Kollector, I'm afraid we'll have to get violent."

Though not pleased, the man complied. "I will get the money. A moment."

We waited outside while he got the money owed.

"Why the throat?"

"It's close to the uvula. Hit it hard enough, and you'd get a guaranteed wretch."

The man came back with a bag of koin. "Here."

I take it and check. "Thank you for doing business. Be more compliant, and you won't have to puke next time. Have a nice day."

He simply closed the door. The citizens who saw this all scrambled into their homes.

"I don't think I've seen people move so fast to get to their homes."

"That can't be good."

Knowing I was wrong and Tanya was right on the money was good. Witnessing what we did to the first patron caused the rest of the city to give us the money they owed Kollector with no problems. As we collected the debts from one house, we were ready to move on to the last house.

"Hold it!"

We turn to see a man and a woman. I assume they were husband and wife.

"Good evening. We're-"

"We know who you two are. And we aren't giving you anything."

"You clearly don't understand how this works. Kollector lent you two some money. Today is the collection day. We're here to take what you owe him. You wouldn't want to make an enemy of the Emperor, won't you?"

I tried to be diplomatic, but it fell on deaf ears. "You tell the Emperor and that low-life Naknadan that he rapes everyone near the palace with tribute. We won't stand for this while he whips the other citizens and even Overlord Zefeero."

"Sir, I implore you to reconsider. We are not here to commit genocide, only after some money. We understand Shao Kahn is not the kindest person and Kollector is sleazy. That's beside the point. Whether or not you or your wife like Kollector, you still took a loan from him. Per the arrangement of when you took it, you have to pay him back when collection day arrived, which is today."

I extended my open palm. "Now, be a smart man and give us what you owe. This is your final warning."

He then invaded my personal space. "I refuse. You, your whore Ambassador, and that blasted aren't getting anything from us."

That was low even for him.

"Fair enough. You've forced our hand."

I motion for Tanya to stand next to me. "A quick question before we go."

"What?"

"You or your wife?"

"What are you-"

"Answer the question," Tanya interrupted him.

"I choose me. Now what does that-"

Again, Tanya cut him off by punching him in the gut before taking his arm and snapping it.

*SNAP*

The wife tried to run, but I grabbed her by the arm and violently pulled her to me. Turning her around, I immediately placed her in a reverse choke with my left hand while I pulled out my Desert Eagle and placed the barrel at her head. Tanya grabbed the man by his hair and forced him to watch the situation I had his wife in.

"We tried being nice, but you forced our hand. You will give us the money you owe us, or your wife dies. Now what will it be?"

The man's eyes widened as the wife started crying. "I won't give you the money. You're bluffing, Kato. Being the most civil member of Shao Kahn's kourt means you don't kill in the middle of the city."

"I don't?"

I shoot a bullet at the sky, which causes whatever confidence he had to dissipate as I place the barrel back against his wife's head.

"Will you give us the money you owe us now?"

The situation becomes a controlled but frantic scenario. Tanya is easily overpowering him despite her slender frame. But he isn't talking while his wife is crying even harder.

"I think he wants to become a widower, Kato."

"I think so too. Tell you what, I'll give you a count of ten before your wife dies," I said before cocking the Desert Eagle.

"Ten."

"No, no, no, no, no."

"Nine."

"Don't kill my wife, please!"

"Eight."

"Please don't kill me!"

"Seven."

"Have mercy on her!"

"Six."

"Anything but this, please!"

"Give us the money," Tanya demanded.

"Five."

"We can't, please!"

"Four."

"Time's running short."

"Three."

"She's pregnant!"

That caused us to halt temporarily.

"She's pregnant," he repeated.

Tanya and I look at each other, and she nods.

"You hear that, Kato? She's expecting."

"I certainly did, Ambassador."

I look at the wife, who is still teary-eyed with a smile that she must've been horrified by, considering my eyes aren't visible.

"Congratulations."

The man thought this revelation defused the situation, but he'll soon realize how much of a mistake that was.

"Unfortunately for you, we could care less and still lack the money Kollector is owed from you two. I assume this attempt is getting us to relent has failed spectacularly. If anything, you just worsened the situation."

Calmly, I take the barrel off the woman's head... before redirecting it at her small but visible baby bump. His eyes widened even more, threatening to pop out of their sockets.

"No."

"I don't understand why did you think that would work. All you have done is give the Ambassador and me more leverage. You will give us the money, or your unborn child will die instead."

"But since I'm so kind, I'll restart the count from ten. You know my gun is loaded, and I won't hesitate to shoot. Will you give us the money now?"

The man who Tanya still restrains is crying now too.

"I guess not, Kato. Restart the count."

"TEN."

"NO, NO, NO, PLEASE!"

"NINE."

"LEAVE US BE, PLEASE!"

"EIGHT."

"Just give us what we want."

"SEVEN."

"Tick-tock, Daddy."

"SIX."

The wife started crying even louder, but I choked her slightly in absolute terror before covering her mouth.

"Shhhhh."

"WHY!?"

"FIVE."

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO US!?"

"FOUR."

"IT'S IN MY BACK POCKET!"

The man finally surrendered the location of his money. Tanya checked his back pocket and found a moderate-sized bag of koin.

"Are we good?"

"Yes, we are."

I pushed the pregnant wife as she frantically consoled her husband. I put my firearm away as Tanya gives me the bag.

"Good doing business with you, sir. Was that so hard?"

The married couple cried as they held each other. I clear my throat to get their attention.

"I'm taking more of Kollector's debt collections, so you'll see more often. Be compliant like everyone else in Lei Chen, and you won't have any problems. Becoming a rebel again will guarantee that you'll outlive your child. Have a blessed rest of your evening."

We leave the city of Lei Chen.

"That went well. But do tell, Kato. Would you have shot that pregnant woman's stomach?"

"They didn't leave me much choice. I can't speak for you, Tanya, but I want to stay alive and in the Kahn's good graces until I get what I want from him."

"So you don't serve Shao Kahn out of loyalty?"

"Of course, I don't. I believe no one in the kourt does, even his daughters. Anyone who truly does is sick in the head. Do you?"

"Nope. I have my reasons for serving the Emperor like you." Tanya playfully nuzzled my cheek. "I guess that's why I like you so much."

"Tch. You're a piece of work; you know that?"

"And you love it, Kato." Tanya's expression turned serious. "In all seriousness, I wasn't expecting that married couple to show us that amount of resistance. Much like I wasn't expecting you to make the situation dire."

"Collections aren't just about getting money, Tanya."

"Oh? Do tell."

"It's about sending a message and establishing power in a professional relationship."

"How so?"

"Shao Kahn rules over Outworld with an iron fist. When he has members of the kourt run rackets like this, the subjects are forced to remember who they belong to. That happens with members of the kourt like us appearing in cities like Lei Chen as extensions of the Emperor. If we allow people to defy us and, by extension, the Emperor, people will start getting the idea that he can be deposed. The Kahn can't be everywhere, so we have to maintain his presence whenever we get sent out to do small jobs like these. Even if it means making the situation uncomfortable for those who wish to not fall in line."

"I never thought of it that way. I suppose that's why Shao Kahn sends me to do the same before an attack."

"Yes. You personify the disaster the frontline represents. When the residents see you, they are reminded of who rules over them all."

We finally reach the palace.

"I'll get the money to Kollector. We'll talk later, Tanya."

"Until then, Kato."

She disappeared into the darkness. I start for Kollector's office, and he's doing paperwork as usual when I arrive.

"You have returned."

"With the money the locals of Lei Chen owe you," I toss him the bag of summed-up money.

"Excellent. No problems, I hope?"

"A married couple tried standing up to us, but they complied after I threatened to shoot their unborn child."

"Ahh, you must mean Xanadu. He's the most defiant of Shao Kahn in Lei Chen. Normally, they still gave me the money. Perhaps the prospect of fatherhood has given him some more spine. Good for putting him in his place."

"I have nothing else for you, Kato. You may leave the palace now."

"Until next time, Kollector."

I leave the palace with no plans for tomorrow unless Shao Kahn suddenly calls me in, so I'll go to the teahouse for a rendezvous with Ellie. She must have something for me if she came to my house.

With my plans for the time being finalized, I shower, clean up, and go to bed.

A/N: And that's all she wrote!

As I said at the start, this is the only chapter of the tale of Kato that will be posted here on FF. The rest of the story will be exclusively on AO3. Tell me what you think, and if you like it, I'll see you over there for the rest!

Bye!