I: New Job

The Gunslinger, Erron Black, was escorted into the inner throne room of the palace to meet with his latest employer, Shao Khan, armed with little more than his dual six-guns on his sides for protection as he did so.

"Mercenary." The Kollector addressed him in a sneer as they crossed paths whilst the four-armed Naknadan was being escorted out by another pair of the Khan's guards.

He let it slide. Erron was, for a lack of a better terminology, not well liked by the people of Shao Khan's house. Empress Sindel was not fond of him, Princess Kitana and her handmaiden Jade—in their scarce interactions with Erron—had expressed some disdain toward him; in fact, aside from Shang Tsung and General Kotal (as well as Nitara on a good day), it was hard to think of a single person who had a positive impression of the gunslinger. So, the Kollector's scorn was not the least bit uncommon.

It was the norm in Outworld just as it was on earth before meeting the sorcerer.

He approached the throne to find Shao Khan sitting all by his lonesome; his wife had long departed for their bed chamber. With only his personal guards, Shang Tsung, and General Kotal to keep him company.

"Emperor." Erron nodded.

"Erron Black. I have a task for you."

About time.

Erron said nothing, he just listened. Keeping his thoughts to himself. Shao Khan seemed to like this.

"Some days ago, whilst you were away on your last hunt, there was a break-in within my palace." Shao told him. "The architect of this event was a man by the name of Gwydion Eld. I believe the two of you were acquainted."

Erron did, as the name brought back some tedious recollections. Albeit briefly.

"Yes." Erron broke his silence. "He's one of your sorcerers. I fought him as a test to prove myself."

"The very same." Shao affirmed. He absconded with two things from my palace: an artifact known as the Keystone of Arioch and my ward Skarlet."

"The blood mage?"

"Yes."

This was surprising to the gunslinger. He knew of Skarlet to a degree, from afar. Having bore witness to her capability in the training grounds. She was—like Kitana, Mileena, and Jade—more than capable of defending herself let alone contending with someone in a fight; so for her to be kidnapped was flabbergasting to say the least.

He knew where this was going. "I'll retrieve both, your highness."

"Very good. Tsung insisted you would be ideal for this." The Khan said, pleased with Erron's demeanor as he gestured toward the sorcerer fond of collecting souls. Kotal added "We believe they are bound for the Golden Desert. I would suggest you begin your search there, Black. It is imperative you retrieve the Keystone before Gwydion uses it through Skarlet."

Erron again nodded without a word or question—for he had all the information he really could make use of—and departed to retrieve what he would require.

Shao Khan waited some moments after the bounty hunter had departed and he was alone with Shang Tsung and General Kotal to allow his true self to show more liberally. "Heh. Yes, go, bounty hunter."

"This should prove something of an amusement." Shang Tsung said in agreement. "Though I suspect the bounty hunter will not fail."

"It matters little, Shang Tsung." Shao told him. "Even if Gwydion activates the keystone it can be remedied easily."

"Then why would we dispatch the mercenary?" Kotal inquired, trying to be as respectful as he could toward his Emperor. He was not fond of Erron Black but the Osh-Tekk recognized his ability more than most in the royal court.

"Consider it a test, general Kotal." was all the Khan would say.

Kotal sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He possessed little in the way of a positive opinion regarding the gunslinger but he respected his capability, having seen him felled a number of the bounties to give the most hardened of the Khan guard and his soldiers a difficult time.

He imagined this was another of the Khan and Sorcerer's games; and as someone who had had to endure similar occasions, himself, in the past Erron Black certainly commanded some of the Osh-Tekk's sympathy.

Kotal could only hope that things would bode better for the bounty hunter than it had for the general.