Chapter Text
Erron Black took deep steady breaths as he peered down the scope of his rifle into a distant valley. He didn't want to believe it when he got the order from Kotal, but he couldn't deny his own eyes as they peered into the valley below.
Shang Tsung was alive. The how didn't interest Erron at all, and now that he had confirmation he couldn't find it in himself to be suprised either that the scheming sorcerer had found another way to dodge death. Currently, he was overseeing an exchange of goods. Undoubtedly equipment for a new lab.
Uncomfortable memories of his short time under Shang Tsung's prying hands prickled at the edge of his mind, but they couldn't break his hunter's focus.
“Lets see ya dodge this...” Muttered Erron before moving his finger to the trigger with a slow exhale.
Just as he put Shang Tsung's head dead center, bright green light burst down the scope. Erron jerked his face away and snapped his finger away from the trigger.
“Gah... damn it!” Erron dropped the rifle and pulled one of his pistols, his other hand busy trying to rub away the spots of light in his blinded eye. He felt foolish now for thinking even for a second that this job would be simple and pointed the pistol at the whirling green magic that had appeared just a few yards from him.
“Erron Black. So good to see you again.” With another flash, Shang Tsung now stood before him. He didn't even flinch when Erron fired off a shot. The hunter sneered under his mask when said shot went wide and brought his aim back to center. Had to be a fluke because of his eye. He wouldn't miss next time, but for now he had to play it off.
“Kotal Kahn would like a word.”
“I thought he wanted my life?” The sorcerer had a smirk that looked a tad too genuine for Erron's comfort. Especially when he began to approach the gunman with confident steps. A second pistol being leveled at Shang Tsung caused him to pause his advance. “How unfortunate that Kotal picked you for this job.”
“Unfortunate's one word you could use for it.” In an instant, Erron lowered his pistols to shoot out the other man's kneecaps. Or at least he would have had his hands not refused to move any further the instant his fingertips brushed the triggers.
“Ah, you misunderstand me.” Shang Tsung took his signature haughty pose of one arm behind his back and the other held up, fingers lazily twisting in the air as he resumed his approach. “I meant unfortunate for you. For me, well... I find this quite fortuitous.”
Erron's eyes went wide and tried to move his aim back to Shang Tsung's center mass, but now his arms too refused to budge. It felt like someone had tied massive weights to his wrists, trying to drag them back down to his sides. It was obviously the sorcerer's doing, but Erron refused to give in. His muscles screamed in pain and his arms shook at the conflicting forces they were under. It was enough to make the gunslinger see stars in his vision.
Sweating and near delirious from the effort, he shoved the pistol barrels against Shang Tsung's chin with a growl as he came to a stop in front of him. As he looked at the bemused expression on the sorcerer's face, Erron lamented that he hadn't simply run as soon as it was clear Shang Tsung knew he was here.
“Simply fascinating...” The evil mastermind all but purred as the fingers of his raised hand flicked downward. Whatever force was trying to drag Erron's arms down increased tenfold across his whole body, sending him slamming to his hands and knees in front of the other man. “I always regretted not having more time with you in my lab. Shao did not leave me much time for personal projects. Especially not one he thought was a just an Earthrealmer.” The sorcerer let out a dark chuckle as he watched the gunslinger manage to grab one of his ankles. “Did you believe I would let something as interesting and dangerous as you pass through my sphere of influence without some kind of fail-safe?”
Erron could only distantly hear what Shang Tsung was saying. Right now all he could do was stare at the other man's gaudy shoes while his heart beat thumped in his ears and every muscle in his body protested at his continued resistance to the magical forces working against him. His earlier prodding memories were now unavoidable as he searched them for some clue as to what the hell Shang Tsung was on about. An odd look of displeasure that had been on Shang Tsung's face when it was ordered that Erron would go to distant parts of Outworld to put down warlords that refused to heel to Shao Kahn. How every brief time they met after, Erron couldn't shake a sense of hungry curiosity in the sorcerer's eyes. His comment now about 'just an Earthrealmer.' Did Shang Tsung have some reason to believe he wasn't human?
Fingertips slipped under Erron's chin forced him to look upward at the self-satisfied mug of Shang Tsung.
“Unfortunately, my new lab is not yet finished... but it will be most reassuring to know you will be protecting me once again until it is completed.” Shang Tsung's fingers left Erron's chin so he could hold his palm before the mercenary's face. With a brief incantation, green light once again dazzled the old cowboy's vision. That distant feeling became one of sinking as the sorcerer wove his magic.
Eventually, the green light faded and Shang Tsung moved his hand away. Erron blinked. His body now felt almost light as a feather, but also hauntingly distant. His mind, usually abuzz with all sorts of calculations on fighting and angles of fire, was oddly quiet. Like he was a step removed from himself. That this did not bode well for him was quickly confirmed when Shang Tsung issued to him a curt command.
“Pick up your weapons and stand.”
Without any sign of resistance, Erron released his grip on Shang Tsung's ankle and retrieved his pistols to twirl away into their holsters as he rose from the ground. The smile he saw on the sorcerer's face still managed to make him feel sick.
“Did Kotal send anyone with you as back up?”
“Yes.” The answer slipped easily from his lips. A distant part of him lamented that he should've at least demanded koin for that information.
“Hmph... go dispose of them and return to me. Be quick about it too. My business here is almost finished.” And with that, the sorcerer teleported away leaving Erron to retrieve his rifle and stalk away towards were his hapless allies awaited his return.