The room was so empty. Eternal solidarity, a dimming hellscape. The windows were large yet it seemed like their foggy glass was blocking most of the natural sunlight coming in. But that didn't matter entirely. She liked the warmth of the wispy cold air and the dreadful darkness that embraced the corners of the ceilings and walls. She gave in to the unilluminated dark wooded floor was all she sought for now. Dizziness seeps through her Knock!That sudden feeling of madness had been chased off. Kalliste rose her head towards the source of the noise. She made her way to the door. She opened it which revealed the servant from earlier. They arrived with more servants. Many of them hurried their way in, carrying heavy loads such as a mattress, blankets, and more comfort to give away.

As they went in and out, they gave agitated looks at Kalliste as she blankly watched the servants do their part. She only stood there, waiting. Her still image gave the servants an indication to move even Kalliste did not intentionally mean to. Oh, these poor servants. Kalliste brushed off that thought; thinking that there is no point in being sentimental or pitiful towards them. There was not much she could do in her place. As they finished, they all scurried away like innocent rabbits.A sudden overwhelming presence appeared; soon to be Shang Tsung. He emerges from the hallway and at Kal's entrance. He looked at the disappearing servants and soon had his eyes on Kalliste.

"I see you have been settled in the Emperor's home.- How does it feel?" He establishes so looked onto her left side, ignoring eye contact. The silence was all she gave. His hand had suddenly lifted her head, forcing her to make eye contact with him.

"Seems that Queen Sindel was correct. So ill-mannered despite the courteous disciplinary I've given you. You will learn."

"There is a creature watching me, he has six arms..." Kalliste said, Shang Tsung cocked his head, "Ah, Kollector the Nakadan. He is Shao Kahn's tribute collector. More so, his devoted and loyal servant."

"Has he confronted you?" Kalliste nodded then he continued, "He's doing what his emperor has told him, he is rather... maddening."Shang Tsung then smiled, "I'm positive you have given him brutality?"Her mouth was agape, "Yes," Although there was hardly any brutality involved in the confrontation.

"Excellent" Shang Tsung smirks down at her and returned to his polite stance. "Come, the emperor asks for his court."Upon arriving in the large center room, the throne room with those viridescent backgrounds. There were many souls in the room. Many more that Kalliste was not familiar with. With this amount of people in the room. It seemed to be an interesting meeting. Something impactful. Kalliste could feel it. She slowly walked into the room, walking behind most of them. Keeping herself quiet and not upfront. The Emperor has just arrived along with Shang Tsung and his lackeys and of course that gold-feasting goblin of his.

The room went quiet as the Emperor sat on his throne. They knew when to stop and be silent, it was odd."Today, we have gathered for the preparation of an event that I have waited for five hundred years. -The tournament!" His voice roared in confidence and devotion which was an unfamiliar event to Kalliste. Others cheered to his excitement, they smiled under his rule as Shao Kahn faces Shang Tsung.

The latter seemed to be the only one with a serious expression on his face. He knew the importance of this event and how crucial it was to the world. And so the cheers were quiet yet strong."Shang Tsung, I hope you have prepared to lead this tournament. Outworld cannot lose victory over Earthrrealm." His glowing crimson eyes glare at the sorcerer; who now looked small.

"Outworld will not fail, Emperor." Shang Tsung said softly. Shao Kahn stared down at him with a subtle satisfying face. Then, Kalliste suddenly realized how much authority and dominance the Emperor had over Shang Tsung it seemed that everyone had someone commanding them. Shang Tsung had not been able to break out of that loop.

"I would hope so, Shang Tsung... - Outworld shall remain superior!" Shao Kahn stood up, self-assured, rising like a brooding despot. Everyone cheers once more. Kalliste continues to stand there, arms crossed, eyes hardly paying attention. Then, suddenly a heavy presence was closing in on her. She turned her view to her right and of course, it appeared to be Shang Tsung.

When he finished speaking with the Emperor, he walked over to Kalliste who was further from everyone else."The tournament, this is what awaits you, Kalliste. Participate and you'll ensure Outworld's victory." He continued, "This is your opportunity to do something pleasing for the Emperor." Kalliste eyed him. Kalliste acknowledged his words and kept silent, she puts her head down, looking around her surroundings.

Near the Emperor's throne -where he sits. She just manages to catch that six-limbed creature glaring at her once more. His face just sparks up with annoyance once more. Kalliste turns to Shang Tsung. "The Nakadan watches me...""Yes, he does. Never mind him, girl."Suddenly, Shang Tsung walked away, meeting his Emperor once more. Constantly standing around listening was starting to bore Kalliste. Or at least she needed to move around. She slowly and softly continued to walk behind everyone else. There was a cowboy, a man in black bandages, that woman in red, a reptilian, and a few humanoid beings...Off into the distance. He's always watching. Always looking out for his master. It's tiring.

Kalliste found herself in an arena, a vast open space. The floor was smooth and seemed to have a glassy began to move her feet along the marble floors, keeping eye contact with the Nakadan who visibly was eyeing her. It was bothersome yet Kalliste found herself testing him. With every step, his head turned to her every move like a watchful bird.

Then suddenly, she rushed out of his sight and into the corridor halls to his left where he could no longer follow her with his continued to walk forward and her pace started to quicken. A few minutes had passed when she arrived in a large circular room.

She moved like the drifting shadows, maybe someone cared that she moved away from the meeting. Shao Kahn only talked about his plans for the Tournament, talking about his boasts. No one ever seemed to notice her presence anyways. With the bare feeling softly disappearing. She sighed weakly. Kalliste had thought that the feeling of so many people had overwhelmed was no one in the room with her. At least it seemed that way.

The tension underneath her sleeve itched and itched. Forcing it open, exposing her skin. Her left arm had an interesting tattoo. It was black; reassembled a centipede, at least that's what she thought it looked like. It felt slightly bumpy. Not flat, just textured stopped and raised her head to her left. She felt a warmth nearby, the presence of someone coming.

"...Do you have to eye me all the time?" She turned her view behind her and saw what she had expected, the Nakadan who was looming after her. Kalliste's eyes flashed darkly. "Don't follow me."

He hissed at her words. "I do not trust you. You reek of perfidy!"Kollector kept on moving forward and at this point, Kalliste was growing tired of his attachment to her. She stared at him for a bit and continued on her way, ignoring him. His eyes shifted in irritation and began to lay his claws on her shoulder, dragging her against the concrete wall, pinning her.

"I'm warning you." She slightly struggles from him"Shao Kahn demands I monitor you," He looks at her as if he was scrutinizing her whole body for anything of interest, "Perhaps you hold value to me." He smiles, grinning with his yellow teeth.

Before he could do anything else to her, she grabs him by the throat as black energy flowed through her hand, and roughly submerged him against the ground, throwing him onto the stone floors and began to step off. Kalliste looked down at him in bitter silence. Her eyes slowly returned to normal.

Kollector laid there slightly stiff, dazed, and stunned. Crouching down, she pulls his body onto his stomach. Glaring at his satchel seemed overstuffed. Curiosity grew and grew. She felt his body twitch; still weak and staggered, growling from her actions.

"Lay your hands on my satchel and you will lose them!" Kalliste blankly stared at him and ignored him as she picked them up from the floor, handing them to him. Kollector stared at her in confusion. "I don't want to have to keep hurting you, Nakadan. Unless it is a strange way of... fun, then go on." She waved him off.

He hissed once more, "You mock me!" He began to grow infuriated by her state of mind."I don't care," She walked off, leaving him there. He growled and shook his head. He rolled over and got up, going after her.

Kalliste drew her eyes along the pompous ceilings that grew high in the palace as she could feel tethered footsteps from behind her."Where is it you are going?" Said Kollector as he continued to pursue her as she mindlessly ignored him.

She turned her head slightly and walked a little caught up to her and grabbed her by her shoulders roughly,"Don't you have anything else better to do?" She said, shrugging him off.

"You dare insult me!" He whizzed once more, "You are under my WATCH."

"Kollector." Suddenly, a voice occurred, bursting their situation. Shang Tsung appeared in his drifting stance and approached them.

"Do not you know your place?"

"My place? My place is to assure Shao Kahn's court remains faithful. I do not trust your pet." Kollector snarled at her.

"Has she done anything that would disregard your trust?" Kollector's face turned deep red, and he glared at her with anger. "Not yet," He spat.

"Then there is no need for your stalking, dog." She turned to Shang Tsung and made her eyes unreadable. Kollector grew in fury as he departed from the two.

Kalliste watched him disappear into the palace corridors, "Many of Shao Kahn's lackeys have a difficult time trusting me and anything I bring in his court, do not mind them."His words barely entered her thoughts as she stared at him leaving, Kollector who might've been someone seemingly like him, at least in some way. Maybe this was an opportunity for her to find something or someone to dread upon.

She slowly grew out of place with Shang Tsung's company, leaving the palace to its silence and walked on the stone floors, ignoring the smells and sights that would've normally been very enticing to a person such as herself.

(the whole idea of Kalliste having two voices was so dumb XDD)