For the last time, Shang Tsung was busy preparing for the tournament on his island so, Kalliste was stuck in the fortress of Shao Kahn's palace. She was okay with her situation, she didn't want to constantly be beside Shang Tsung all the time and even though she was in no different position, it was far better. Today, Kalliste was summoned by Shao Kahn.
His guards managed to find Kalliste around the palace. In her empty tasks, her time was filled with free time. She decided to part take in a few training sessions with some of Shao Kahn's allies. Some she had won and some she failed. But she continued to grow from it, gathering her mistakes in her head as a reference. During those times, she hardly saw Shang Tsung present anywhere. She knew something grand was going on behind the curtains. Yet she knew little about the rules or objectives.
She had no idea what kind of powers the other fighters would have and what their strategies would be. As she walked side by side with the guard, gazing at every passing soul and architecture, she unknowingly was brought to someone familiar.
Kollector.
She thought she was going to be taken to the emperor but was deceived.
Kalliste groaned at the sight but why was she disliking it when she needed his help? She was expected to learn under the rule of the Emperor She was brought to Kollector who was in the shadows. It wasn't that he was trying to be sneaky, he just was. He looked at her and smiled.
"Good, you're here." Kalliste rolled her eyes, "I thought I was being brought to Shao Kahn? Not you..."
Kollector scoffed. "Well, I am keen to contribute my wisdom to you. So, that I may seek passage on Shang Tsung's treasure."
Kalliste frowned. "Yes well... who knows when that'll be. I don't know when I'll be satisfied with your training." Then, a small smile crept from her lips. This made Kollector snarl in an offense that he rushed at her, their faces inches away from one another.
"My time is valuable! You best not spoil it or I will kill you!" Kalliste raised her eyebrow, "You won't." she smiled.
"I will."
"You're a fool if you think that you could kill me."
"What is the meaning of this commotion?" Kollector and Kalliste stopped to look that there was a woman who intervened. She had long black hair and a radiant green outfit, she was beautiful.
She approached the two, "Kollector, are you disturbing her?" Kollector did not remove his detestation expression, "No, she is the one disturbing me!" He spat.
"Then what is the meaning of this hostility?" She replied with a stern look.
Kalliste smirked, "It's no big deal. He was just saying that he wanted to kill me." The woman crossed her arms, "I'm not surprised. Kollector is often impulsive to others. You're Shang Tsung's daughter I hear?"
Kalliste nodded but slightly cringed at the indication, "He only raised me like his... I'm not close to him at all."
"I see... I am Jade, protector for Princess Kitana."
"Kalliste," She replied. Jade bowed her head as they both greeted each other. Kollector watched the both of them and how much he was displeased with the jovial encounter between them.
"Now, if you are done with your cordial greeting, this one needs to be to work." Kollector grabbed onto Kalliste's arm and dragged her away from the woman. Kalliste stayed put with a sudden disgruntled look as Kollector firmly pressed his claws around her arm.
He continued to pull her around the palace. "You don't have to drag me, I can walk." She ripped herself away from his grip. "But if you think this is a good time to be playing around, you are mistaken."
Kollector glared at her, "I will get what I want." Kalliste sighed as she adjusted her sleeve, "Patience, Kollector. Good things come to those who wait."
He growled, "Not for me."
"It'll be worth it." She smiled, "Now, what miserable task will I be doing?" Asked Kalliste.
The two of them walked, "You will see." Says Kollector. The two of them arrived at a large and dark hallway. "This way." Says Kollector A dreary hallway that made them feel unwelcomed for some reason...
Kalliste suddenly had the fascination to question certain things, "Since the tournament is coming... Are you going to participate?" Questioned Kalliste. He turned to her slightly, "No,"
"Why is that?" She wondered.
"Shao Kahn pledged no profit from it." He answered back.
Kalliste titled her head and began to wonder, "You wouldn't part take in it just for the recognition?" Kollector stopped at a large stone door, he leaned in and opened it with a foot. He motioned for her to follow. She hesitated but she felt the need to know.
"I do not care for recognition or laurels. What matters is profit." He said to her. Kalliste harshly lets out a breath.
"Profit that, profit this. It's starting to become unbearable to hear. Do you really think that's what really matters the most?" He gives a certain face to a query, almost like he's offended. Kollector's answer came in an evil tone.
"I was lowborn. I have come from nothing, starved and barren! You have grown through cherished riches from Shang Tsung. You would not know of the misery!"
Kalliste stared him down as his harsh eyes were looking down at her, she glared with darkness. "I know of its misery. To be alone, hungry, and nothing. Do you think I adored the riches Shang Tsung gave me? He tortured me and controlled me into something I didn't want to be."
Kollector was quiet as he was absorbing all the things she said, his evil eyes were blinking a few times.
"...Did you have a family, Kollector?" She asked in a low tone, her eyes looking away.
"Yes," He answered with the curl of his tongue.
She scoffed, "Well, at least you had one. Being with someone is enough even if you're indigent." He shot at her with an expression of disfavor though it slowly evolved into a softening countenance. But it held no sentiment.
"Ménage is not enough. To live is to possess profit, it is to have everything!"
Kalliste stared at him in a disapproving way, her arms crossed over each other, "...All the wealth in the world won't make you feel any fuller..." Kalliste stepped away for a moment... "You're just a loner with no sense of purpose..." She muttered, belittling him in her low voice.
He was aghast, insulted that could just easily rip her from limb to limb, shred her like meat, right here, right now. Kollector clenched his fists and glared at her from behind.
She walked away from him and needed a moment for herself. She looked back at him once more, "What are we even doing in here?" Kalliste looked around, it was a sunlit room with dirt and sand along the ground. It was a Beast Pen. She saw a dim cage in the corner and a large beast that had a lot of scars all over its body, it had large claws, a long tail, and large ears.
Kalliste took a closer look at the beast, it had a large fang that was growing out of its lower jaw, she looked at it curiously, "We are underneath the Koliseum..." Said Kollector.
"And for what? To clean?" She guessed as she peered into the cage. The beast was softly growling as its eyes were emanating.
"Precisely." He replied with a grin.
Kalliste scoffed, "This is your tas-"
Suddenly, the cage door had opened abruptly in front of her when a sudden burning force shoved her inside the cage, the door closed shut. Kalliste rushed to the bars where she scowled at Kollector who was undoubtedly responsible for pushing her in.
She shouted in panic and anger, "Kollector? The hell are you doing?!" The beast in the cage made a loud, deep growl. Kollector on the other hand smiled at her with grim intent...
"An effect of your... insolence." He grinned, tilting his head as he mocked her helplessness. Kollector then walks away, leaving her trapped with the beast. Kalliste furiously watched him leave then quickly set her eyes on the beast who still had fresh blood from what appeared to be the body of the pen keeper. She was ready to kill.
The beast in the cage snapped, its clawing hands were ready to pounce. It was a tight space, a tight cage but she manage to avoid the claws of the beast, she even managed to get herself on top of the cage. But it was a small patch of space that she was on and she could not avoid the tail of the beast.
She couldn't spazz around it anymore so she jumped onto the back of the body where she held onto its fur-covered skin. She rode the body of the beast as it charged at the bars of the cage. It erratically jumped around the tight cage, attempting to shake her off its back but she managed to hang on.
Kalliste needed to concentrate for a moment as she put all her pain and focus onto the power surging through her left arm. The pain was gone, there was a lot of energy in her. She could even feel a faint glow of light in her body.
She closed her eyes and concentrated, she could feel the beast's body weakening. Then, the dark energy from her arm seeped into the creature's back as it began to implode its flesh, the power of hers that slowly melted its meat off like acid. The beast screeched in pain and flailed its claws before collapsing in a heap at the center of the cage.
Kalliste slowly lowered her weight off the beast and landed on top of it. Its blood spewed like a fountain of eminence, the impact causing a large spray as she was quickly dressed in viscera. Kalliste stood over the dying beast, catching her breath. The blood was pungent, slippery, and vile as it was in her hair, her mouth, and deep in the crevices of her skin.
She glanced at the cage, the bars of which were now bent and twisted out of shape. With her hands, she firmly clasped her palms around the bars where she put all her strength in her left arm, releasing all the energy from within. Kalliste screamed as she forcefully bent the bar just enough for her to go through.
The beast had died just as suddenly as it had livened, the energy of its life force had been used to bend the bars.
With exhaustion, Kalliste promptly departed out of the cage, where she would dread through the corridors with wrath and loathing for Kollector.
Her boots firmly stomped on the ground as she walked deeper and deeper into the halls where she finally laid eyes on Kollector. He was present in the throne room, hanging around with Shao Kahn no doubt.
Her eyes darkened as she charged at him with abhorrence and hatred. Kollector noticed her immediately, "Kal-"He choked on his words as Kalliste tightly bound her hand around his thick neck, severely clutching it with hostility. The force caused him to land on his back as he was being choked by Kalliste.
He struggled to fight back but her hold was far too strong. Kollector scowled at her and the people all around them were watching, some were bothered, and most were invested in the could sense the audience's eyes on her. She glared at Kollector with malice in her eyes.
"What is the meaning of all this?!" Shao Kahn exclaimed as he stood watching the scene 's eyes flickered with cruel intent.
"...Bastard!" She roared at Kollector when suddenly, a force threw her across the quickly picked herself up as she saw Shang Tsung appear out of nowhere.
"That is quite enough." Said Shang Tsung.
Shao Kahn stepped down from his rostrum, "Your slave needs to be put on a leash, sorcerer."
Kalliste softly grunted at the emperor's comment. Shang Tsung had a look of disappointment on his face, "I shall discipline her."
Shortly after, Kollector recovered from her violent acts where he continued to beam at her with his yellow teeth.
"What has led to this commotion, Kollector?" Questioned Shao Kahn. Kollector hissed and cleared his throat, "She is mad and insolent. I left her in the beast's pen, then her fury sways her to me."
"You little wretch!" Kalliste echoed, in a harsh and gruff voice. She sounded outraged at Kollector's insinuation."Now now, my dear. It is my responsibility to punish Kalliste, Kollector. You have no right in doing so."
Shao Kahn scoffed, "Her punishment shall be excruciating, sorcerer. She cannot be attacking my loyal allies."Kalliste trembled with anger and fear.
"I shall not disappoint you, my emperor." Shang Tsung slowly approached Kalliste who stood there like a child in guilt and couldn't do anything but stand there and watch as Shang Tsung's shadow engulfed her.