When they all returned to his Fortress, Shao Kahn's feet with what his successors brought him. Impressed and scattered, Shao Kahn grew a bit positive about the situation, and Kalliste returned in one piece despite her fueled anger with Kollector.

Although, the credit was mostly due to Skarlet because Shao Kahn always spoke highly of her, and somewhat adored her more than Kalliste. Of course, she was here much longer, who knew what relationship she truly had with the Emperor At least, when it came to Shao Khan's love for the ladies, he never showed favoritism towards any particular lady.

Shang Tsung was quite impressed by how she handled herself during their mission. Intrigued with keeping her composure. Not failing him was important to Shao Kahn as well. She also proved herself useful at times. Using her abilities to be able to infiltrate certain areas without being detected.

This made Shao Kahn like her even more. They spoke of the matter and reason for Kollector's entrapment, saying that Kano was owed his money for offering his weapons to the Kahn.

"I will deal with Kano as such. You've brought Kollector back. Now our tribute shall continue." Said Shao Kahn. That was all, for now. It was good to be back, although, truly it wasn't a delight to come back to this place. But, after all the chaos, Kalliste needed some time alone.

Before she could even move an inch, she has almost forgotten that she had been struck in the flesh with a bullet. She did not understand what type of object it was. It was steel, sharp, and embedded in her flesh. It was hard to remove, but nothing seemed to help.

She tried to see if she could peel it out using her fingernails, but that was useless, it just kept bleeding. Kalliste rushed to a place in the corridors where it was more secluded and dark with shadows. She cringed as she sloped against the wall, sitting on the marble floors. Her knees were touching her chest and her hands holding the wound.

A shadow then covered her light, her eyes shot up to see Kollector with his luminous red eyes looking down at her. What is it now? She thought.

"You do not look well." He says in a scathing remark. Kalliste huffed heavily, "Of course not.- The waste I had to go through to save you."

"I shall provide service for you. In return for your... rescue." He offered with a sneering smirk, one she could not trust.

"I can remove whatever is poisoning me!" She barked back, slowly stood up from the ground, and proceeded to leave him.

He stepped in front of her, blocking her way. "You are not well. Perhaps allow me to offer my hands to you."

Kalliste groaned to his words but winced when the blood kept spilling from her flesh wound, this time she was beginning to grow hazy.

"Fine." She said, then she proceeded to follow him to wherever a place had available privacy and medical instruments. Finally, they moved quickly into a room that Kollector could've been familiar with, he was a long-time lackey after all.

She felt her head begin to spin, she couldn't handle this pain anymore. Kalliste immediately laid herself down onto one of the comforters and could feel like she was slowly passing on. Such a strange sensation, a strange state of euphoria.

Damnit, she knew how groggy she felt, how vulnerable she was. How should just let this happen? Why was she so weak from this pathetic wound?

Then, she felt something prickling her skin, first, it was cold, then warm, then tingly. Kalliste was confused but didn't care much, she just wanted to sleep and have a respite from this pain. Kalliste tried to watch what Kollector was doing to her but couldn't keep up. Soon, she began to feel like she was floating.

Her vision faded away and everything turned dark. All of a sudden she could hear things as if she were in a dream. Voices and sounds, but she was no longer able to see anything.

Snap!

Kalliste suddenly awaken from a loud snap of the fingers, a green spark lit up and she soon rose up to see Kollector examining her. She winced once more then felt some unknown bindings around her stomach and clavicle. For once, she was pleased. "...That's it?"

"Yes, you are most fortunate, it went through chastely. No damage to the organs," Kollector assured.

"Who knew you'd be an expert in healing." Kalliste stood up from the surface, "-I hope you did not do anything else to me while I was unconscious."

"Nothing to your concern." He smiled evilly.

"I don't know why you even bothered to help me. I suppose I should thank you..." She sighed.

"Indeed, yet you aided me. This is my offer to you." He said confidently, Kalliste scoffed. "Right...And you? Those brutes did toy with you."

"Nothing I cannot handle. I have been through much worse." Kollector replied.

"Good to hear. At least, we're on the same page." She said.

"Our alliance?" Kollector questioned.

"No, nothing that formal...yet," she smirked.

Kalliste walked over to the door, "Tell me something, how did you get snared by such earthrealmers?"

Kollector grimaced, "Kano owed Shao Kahn yet his brutes cornered me. That is all."

They began to stroll through the corridors, making their way to the entrance, when Kalliste halted.

She couldn't move much, there wasn't much healing for her especially since she had been tortured by Shang Tsung earlier. It was visible on her body and face but Kalliste had been covering herself with a mask and thick clothes. There was so much pain she had received and it was slowly starting to weigh her down.

But, Kalliste was determined to make it to the outside world. She could only hope that she could find someone that would heal her, or at least give her a proper amount of rest and time. She took some heavy breaths and turned to Kollector.

"...Thanks for... whatever it is you did but now I need to rest. Alone." Kalliste said in a weak tone.

Kollector nodded, "As you wish."

She watched him leave her side and walk off to the exit. As she looked back, she saw that she was getting weaker. She needed to lie down somewhere, but where? Kalliste was off to her own thing for a while as she headed for a place to rest in peace. She tried to take some deep breaths but her throat was dry.

Kollector watched her go on her own then smiled like an odious goblin, hidden with intentions. His arms reached into his satchel and revealed a chain that was sliver, unique in its individuality. A chain was taken from Kalliste, including a piece of hair, tied down with a ring so that its hair strands wouldn't fall apart.

It was a token of appreciation for saving Kalliste's life, and Kollector couldn't help but smile. Perhaps if he were to gain her trust, he could seek passage to Shang Tsung's island. It was the only easy opportunity for him to get what he could get. He would have to make sure Kalliste stayed at ease with him despite his unrequited relationship with her.

Kollector began to walk to the entrance after watching Kalliste disappear, he looked back at the chain and took it in his hand. Then, he began to feel a hunger rise within him, an urge for blood. Kollector felt it, ever since he heard Kalliste's story.

The hollow darkness within her room was easing her but almost breaking her but then it occurred to her that lazing around wasn't permitted. Kalliste remembered every day that Shang Tsung disliked idleness and restfulness and that it that a warrior needed to move all the time. Kalliste realized that if she continued to sit around, she would never recover. So, she got up and started to pace around the room. She felt utterly alone in this palace, the constant tearing in her eyes and skin, the flesh ripping in her internal pain.

There was no one she could rely on, no one she could confide in, just the harsh silence of loneliness and despair.

Sleepy and tired, soaking in the blood of her blank distress.

Then the rest of the day was night, she took her slumber and said good night.

When she awoke, all seemed okay and the pain in her side seemed to be healing well, including her clavicle.

Kalliste put on her clothes and headed for the dining hall where she hoped to find something to eat. The canteen was littered with other warriors and guards but Kalliste didn't mind the population and was in need of food. She was famished, her stomach was empty and her mouth was parched.

After waiting for her turn, Kalliste found her plate filled with fruits and vegetables of all sorts. She also had some pieces of bread and meat.

Kalliste seated herself in the corner of the large canteen where she was alone and at peace, enjoying her plate of grub.

She ate quietly and listened to the conversations around her. A few women were talking about a new order of warriors called the "Black Lotus" and how they are going to be training themselves for battle. She took a couple of sips of her beverage and rolled her eyes. There was no way these women were going to fight in the Arena. Even if they did, Kalliste wasn't sure if it was going to be any better than what she had experienced and seen.

"Kalliste." A voice curled, calling out her name until she

turned to see what was above her; Kollector. Her expression changed from boredom to annoyance.

"I thought I would see less of you after what happened..." She mumbled.

"You look displeased..." He said.

"How thoughtful." She said sarcastically.

"Perhaps you do not want to talk?" He asked as he began to watch over her.

"Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of small talk either," she retorted and looked the other way.

"How are your wounds?" Kollector inquired.

Kalliste shrugged, "I'm alright..."

"I do not know how you can say this. You look horrid." He said.

She had to admit, she was in a rather bad state. Kalliste let out a huff then continued to stare off into the distance. "I don't need your comments..." Kalliste said then began to leave from the table, but Kollector grabbed her arm. She yelped and shook her arm free from him.

"Let me go!" She shouted at him, she would not stand being touched by him.

"Calm yourself, Kalliste. I only wish to study your injuries."

She snapped back at him, "You do not have to grab me like that!"

Kollector sighed, "I apologize." then, his hands began to clasp around her arm but Kalliste was uncomfortable being in the public's eye.

"Could you do this someplace else?" She said

"I will not harm you, Kalliste. I promise." Kollector reassured her.

She looked at him skeptically then nodded, "Please, lead the way."

Kollector led Kalliste away and into a room that was secluded, where they could speak. Things felt different and strange, and Kalliste was slowly noticing it. His sudden change of tone. He was still his repulsive, malicious self and had some sort of thread tethered to Kalliste. Of course, how could she forget that night he had confronted her.

"What is it really? You don't really wish to examine me. You're no medic, nor a caretaker, Kollector." Kalliste said. "Whatever your true intentions are, I won't fall for it." she crossed her arms with pursed lips.

Kollector was almost taken aback by her accusation. "Don't you forget what you did! I know that you're a selfish, pathetic rascal who will always care for no one but yourself!" Kalliste's eyes widened in surprise, then continued "Are you trying to push my buttons? Do you think I'm a fool?! Or maybe you think I'm an imbecile?!"

"You are truly of unsound mind." Said Kollector.

"What?"

Kollector stared down at her, unfazed by her unstable condition. "Understand that you are but the only being I would consider offering my hands in need! Be grateful for this or you would have been dead and forgotten." Kollector snarled at her with his profound, wise words and Kalliste could only gaze at him with damp eyes of discontentment.

She slowly approached him and felt a need for an amenity. So, she found herself embracing Kollector's body which both of them took it as a surprise. Kalliste felt disgusted but enjoyed the warmth of his body but of course, this did not mean anything intimate because Kalliste knew the difference between physical affection and a sexual relationship.

It was sudden and yet Kollector was completely overwhelmed by it, he pulled away from her and took a step back. Kalliste was confused and wondered what she had done wrong. Kollector then looked at her with an inquisitive look.

"Sorry, I... just felt like I needed that." Said Kalliste. She had a sad look in her eyes and Kollector felt like she was pulling him into them.

"Hey, could you just forget what happened? It's better if..." She sighed

, "i don't know what's wrong with me." Kalliste put her hand on her arm, slightly contrite

. Kollector did not speak. He was just there, standing in a frozen stance. "I don't know. I suppose you did help me when that thing was lodged in me… Can I trust you, Kollector?" Kalliste questioned him when she locked her eyes with his

. There it was, the gleaming sight of her unique set of eyes, one blue and one brown. Different yet so remarkable. He disliked the thought of being so considerate with someone else other than Shao Kahn but there was something he wanted from her and not just so he could seek passage on the island…

"Kalliste, for I know your thoughts are in turmoil, I can tell you this, if you wish to trust me. I shall offer my hands." He says

. Kalliste looks down in doubt. She didn't believe him but perhaps she'll just play along with his false sincerity

. "Okay. But it's not like I'll fully depend on you. I know that you have sworn yourself to the Emperor. You don't fool me." She crossed her arms

.

"Very well then, we shall begin." He told her

Kalliste looked up at Kollector, who had a smile on his face.