Only a day just past. All seemed lost as Goro was defeated by Kotal. Such an abrupt event caused a bit uneasiness to the Empress. Although Goro was out of the picture considering Reiko states he will betray Mileena. It was also heard that Rain shared the same fate as Kalliste; he was severely burned and unfit to battle as the regime of Mileena seems to fall.
Rain remained injured as Mileena stayed by his side. Kalliste was in her room where she sat quietly and still on her bed. Utterly annoyed and impatient, she played with her fabric on her clothes just waiting for something to arise. Lately, the sights of the Red Dragon were nowhere to be seen. It had seemed that they no longer served under Mileena's rule and the surroundings of this lost fortress began to feel empty and alone.
Irritable, Kalliste abruptly stood up from her bed and was prompted to do something. Just the insane yearning was tugging at her veins and muscles, it was aching like hell.
Upon casually walking out of her chambers, she spotted Ermac striding into a set of stairs, perhaps where Rain resided along with Mileena at his side. Kalliste quietly walked further away as Ermac drifted off, perhaps he could sense her yet maybe he was too attentive with the Empress at this point.
Kalliste began to pace faster as she came outside to where only a few traveling companions were present. Kalliste hurried her way as she wrapped her belongings around the animal's back. Preparing herself for the travel. She nervously looked around her surroundings making sure no one would spot her.
Meanwhile, as Empress Mileena stayed by the injured Rain. Ermac appeared from the shadows once more like the specter he was. Startled and slightly annoyed by Ermac's disturbance.
"We have urgent news from Z'unkahrah."
"Is Kotal Kahn's head on a spike yet?" Says Mileena.
"No. Not only does Kotal Kahn live, he will be victorious. He has enlisted the aid of the Black Dragon, whose Earthrealm weapons decimate the Shokan horde."
Mileena suddenly breaks a vase nearby her in anger. She grunts in frustration.
"We should mount an attack while Kotal's forces are still exhausted from battle. Where are Reiko and the Red Dragon?"
"Still not returned from Shang Tsung's island," Ermac replies.
"Summon them then! It is time for Reiko to make good on his many promises to me." Suddenly another voice awakens, coughing and grunting at a struggle. Rain awakes.
"Where am I?" Rain questions weakly. Mileena proceeds to tell him of how he had scorched by Kotal and that the Red Dragon salvaged his body was brought to Rain. Suddenly, Rain grabs hold of Mileena's hand, he seems to be agitated.
"Empress- Reiko means to betray you..."
"Tell me what you know, speak!" Mileena says intensely.
"When the Red Dragon brought me here... I heard them talking about it... Reiko is loyal to another... named Havik."
Mileena's face furrows in defeat. "Havik, the "Spiritual advisor..." Reiko told me this cleric's sorcery was strengthening our cause. I am not so spiritual but I trusted Reiko's judgment."
"He decided us all, Empress," Ermac says. Mileena faces him.
"Can none of the thousand souls who dwell within you reveal Havik's true nature?" Suddenly Ermac squeezes his face in bitter confusion.
"The mere thought of his name stirs... confusion within us. Chaos. He is an enigma." Mileena sighs and facepalms. His claws digging into her hair in defeat.
"First Kotal, now Reiko... This is why everyone calls me paranoid! Ermac, gather the Tarkata and Kalliste...We're paying a visit to Shang Tsung's Island."
Kalliste managed to arrive in Z'unkahrah. The middle of Outworld and where Kotal Kahn's empire stood. Kalliste could only hide in a dark cloak and hood, in the shadows, she must linger and stay yet, meanwhile, she had to figure out what happened to Kollector. Now she started to doubt her arrival here in Z'unkahrah. What if he was already executed or perhaps not even here? Maybe he managed to escape or maybe he was dead in a ditch. But nothing around her seemed unusual.
She slowly walked closer to a passing Outworld, Kalliste eyed them and decided to converse with them for some information.
"You. Do you know what might've happened to K- To the Nakadan that is ...wanted by the Kahn here...?"
An old woman she faces, her eyes dwelled with slight confusion and fear, no words yet spoke. Suddenly a man behind her comes forth to Kalliste, he seems close to the woman and decides to face the situation.
"What is this? Who are you?" He asks. Kalliste continues to hide under her hood, making sure she doesn't give her whole appearance away.
"I'm wondering what fate was given to the Nakadan... the one wanted by the Kahn here." Kalliste softly speaks. The man glares at Kalliste, unsure and slightly cautious by her strange appearance.
"-Nakadan beast was taken, caught. Don't know when he will be executed." Kalliste felt relived hearing those words, although maybe they could be lying, acting feeble-minded for a bunch of peasants. Kalliste peered closer to the stranger.
"What can you tell me about ... Kotal Kahn?" Kalliste softly asks. The man raises an eyebrow, having a more relaxed gesture.
"He is far greater than Shao Kahn. He wishes for Outworld to be no longer konquered, be content." Kalliste nodded stiffly and begins to leave, smiling underneath her hood. This felt just like the same situation from the very beginning. Back when she decided to sneak into the Kahnum empire, it almost seemed to be a decade ago.
The only place where she could think that had prison cells and a place that could get you some beatings was perhaps the koliseum beast pen. She remembered a few unlucky prisoners resided there; they would get daily beatings until the day they were to be executed. Perhaps Kollector could be there. The koliseum was huge and had thick, tall walls surrounding it, and considering that it was closed and unwelcomed to the public, it might be a bit difficult to swiftly enter.
If she had just remembered her ways in the koliseum, all those days of exploring and working as a lower class.
Wherever a guard is, wherever they stood by would be the principal to the entrance into the koliseum. Kalliste finally spotted a soul near the tall walls, only one guard was guarding a certain door of the walls. Kalliste sneaked closer and closer towards the guard, and considering that there was only one guard, it was going to be simple.
Kalliste stood from the shadows and slowly walked towards the guard, she made no eye contact, her hood entirely covering her face. The guard began to notice her, his serious figure stepped forward.
"You-" Before the guard could speak, Kalliste sliced its neck, cutting his head off like a broken cap. Their head was still attached to his torn neck. Wiping the blood off her dagger, Kalliste searched for some sort of key on the corpse and hurriedly opened the entrance.
The way in was wide and narrow, a large area seemed extremely risky to be out in the open. Kalliste rushed underneath the shadows and speedily walked where the koliseum beast pen was. The whole Koliseum was torn down, it seemed that it was being rebuilt to the honor of the new Kahn. Aztec features all around. There were a couple of lower-class servants cleaning and building around the area. Finally, Kalliste spotted a hatch entrance that led downstairs where the beast pen was. Still unsure whether or not Kollector was even there to begin with.
Still proceeding to linger in the darkness, the sky began to fall into a warm sunset. Where the air was hot and intense, these poor souls working on the rebuilding of the koliseum. Kalliste finally rushed to the steps into the beast pen, such strong putrid smells of blood and rot entered into her nostrils, filling her with apprehension. Crouching down, making sure she was imperceptibly stealthy and hidden. Suddenly a loud rush of guards came into view, Kalliste hurried her way behind some crates where she lurked, making sure she was not in view.
It was Kotal Kahn's guards that approached a particular cell. Kalliste waited and quietly monitored in on some sounds that were heard from the receptacle. It seemed like punches were being thrown, grunting and laughing was also heard. Kal's heart pounded harder than ever, anticipating the intensity on Kollector's whereabouts. The punches that she heard were in sync of her heart's thrashing.
She continued to peer softly at the entrance of the opened cell. Awaiting until the guards have removed themselves from here. Pulling her head away as soon as she heard stomping coming clear her way. Finally, the keepers swiftly came out of the chamber, expectorating on the ground, laughing away. They looked the cell to Kal's frustration. Of course, they would not let the chamber door wide open.
Kalliste began to writhe stealthily towards the cell, the straw and sand grounds scraping against her feet. Kalliste's eyes finally reached the open crack of the bars. Dried blood scattered across the soils and led upon a battered body. Kalliste intensely charged herself against the metal bars; a familiar four-limbed creature laid beaten upon the ground. Kal's peepers began to pour into pure bliss as piercing tears pushed themselves out of her eye sockets.
"Kollector." She extended her hand as far as she could into the bars, calling to him, calling to his damaged soul.