Pit was nervous. He always felt uneasy when visiting this woman. Was it because he kept her whereabouts a secret even from the great Gozet? Was it because he wasn't entirely sure if she was trustworthy? Or was it because she was THE exception among the exceptionals? She was NOT a Spirit. But she wasn't exactly Human either. Pit didn't know what she was. The only thing Pit knew for certain was her name. And that wasn't even something she told him, but something Gozet told him.

Despite his reservations; here he was...entering a strange futuristic room down a long rotating hallway. The holes in the walls, floor and ceiling combined with the various lights and energy colors flowing through the air made it feel like he was walking down a kaleidoscope. He reached the end only to be met with a balcony looking out over the endless Etherion. From just beyond the balcony; a ovular object emerges from below and after an elaborate shifting of levitating pieces; the machine transformed into a flower shaped throne that encapsulated her. She certainly has style. He still couldn't believe she built all this herself in the Etherion. But Pit had more pressing questions than architecture.

"Natah..."

"DON'T CALL ME THAT."

Her voice was synthetic and monotonous. Almost robotic but clearly not.

"S-sorry...Lotus. I need your help."

"...I take it that Gozet doesn't know?"

"...You're the only one in Zindan who keeps tabs on the Spirits better than Gozet himself."

"You're lying."

She stands up from her seat to reveal her full form. A tall woman dressed in a skintight dark purple and black suit. The texture of the legs and arms look almost like muscle fibers. Her skin is exposed around the shoulders, fingertips, big toes and center of the chest. Several long tarsals drape around her hips and down to the floor and her face was concealed by a large helmet in the shape of a Lotus flower; leaving everything between her nose and neck a mystery. On the back of her helmet; a series of wires and cords extend and connect to the chair behind her.

"You just don't want Gozet to know you failed. I'm not a charity for angels. If you want to find a lost Spirit, ask your God."

"It's not that I failed...I don't want to cause my master any undue anxiety over Kokichi's meddling."

"That is not my concern. I have my own problems. I have apothics to grow, Forma to craft, Kuva to siphon, and DOZENS of blueprints that need to go back to R&D. My schedule is full."

Pit wasn't even going to pretend he understand what half of that meant. She sat back down as her vessel started to return to its original state.

"Please! ...She's just a little girl!"

She stopped for a moment and turned her head back.

"...A child?"

"Yes. Her name is Lisa. She's confused, she's damaged, and...she's in pain. You were called a Mother once, weren't you?"

Pit was on his knees with his forehead to the floor. The very idea of begging...of groveling before someone was disgraceful. Palutena would be ashamed of him if she saw him now. But when he lifted his head, he saw that she had already turned around, disconnected herself and stepped down from her "Ivory Throne" to kneel down to Pit.

"Do not bow. I am not your beloved Goddess. Nor am I a God that is in any way deserving of such prostration."

Pit did not speak as she place a hand gently on his cheek.

"Consider this my atonement for accepting YOUR kindness."

"I'll keep your whereabouts a secret from Gozet for as long as I can!"

Her hand moves from his cheek to placing a finger over his lips.

"I know you will. So, I will do something for YOU...and for her."

"Thank you, Nat- Ah! I mean...Lotus."

She shrugs her head.

Back on Moya, Kamina and Mercy were putting their heads together to make sense of Moya's controls. Kamina said that they needed to do it alone. Something about: "There are some things a man has to do alone...with a woman." It sounded even worse when Sora thought it to himself, but he knew that's not what he meant it to come off as. So, they gave the two of them some space to work. Niko insisted that he explore the ship on his own. Sora offered to join him but Niko simply replied: "I'm more used to going it alone." and walked off.

Of course this meant that - once again; Sora drew the short stick and was forced to be alone with Esdeath. He tried using his Keyblade as a measuring stick/makeshift restraining order to keep beyond arm's length at ALL TIMES. It looked like he was walking a dog on a leesh with how closely she followed him as he poked and pushed her away. But Sora didn't care much for appearances. THIS was preferably to...whatever she wanted to do. Of that, he was certain.

"Esdeath...I thought we agreed to be friends first. So, why are you so close to me?"

"I'm too close? I thought I was giving you PLENTY of personal space."

Sora couldn't believe she didn't actually know.

"Y-yes! If you were any closer, I'd be WEARING you! ….Wait...don't..."

Too late. She was already fantasizing. He could only kick himself for not watching his wording better as he facepalmed.

"Ugh...Look. I'm...glad? ...Yeah. I'm glad you're...trying to be nice and all. Trying to change your ways; even if it's just a little bit. Buuuuut..."

"I'm NOT going to turn into your perfect ideal overnight."

Sora was surprised to learn that she actually doing her best but also not that surprised at the same time.

"I understand that. And I know I'm already asking a LOT from you...BUT...I need space. When I said I want to be friends; I also want you to try and be friends with the others."

"Do you like a woman who can get along with others?"

"Oh for the love of...THAT. That right there! I want you to stop doing that thing where you take everything I say and go on a long and roundabout way that eventually ends at: Flirt Central."

"...Alright. You want me to stop? Then humor me. I'll take a break from flirting...if YOU flirt back once."

"W-what?!"

"Just once. Then I'll leave you alone for...a week."

"...Are you serious?!"

"Yes. BUT..."

She puts her finger right on his nose.

"...It has to be CONVINCING."

"W-w-what does THAT mean?!"

"It means...I want you to put on your best bedroom eyes and DAZZLE me. If I'm not convinced...then our little game will continue. Deal?"

Sora was already blushing furiously and he hasn't even agreed to it yet.

"F-fine!"

They shake hands and Esdeath puts her hands on her hips as she awaits her "Prince" to turn on the charm with a smug look on her face. Sora was starting to think she KNEW he wouldn't be able to make it convincing and that she only offered up this possible solution because she wanted to watch Sora suffer through trying to come up with a pick-up line for her. Which was taking its sweet time being concocted by Sora.

"...Well? I'm waiting to SWOON for you."

"Give me a minute! I'm thinking!"

Sora was too annoyed and flustered to come up with anything. So...against his better judgment - he'd ask his heart. He closed his eyes and searched deep inside to find an answer that would work as Esdeath began to tap her foot impatiently. After a bit of silence, Sora suddenly got a devilish smirk on his face. Esdeath took his unusual face as a sign that he got something.

"Alright...Let's hear it. Give me your best shot."

He spoke in a deeper tone. A tone he'd never used before as his blue eyes took on a tinge of yellow.

"I'll give you something, Babe. But if you want my BEST, you're gonna hafta do your WORST."

Speechless. It was like he was a totally different person. His smile, his eyes, his mannerisms, his tone. It caught her completely off guard.

"...P-Pardon?"

"What's wrong? Too much for ya, Sugar? Or were you expecting some weak sh*t? If you want me to be weak...you're gonna hafta wrestle me down for that."

In a rare moment for the ages; Esdeath's face was flushed bright red as her eyes shot wide open. She quickly covered her face and turned away as she waved her other hand back and forth. She yielded.

"Alright, alright! You win! That was MORE than enough!"

"Are you suuuure?"

"If I hear much more, I'm going to have to excuse myself to the ladies room for an emergency! Can I have Sora back, please?!"

"...That idiot doesn't know how good he's got it with you."

"...What?"

"Whatever. Fine. But you're REALLY missing out!"

After confusing Esdeath, he closed his eyes and opened them again. When he did, it was like Sora got his hands back on the steering wheel after falling asleep in the driver's seat.

"Woah. What? Did I...say something cool?"

Sora noticed Esdeath's face and wondered what he actually said.

"...Don't ever do that again!"

"W-what? Why? What happened?"

"I'm having a hard enough time RESTRAINING myself around you as it is. Whatever THAT was...is going to make it damn near impossible! But...A deal's a deal. ONE week. Now if you'll excuse me...I have to change my clothes."

She made a B-line for her room and for the first time since they met...Esdeath actually left Sora on his own. Sora was dumbfounded by this new development.

"...Seriously! What did I say?!"

*Looks like a Dark Memory popped up in Sora's psyche. Now we have the only "living" person in Zindan: The Lotus of Warframe. She is going to bring so much techno jargon with her. (Or should I say TENNO jargon?...sorry) But how is she able to break so many of Gozet's rules? I guess we'll find out...SOON...TM*