AN: References used: Teen Titans, Marvel/X-Men, Kingdom Hearts (our focus), Bleach, Final Fantasy (I: Dawn of Souls, VII, X, XII, and XIII), Call of Duty, Naruto, Pokémon, Nintendo, 300, Dragonball Z, Johnny Test, Fantasia, Hercules, Tales of the Abyss, and Yu-Gi-Oh! In this chapter: nothing new.

A bit of foreshadow is used in this chapter, to clue events to come soon.

Chapter 9 — Downtime

"TEAM Z?" exclaimed the Legendary 12, figuring out the "lights" that Derby hinted them on.

As soon as they guessed who it was, the New 12, Team Z and Wrinkle jumped out of the dark sphere, just before it completely disappeared. The environment returned to normal, except for the wrecked bridge. The entourage floated in the air.

Mystic exhaled sharply. "Glad that's over." she said with relief.

Wrinkle left the group, heading back his own way.

"Just let him go. We don't need any of his mischief right now." Sweet said.

"Right... keeping things positive, eh?" Durango figured, descending (with the rest of the group) to the Legendary 12.

"Durango! How are things?" Sweet asked.

"Never been better."

Sweet smiled. "That good, huh? What seems to be the news?"

"The Acolytes. They're all finally gone! It was nowhere near easy, but we got rid of them all, thank goodness." Tina spoke with happiness.

"Every one of them? You're kidding..." Fleece murmured.

"Well then, we're all heading back home anyway. Come in and tell us all the details." Sweet said.

Over the course of 12 hours (into next morning), Team Z told the Legendary 12 everything they figured out about the Acolytes—about their power, their plan up to this point, and about their "contracts" to Wrinkle and his followers. This impressed—and at the same time—shocked the Legendary 12. At any passing moment, any member of Wrinkle's Syndicate, including Wrinkle himself, could disappear in the unknown time limit that the Acolytes put on their lives, as the ultimate consequence for losing their "promised" immortality. Sweet thought to himself that he, or any other Bean Titan, may not ever fight Wrinkle again.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

The next morning (9:00 AM)...

Tracker was walking through the halls of the Facility and passed by the Danger Room to see Bonnie in it. He entered the control center.

"Hey Bon... who's in there right now?" he asked, nicely this time around.

His sister did not say a word, as she only had on a look of fear and worry on her face.

"What's with the face?" Tracker questioned, before looking inside of the Danger Room. "Good god..."

Felix was the sole Bean Titan inside of the Danger Chamber, exhibiting an intense lightning show all around the chamber in sheer anger.

"I don't know if he's actually training, but I've never seen him like this..." Bonnie murmured.

"I'm just harked by his power. What does it say... WHAT? 11,000!" Tracker yelled.

"What's going on?" Fetch asked, running into the control center, noticing the heavy lightning from the hallway.

"Felix's gone berserk in there!" Tracker told him.

"Well, don't let him wreck up the Chamber! Here." Fetch threw a switch that read "Immune". He set the the switch on a lightning bolt, which made the Danger Chamber negate any and all electric techniques.

Inside the chamber, Felix noticed that his lightning no longer functioned by the new negation factor in the Danger Room. He had his head down, as he prepared to exit the chamber.

"Fee-lee?" Bonnie called.

"I need to rest." he suddenly said, walking out of the control center without another word. Something was definitely wrong with Felix. He trained without frustration all the time, but something is under his skin now.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Meanwhile, outside the Home Base...

Mooch meditates on the imperial front yard of the Tower, next to his zanpakutō. While his eyes were closed, his esper crest acted on its own and shined, summoning Gilgamesh (with Enkidu).

The swordsman attempted to shake Mooch's attention by attacking with one of his own swords. Mooch, with his eyes still closed, snatched his blade and blocked Gilgamesh's.

"Ah, you're very alert." Gilgamesh complimented his host.

"As I should be." Mooch replied, opening his eyes.

Gilgamesh backed up. "Your sword, it's quite powerful. However, I want to put it to the test, to see if it could possibly match my might."

(Music begins: "Escalon" — Bleach.)

Mooch dropped his sheath. "Your seven swords against my one sword... I'd normally say that's a challenge... but I'm game."

"Enkidu, stand down." Gilgamesh commanded. The canine walked back and sat nearby to watch.

"Have at you!" Gilgamesh shouted, before charging in fast and attacking with two of his blades.

Mooch was startled a bit, but still blocked them. He was pushed back by the force that Gilgamesh thrusted himself forward with. When Mooch recovered, Gilgamesh was already above his head, swinging one of his blades downward. Mooch countered it and then spun himself once to throw Gilgamesh off.

"He's quick... but I have something faster." Mooch thought, touching his blade with his free hand and making it give off a blue glow.

"What's this?" Gilgamesh murmured.

"Divine Fury!" Mooch exclaimed, moving by Flash Step to appear behind Gilgamesh. During that sudden time jump, Mooch landed fifteen quick hits on Gilgamesh, without him ever noticing.

"...Haah. Impressive, but you can do better, right?" Gilgamesh said, spinning around like a top and veering towards Mooch with all of his blades extended.

Mooch tried defending again, but this time, his zanpakutō flew out of his hand on impact and landed on the ground fifteen yards away. "Crap!" Mooch internally acclaimed, running to grab his sword again, only to be stopped by his summon again, who attempted to cut a defenseless Mooch.

"I have you now!" Gilgamesh proclaimed, letting the buster sword fall.

Mooch lowered his eyebrows, just before successfully stopping the heavy sword with his morphed arms, as blades.

"Oh..." Gilgamesh uttered in surprise.

Mooch secretly knocked the buster sword away from him with his tail, making Gilgamesh separate himself.

"Close one." Mooch murmured.

"Ah. I see that your arms and tail can act as replacement blades, just in case you lose your true one. So this is what a Bean Titan can promise anyone he or she contends with... intriguing. I must say, you are a skillful swordsman yourself."

Mooch picked up his blade. "This is actually my first duel with someone with a sword. Thanks. However, there's more to me and my blade than meets the eye. You'll see more of my personal feats later, but I'll show you, face-to-face, what you're up against." Mooch said, motioning his sword. "Transcend, Zen no Kyoudoutai."

Gilgamesh watched the sword's silver diamond transformation. "Now this is truly a glorious duel. Let us see if your saber can block all seven of mine at once, including the one and only Blade of Legend!" he exclaimed, charging forward again.

"This isn't a saber... this is a zanpakutō. Soshi: Colossus Blade." Mooch announced, stopping every sword with the adamant-like form of his own. Mooch did not move an inch, either.

"GAH! But how?" Gilgamesh exclaimed, immediately backing away.

"Allow me to explain." Mooch began. "You see, Zen no Kyoudoutai is no normal sword. It is a zanpakutō—a blade that lives by alliance with its chosen master. By synching my spiritual pressure—or power, if you will—with it, Zen no Kyoudoutai allow me to unlock its hidden powers, most of which are truly astounding. Earlier, you saw my blade in its primary form. The transformation, caused by a new height in spiritual pressure, is its shikai form—the initial "release" of my sword's true power. In this stage, Zen no Kyoudoutai wields ten elemental identities of itself. I stopped your blades with its metal identity. However, that's not even the half of it. Zen no Kyoudoutai's true power is exhibited when I take it to a much further height—its bankai. It turns gold, and its power is quite immense."

Gilgamesh was awestruck, sticking all of his swords into the ground. "To be able to increase your own sword's power with a mutual bond, to stop any opposing force with one blade... you Mooch, are a truly valiant swordsman. It seems that I cannot continue fighting such a formidable opponent. You pass the test."

"Thank you." Mooch replied, sheathing his blade.

"Come, Enkidu!" Gilgamesh called, returning to the summon crest.

With another victory in hand, Mooch returns to meditation.

I~~~**~~~I

This ends Crisis Central, Stage Two... believe me, this is far from over.

Tune in next time, for BTA Part 12!

Feel free to tell me how I did!