Author notes:
"This" indicates Japanese.
'This' indicates English.
*This* indicates thoughts.
/This/ indicates electronic communications.

====

    ADP officers Debrowski and Larson were having a bad night. First a
coffee boomer at the donut shop where they were taking a break decided to
start attacking customers. This would not have been much of a bother, given
that the boomer was only armed with a pot of lukewarm coffee, but the
collateral damage caused by the 37 ADPolicemen who happened to be present
forced the shop to close for repairs. Then a haircutting boomer went
berserk. Again, this was not to much of a problem, except that officer
Debrowski had neglected to wear his helmet and now sported an inverse
mohawk. To top it off, somebody had unleashed a Bu-12B in their patrol
area, which it was now laying to waste. No, officers Debrowski and Larson
were not having a good night.
    "Well? What do you think we should do?" Larson asked his partner as the
two cowered, or rather took cover behind their patrol car.
    "Call in an airstrike?"
    "We tried that. It took out the four Firebees in 46 seconds."
    "Contact the Knight Sabres?"
    "We don't know how."
    "Pray for divine intervention?"
    "Sounds as good as anything. Our Father who art in Heaven...."

    Fortunately for the policemen, help was about to arrive. Three meters
above the roof of the warehouse they had parked near a vortex of swirling
energies appeared and, after few moments, disgorged an armored figure and
disappeared. The figure, being currently unable to defy gravity, fell to
the roof with a crash that went unheard over the ruckus being caused by the
boomer.
    'Ouch. Shoulda fixed the gravity control systems before coming back.'
    The powersuited man groaned as he pulled himself to his feet.
    'There has got to be a better way to time travel.'
    As he scanned the skyline a realization occurred to him.
    'I don't think we're in Central City anymore, Toto. Where are we?'
    He looked around.
    'Correction: where am I? Looks like Timemaster screwed up royally.'
    Still scanning the skyline he cued his radio.
    /Graviton to Tarantula./
    Nothing.
    /Graviton to Orion./
    Nothing.
    /Graviton to any Aegis member in range./
    Still nothing.
    'Damn. Timemaster definitely screwed up.'
    Graviton paused.
    'What is that god awful racket?' he inquired, hearing it for the first
time. A short walk to the edge of the roof provided the answer.
    'Ah. Killer robot rampaging in the streets. Well, we can't have that,
can we?'

    On a nearby rooftop, unnoticed by Graviton, the Knight Sabres were also
assessing the situation.
    "Aw, man. A 12B? Why don't we ever get the easy jobs?" complained Linna.
    "We leave those for the AD Police." replied Sylia.
    "Not that they can handle them." jibed Priss.
    "That's enough of that. Linna-"
    "Sylia, wait. There's somebody else down there." interrupted Nene,
pointing to the black armored man who had just landed near the ADP car.
    "Let's see what he does first. Nene, get a read on his suit."

    Debrowski and Larson stared at the figure who towered over them.
Standing over two meters he wore thick, glossy black power armor whose
featureless, seemingly opaque helmet betrayed no expression.
    'Excuse me, officers. May I borrow your vehicle?' Graviton asked cordially.
    'S-sure.' stammered Larson.
    Graviton reached down and gripped the patrol car by its roof.
    'I suggest you seek alternate cover.'
    Larson grabbed his partner (who didn't speak English) by the wrist and
ran for the warehouse door. After they were out from behind the car
Graviton hoisted it over his head and shouted at the Bu-12B.
    'Hey! You! With the gatling gun and the attitude problem!'
    The boomer turned to face the one addressing it.
    'Catch!' shouted Graviton as he hurled the car at the robot. The car
crashed into the 12B and sandwiched it against the wall of a nearby
building.

    "What's the report on that suit, Nene?" asked Sylia.
    Nene frowned. "My sensors can't identify half the equipment. Beyond the
basics, he has myomer strength enhancement and a power supply strong enough
to light up MegaTokyo, which is why it's so strong. Some of his electronics
are damaged, but I can't tell what they're supposed to do nor how he's
generating so much power."
    "See if you can figure it out."

    Graviton turned away from the fallen car and made a show of dusting off
his hands.
    'Y'know, if this is still the future, then they don't make killer
robots like they used to.'
    The Bu-12B however, had only been slightly damaged by the car's impact,
and pushed the car off itself before taking aim with its railgun. Graviton,
alerted by the crash of the overturning vehicle snapped his head back
towards the boomer and almost managed to dodge the shell it fired at him.
The shot glanced off the armor protecting his short ribs, causing him to
inelegantly spin around halfway and fall on his face.
    'Alright.' growled Graviton as he pushed himself off the ground.
    'Maybe they do.'
    Before the boomer could draw a bead on him again the armored hero
charged, leapt over the fallen car and tackled it slamming them both into
and through the building wall. For a fifteen second eternity the crash and
squeal of tortured metal came from the hole, then, silence. Slowly a dark
shape emerged from the hole, and raised something in its hand, and spoke.
    'Alas, poor robot. I knew him not, Horatio. A machine of infinite
foolishness...'

    "What's he saying?" asked Priss.
    "He's paraphrasing Hamlet. Badly." replied Sylia before turning to Nene.
    "Well, what's the word on our friend's suit?"
    "I still can't figure it out, but all of the damaged circuits and the
power supply seem to have a similar function, but I can't figure out what
it is."
    "Let's go talk to him and see if he won't tell us. Priss, Linna, you
stay here in case he turns hostile. Nene, come with me." With that Sylia
jumped off the roof, followed shortly by Nene.
    Graviton, having finished his monologue, turned to face the newcomers.
    'What can I do for you ladies?' He asked pleasantly.
    'Who are you?' Sylia demanded.
    *I've been waiting for a chance to say this...*
    'My power is that which crushes stars and binds worlds together.
Nothing can escape its reach nor stay its hand. I am... Graviton. Of the
hero group Aegis. Perhaps you've heard of us?'
    Sylia shook her head, partly in response to his question, partly in
response to his speech.
    'What are you doing here?'
    'Well, I had just arrived in town when I spotted Yorick here causing
trouble and so I took care of him.'
    'So, why did you come here?'
    'Inquisitive, aren't we? I did not come here by choice, and how I got
here is a long story. But first, I have a few questions for you. Who are
you? Where am I? And what year is it?'

                    Polychrome Productions Presents

                     A Standing On The Ceiling Fic

                            Shades of Gray

                      A story of the Knight Sabres
                            MegaTokyo 2032


                     Coming soon to a FFML near you

More author notes: I've been kicking this idea around since I got the BGC
RPG and finally decided to run with it. Those who are familiar with the BGC
RPG or with Champions 4th ed. should note that I am taking some liberties
with regards to listed stats, instead going with whatever I feel works for
the story. Any C&C is appreciated, especially since I have this nagging
feeling that I made a major technical gaff repeatedly throughout this part.

G. Harris Bias
hbias@earthlink.net
"How hardcore do you have to be to use a hand grenade as a melee weapon?"
Josiah Van Vliet