Grand Theft Lion (Kyca, Lukas)

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
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#1
Over the course of history few things remain eternally constant, but when it comes to revolutions there are always those who wish to support it while keeping up a facade for those currently in power, and one piece of support had come to the fine folks in L4. Fifteen men and women had gathered, filling a far from luxurious room with these people who all shared one common goal and enemy, the Directory.

That same directory that had tried to beat them into submission, who loved to pretend to play a caring parent on the surface but now, at the first hint of danger had pulled back nearly all of its soldiers that were supposed to be 'guarding' them to the more luxurious parts of space. A man way past his prime sat at the head of the only table in the room, to some he could seem like any old factory worker, years of work were clearly marked on his physique but the fire in his eyes would betray his real occupation.

The old man silently took out a piece of paper, reading its contents for a last time before he cleared his throat, silencing the room. The man was none other than 'Mason the Unsinkable' one of the few remaining early revolutionaries who in his prime caused more than his fair share of trouble for the directory with nothing more than a Lion. Nowadays however he functioned more as a mission commander.

"Well lets get to business." he said, putting the paper on the table.

"First, welcome to all the new faces and welcome back to all the old ones. Today we're going to be gearing you up for the fight of your lives. I don't think I need to repeat any information about what happened at L5 and what would happen if we were next on the list of targets for those things so lets get to the reason as to why you're all here."

"Everyone got themselves a nice present from one of our friends over in L2, one free Cosmolion or Lion, all you need to do is claim it. They're all going to be ready for immediate use so you wont be defenseless should someone try to interfere." The elderly man pushed the paper forwards.

"So, just so you are all aware. The staff is on our side so don't antagonize 'em, keep this under wraps our donator doesn't want to be implicated and wants us to clean up after ourselves in case of a directory investigation and lastly."

His eyes went to arguably the biggest stand out in the room a girl in armor.

"Remain friendly with our new Valsion pilot, of course the same applies to her. So don't get any funny ideas about messing with the unit itself either."

The old man sighed.

"That'll be all, you have fifteen minutes to prepare and meet at rendezvous point G30 from there you'll enter the facility take what was given and leave."
 

Kyca

New member
Jan 19, 2019
18
0
1
#2
As soon as the old man’s turned his back, Joe kicked his feet up on the table, the briefing folder already in hand and an unlit cigar in his mouth. “A heist, ey? “ His eye zoomed through the pages, with scratches of the chin and a nod of approval being given every now and then up to the very last page. Finally, Joe gave his verdict:

This plan sucks.

Joe said under his breath, continuing to think. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with it, his respect for old Mason and the colonies had certainly gone up a degree, Joe gave a reassuring nod to that while keeping his grimy boots on the table.
It was simply... too perfect. For a heist, it was a bit too well planned. Joe would change that.

The “new plan” would be the same for the most part. The directory would still have a bad time ( Joe would make sure of that), just on a larger scale. A few changes here. A suggestion there. All right in the middle of the mission, a man thinks best while he's on the move after all. He was sure the chief wouldn’t mind him making it fun for one thing, in fact, he wouldn't even know. It’d all be a surprise!

He nodded happily, tossing the closed folder towards the Valsion pilot, she seemed like the most fun one in the room. Unlit cigar still clenched in his teeth, he began to speak while it floated to her in zero gravity.

“Oi, you two, what do you think about the whole shebang? I, for one, think it's pretty good." Joe had to bite his tongue. "After all, what could possibly go wrong with a plan like this?” Before they could reply, Joe happily answered the question in his head:

Everything.
 
Last edited:
Aug 4, 2018
334
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16
Somewhere in the UK
#3
Katherine was happily lurking near the back of the room, and would wave in an entirely unprofessional fashion to the various hardcore revolutionaries when she was mentioned. While it was hard to make out much of her beneath the suit she was wearing, that didn't disguise the fact she was the youngest person in the room by a good few years.

"Feels like early Christmas for you guys. Unless something's gone wrong on my dad's end - and I'd have heard if it had - any and all screwups will be on you guys. And if we're lucky the directory will shit their pants and run screaming the moment they see the new and improved Valsion! So yeah, I think it's good."

She seemed oddly chipper considering the situation, letting the briefing sail past her without a care in the world. In her mind these men were little more than backup right now - warm bodies to give fire support while backing up the star of the show.

"Katherine is correct: Your benefactors have not informed me of any irregularities. Tactical analysis indicates the plan will be a success." An AI spoke up in response to Joe's query as well, causing the woman herself to roll her eyes. It spoke too... robotically to pass for any sort of cyborg or artificial life form, but at the same time didn't seem to be a 'dumb' combat intelligence.
 

Kyca

New member
Jan 19, 2019
18
0
1
#4
Joe gave a grin. It seemed Katherine, as the A.I. called her, wouldn't get in his way as long as he stayed out of hers, which he happily complied to. That A.I. however, wasn’t as easy to read. It’s monotone voice conveyed a certain intelligence but, being a robot, Joe suspected it had even stricter rules to follow. One’s that hopefully wouldn’t clash with his own plans.

Speaking of the A.I., Joe couldn't help but give a whistle. “A Valsion, huh? Gotta admit, I’m a bit jealous. All we’re getting are some Lions, If we had a few of those, then we could cause some real carnage,” Joe looked Katherine up and down before giving a shrug, “We could do without the weird getup though.”

Joe leaned back with a smile. Something like the Valsion would be handy. If his plan worked out, however, he just might snag something equal or even better. Something to get back at the Directory for what they did personally.

For now, however, he'd have to just settle for what he had. He got up out of his seat, tossing the cigar aside to offer a hand to Katherine. "Name's Joe, let's make this a good one."
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
0
16
Somewhere in the UK
#5
"Name's Katherine, but my friends call me Kath. Pleased to meetcha." Kath took the offered hand and shook it, trying not to squeeze too hard with her gauntlet. Guy seemed... awfully cocky. And he'd dissed her suit. Not cool. The suit sucked, but still. Not cool.

"The Valsion Kai is slated for mass production, but current funding concerns combined with the intensive training regimen required meant producing more was considered unviable." The robotic voice chimed in once more, seemingly only responding to questions and little else.

"Yeah, basically what Alex said. The Valsion's got this weird lunarian system - like those VR games but drunk." Kath mimes a weird karate pose for a second. "All this.. weird stuff. Normal pilots can't really handle it." There was a hint of smugness in her voice - she felt she was better than this guy, and didn't bother hiding it. "If you really wanted one, you shoulda joined the contest a few months back my dad ran. Winner got trained to pilot it."
 

Kyca

New member
Jan 19, 2019
18
0
1
#6
Was that a hint of superiority he heard?

Joe retracted his hand rather swiftly, his face became unusually stern compared to his previously happy-go-lucky demeanor, the smile he was holding twitching ever so slightly. “Well please excuse my schedule for being a bit busy, fighting in a rebellion is a bit time consuming, Y’know.”

Joe stared intently at Katherine, cocking his head to the side, his smile fading. “Actually, now that I look at ya, you seem a bit young. I’ve got to wonder, have you ever fought another human before?” He had gone completely straight face, the air around him becoming more stagnant by the minute.

“Well, let me tell you.” Joe edged closer. “No little toy from some little contest is gonna help a little kid survive out there. Not for a minute.” Joe stood quite close to her face now, his own steeled in conviction.

“Here, we earn our weapons, not as gifts from daddy with A.I. babysitters.”

He finally backed off from her face, fixing up his ruffled jacket, “And besides, I can’t imagine how ridiculous one of those suits would look on me.” Joe gave an exaggerated, smug “hmph” of his own, before turning and hastily walking off, not waiting for a response.

Joe silently cursed away from Katherine. That wasn't his style at all. With how unnecessarily serious that was, he was starting to sound like Mason. Joe shuddered, the kid must’ve hit a nerve somehow. What really bothered him most of all was that he felt bad about it. Joe rolled his eyes. With that kid, it probably cruised right past her big, stupid ego. With that last remark, Joe suddenly felt bad again. “Fuck! Just, focus on the plan, mind!”
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
0
16
Somewhere in the UK
#7
"I had to beat a fair few to get this. You wanna see what I can do?" Kath pulled back when Joe decided to get up in her face, hand curled into a fist for a moment before she apparently stopped herself.

"Pilot Katherine is nineteen years old, and has a 70% win rate in VR combat against living opponents under her real identity. Winrate while anonymous is unknown, and may be significantly lo-" The A.I was interrupted by a swift smack to it's speaker by Kath herself - it had said more than enough for now. She didn't have to care what some nobody thought of her, but the AI sassing her in front of everyone was too far.

"Whatever. You'll see what the Valsion can do once you need it bailing your ass out in a fight."
 

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
626
3
18
#8
With Joe's exit from the conversation turned smug-off, things would progress as per usual, with the declared rendezvous point being the next time they met up.

Point G30 took the form of a discarded hangar clearly of Directory make, left to rot in recent years after its use was discontinued for being too out of the way. It would make the start and endpoint of this mission as it was one of the few places where the number of Lions could be stored under one roof. Everyone from the previous meeting except for old Mason himself were present and accounted for. As indicated by a sight even banned from the history books this was also where the Valsion Kai was stored, although it did seem rather small compared to the original.

Their target, a storage facility was three blocks down which meant that to make all go well all that needed to be done was to do it quickly and quietly. Then again, that was assuming everyone wanted it done well. Blueprints of their target had gone around as the group waited for the timer to tick down, a hangar door with a standard opening mechanism were the intended way out, just push a button wait five seconds and Lions could go out in pairs of two. Inside were twenty units, an equal mix between Lion and Cosmolion. Stored in a row of four by five it all seemed rather simple on paper more of a test then a mission perhaps.

The one thing of note nearby was a small Directory held space port, a customs unit with just a few units at their disposal to catch any would be thieves who would only really cause trouble if they called for backup. What almost sounded like an egg timer went off deeper in the hangar, it was time to go. Now only two questions remained, how would they proceed. And how would it go?
 

Kyca

New member
Jan 19, 2019
18
0
1
#9
Inching just a bit more to his target, Joe rolled his neck, trying his best to stretch his aching body. A sudden draft sent the bluprints floating out the grips of his teeth. He'd have a perfect chance to catch it and relax his hands too, but that'd be a pretty risky manuver while holding steel beams for dear life.

While his team had waited hours for the buzzer, Joe was already hard at work within the hangar, 65 ft” above ground, and executing his plans first step; Getting a “headstart”. With phase 1 soundly completed, it was on to 2. Bracing for the drop.

Seconds before the buzzer went off, the hangar door began to open. Violently, a lone Cosmolion shot out, full speed ahead. It's quickly neared a destination; The Directory Space port. Barreling past and directly through debris, it showed no sign of slowing down its kamikaze on the port.
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
0
16
Somewhere in the UK
#10
"Bloody hell!" Kath's voice would come out over the team's radios when the Cosmolion barrelled out of the hangar, lost somewhere between confusion and anger. "That was one of your guys, right? The hell were they thinking?"

Without even waiting for a response she started the Valsione's launch procedures. Her original position in this part of the plan had been to try to defuse any possible issues with breaking into the facility, but that had gone out the window the moment someone did a solo launch. Honestly, the nerve of them... she'd wanted to charge in first. But if the plan was already out of the window...

"Alright, change of plans - I'm getting the Valsion out ahead of schedule! There's no way a lion can handle those guys alone, but he'll at least soften em up."

"Activation process at sixty-five percent. Please do not obstruct launch path, or you may be crushed."
 

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
626
3
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#11
The personnel within the hangar scrambled away from the lions as the first took off with no warning whatsoever, the rest of the rebels outside seemingly entered a discussion about who was in there as Joe blazed past them. His target however, seemed just as unaware as his allies. A few Mass Produced Huckebein IIs sat in a halfway open hangar, proving to be an eyesore to any civilian of the colonies who yet remembered the Vanishing Trooper incident, yet at the same time. Who could even hope to forget? A Taussendfuessler sat docked at the port and it seemed men were busy moving crates onto the ship. The element of surprise was on his side but for how long?

Meanwhile the Valsion's radio would come in reply, old mason himself was not any happier about this.
"No clue, but make sure that they at least don't break the Cosmolion." From the sounds of it the old man wanted to sell him a punch himself, perhaps in his younger years that may have been the case right now too.

"Keep the pilot alive too if you can, mission continues as normal even if someone decided to go off script. I want to have a good long talk with whoever is in there after this."
 

Kyca

New member
Jan 19, 2019
18
0
1
#12
A mere second away from impact, the Cosmoslion did a complete U-turn, standing before it’s oncoming pursuer completely motionless. In the following silence, a message would suddenly appear over the Valsion’s comm. view before launch; “So, you want to play?”

As if challenging her, the engine began to roar again and again. Soon, the unit would move in tune, inching closer and closer until it came to another sudden halt. “Come on out, let's have some fun.”
Like a bull ready to charge, the Lion backed up. The engine flared to life as it went for a head-first dash to the hangar.

Amidst the ensuing chaos and confusion, Joe carefully inspected a Huckebein II’s insides. Glossing over the PT’s knobs and dials, he started it up, only to find himself stuck. His hands wouldn't, or rather, refused to move. He knew how to work the controls well enough and yet, they felt… wrong in his hands. Before doubt could swirl up, the sounds of ignition quickly drove Joe back to the plan. “Alright, time for a tour!” Quietly (or as quiet as a giant robot could be), the Huckebein flew off and to the Port, in search of an entrance.

Eventually, Joe found an opening near the Tausendfuessler. He tried not to attract any attention to himself while passing, that was Cosmolion’s job. That little suicide charge at the Spaceport gave Joe a chance to hop off and float right to the Huckies, not before leaving a text for those hoping to follow him. All anyone who took that bait would find was an empty cockpit and a screen listing ‘Autopilot: On.’

Praising himself one last time, Joe found himself standing before the entrance. He’d have to move fast, It wouldn’t take long for anyone who knew him to piece together the improvised plan, especially that Katherine girl. Joe laughed for the moment, but knew he’d have hell to pay once it all died down and the Port realized one of its Huckebein’s had “wandered off”.

In and out. It was simple, but Joe found himself glued to the floor. He turned, despite what he said, he couldn't help but want to watch the fun that would follow as soon as anyone stepped out that Lion hangar.
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
0
16
Somewhere in the UK
#13
“Sure, I’ll play. Some Lion ain’t gonna do shit to my toy, though.”

Kath looked between the Cosmolion and the hangar. Her smile started to fade away once she figured out what he was implying. He wasn’t stupid enough to do that.. was he?

“Apologies, Mason. But I’m gonna have to smash that lion out of the wa-“

”Denied, Katherine.” The Valsion seemed to lock up momentarily, the AI overriding whatever actions she was about to take. Katherine pounded the console with her fist,

“Look, either we smash that or every Lion in there gets fucked. Use your stupid brain to calculate some way to do it without smashing the cockpit then let me execute it.

”Calculating.. granted. Launching Valsion in 3... 2... 1...” At the end of Alex’s countdown the Valsion rocketed out of the hangar, its right hand outstretched as it charged the oncoming Cosmolion. Its right hand would try to seize the centre of the machine and slam it into the concrete floor- ruining the ground in front of the hangar, but leaving it clear enough for the remainder of the resistance group to launch.
 

MKR

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Aug 19, 2018
626
3
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#14

The Cosmolion impacted the ground, the thruster on its back thoroughly damaged put still going, the smell of burning tar coming from the new hole in the pavement. The auto-pilot clearly not taking the blow too well as it tried to keep going on its course to no avail.

Whatever semblance of organization remained in the heist was quickly fading as the rest of the would be thieves scrambled to get a lion and rushed back to base, the new sound of an alarm filling the air would not help with this in the slightest. In fact, it seemed detrimental as four men rushed out of the customs building and towards the hangar where Joe had taken his Huckebein from. They entered through a back door and it didn't seem like it would take long for the other three Huckebeins to launch. Meanwhile a short distance away loading items onto the Taussendfuessler seemed to have picked up pace dramatically with many still left behind the spaceship seemed to be preparing an urgent exit out of the port and out of danger.
 

Kyca

New member
Jan 19, 2019
18
0
1
#15
With the Cosmolion down, Joe gave an applause. He had to admit, he probably could've planned that better, but he totally knew Katherine would handle it.

Attention back on his own problems, Joe surveyed the area, eventually spotting some new pursuers in the Huckie hangar, just about ready to launch too. Perfect, he was getting bored.

Drawing a beam sword, Joe Plunged it into the runway and sliced a chunk out the road.launching it into the air, he boosted up and drop-kicked it down to the Huckebein hangar.

Unless the soon to be crushed hangar had its own back entrance, Joe didn't see them launching for a while… along with the Tausendfuessler. Joe floated over the rather large hole he made, giving a shrug with the Huckebein at the ship as he did. “Oops…”
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
0
16
Somewhere in the UK
#16
"Okay.. let's see what idiot decided to ram us." Kath reached down, the Valsione peeling the cockpit open to find... nothing.

"No life signs detected. Movements consistent with Auto-pilot. Recommend new course of action, enemy units have been detected preparing for launch." Alex's voice piped up in an unhelpful fashion, causing Katherine (and her machine) to throw their hands up in disgust.

"Really. REALLY? That stupid... fine. Give me a targeting solution on that hangar. It's time to make an entrance." That idiot had ruined everything before she'd even had a chance to show off. But even if the plan had long gone off the rails, the inner components still worked. She didn't need those resistance fighters and their lions anyway - One Valsion was more than enough.

The Valsione's engines roared into life as it jumped - launching skyward, continuing to soar upwards until it was visible to anyone on this side of the colony. One hand curled into a fist as it was pointed at the Directory hangar, the entire arm beginning to glow with power.


"ATTENTION DIRECTORY FORCES, THIS IS THE VALSION! YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS - SURRENDER OR DIE!"

Katherine's voice would boom out over the colony, artificially projected by speakers mounted under the armour. She didn't even bother waiting for a response, letting a beam of purple energy loose on the hangar. Crisscrossing streams of red and blue energy would ring the blast as it impacted the hangar, detonating on impact with the surface to hopefully consume both it and the units within.

"Cross... SMASHER!"
 

MKR

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Staff member
Aug 19, 2018
626
3
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#17
Joe's comms, still on the Directory signals would light up.

"Smith where's your MKII, did you misplace it again?" A gruff voice said

"No it was right here.. Look, Jason you three go out and see what is causing all this ruckus and where my Hucky went and I'll assist the crew with their escape." A shrill voice answered, seemingly belonging to Smith.

This, was when the projectile made of the road would hit the side of the building, causing it to cave in and the roof to begin to collapse. Two huckebeins held up the steel ceiling and the most forwards one pushed the metallic hangar door open further.

"Damnit! Smith get out now! Wait, what the-" Jason commanded, but surprise overtook his tone as his Huckebein looked forwards onto the new appearance. "V-V-VALSION!" The warning came too little too late, all three Huckebeins yet in the hangar were enveloped in the mixed light. Their fates left up to the imagination as they ceased holding up the roof causing full structural collapse. A dust cloud bellowed forth blanketing the area.

The one remaining Huckebein piloted by the now serial PT thief would get a most unusual sight however. The road he carved up left only gaping darkness underneath but with the temporary illumination of the Cross Buster Joe gained temporary sight on something hidden beneath their feet for perhaps ages now. Covered in dust and crumbs of asphalt a glint of red and gold revealed itself, its shape like that of a mech's shoulder and from its size it easily stood twice as tall as his current ride. Perhaps this would warrant further investigation.

The warning sirens from the customs office would not relent however, the battlefield was quiet for now but with the bold announcement and destruction of a hangar who knew how long this would last.
 

Kyca

New member
Jan 19, 2019
18
0
1
#18
With Jason’s presumably last words, Joe could only cringe at the following, unresponsive static.
An unnerving silence had set itself on the field, only giving more truth to Katherine’s violent declaration; G30 was now a warzone, and this was only the calm before the storm.

Within the unmoving Huckebein, Joe pumped his fist in the air. “That. Was. Awesome!” While it wasn’t exactly part of the Plan, things were undeniably heating up. Joe was grinning like a kid at it all as the tails of the cross smasher finally passed the hangar, a sudden glint of red and gold with it causing him to drop his smile.

Tracking the mystery gleam led Joe back to his hole, a brief glimpse down it’s suddenly more spacious depths revealing a… shoulder? Joe’s eyes widened. Immediately, he got to excavating the abyss, Huckebein hands as his shovel.

Whilst digging, Joe questioned if now was the best time to play fossil hunter. He wore an enemy suit and, with nothing saying otherwise, could be seen as the enemy and shot down at any time by the Valsion. He went to open his comm. but suddenly paused. If anyone, let alone Katherine, were to know it was him in here and connect the dots, then his chances of ending up like old Jason would probably only...

A shiver going down his spine, Joe started digging faster.
 
Aug 4, 2018
334
0
16
Somewhere in the UK
#19
"What's the matter, you all too scared to come face me?"

Katherine's voice would boom out once more, the lack of Directory response.. irritating her a little. Her sights would eventually settle on the little huckebein digging away in the ruined directory hangar. The perfect target to vent her stress on before the main event showed up.

"Single enemy unit detected. Does not appear mobile. Recommend efficient destruction before remainder of forces arrive."

The so-called "High Mega Cannon" was more akin to an artillery emplacement than a combat weapon. It was roughly as tall as the Valsione itself, and had an output of approximately eigty gigawatts. While such a weapon would normally be linked directly to the mech's reactor, this one ran off of a set of massive E-packs mounted on the side. And of course, it was currently pointed directly at Joe.

"Efficient disposal. This is gross overkill.

"Oh, shush. Gotta be sure on these things, and I always wanted to test the big one out!"

With zero hesitation, Kath pulled the trigger on the enemy mobile suit. A peculiar whine sounded as the battery was drained and discarded - soon to be replaced by the roar of the cannon firing. It was as if a minature sun had materialised within the colony, its imaginary wrath focused on one single point for the brief moment it was present.
 

MKR

Moderator
Staff member
Aug 19, 2018
626
3
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#20
As Joe dug he would finally create an opening large enough for his stolen steed, just in time as High Mega Cannon had just finished its charge, but he would have to be quick before his treasury became a tomb instead. Whether or not it hit Joe it would cause a collapse of the road, covering much of the what was now revealed now revealed to be a fully made PT below in rubble.

As to the challenge and mockery sent by the Valsion few Directory personnel actually remained in L4 to accept the challenge, only those with little choice but perform their last tasks like the customs unit. Those that were determined to remain till the last and those that were after something different, another kind of beast.

Those what were after vengeance.


On the horizon Katherine would be greeted with a most unusual sight, a plane that was way too large and way too spiky to be a regular plane and to its sides three huckebeins each. Intent on preventing her from confirming her kill, intent on doing far worse.

Just as it reached the Valsion the plane transformed, landing on the road with its heels dug into the concrete to slow it down.




A mass produced Grungust type 2 stood amidst the rubble, raising its gaze to look at the Valsion. But as anyone would know, calling these Mass Produced was a stretch, they were an attempt at Mass Producing the Type 2 but they never made that much. A fair amount could still be found in Directory hands however and one had found its way all the way to L4 it seemed.

"Valsion! You made me wait shorter than I had expected!" A jubilant voice announced over the external speakers. "Today I shall do onto you as you did onto Admiral Benton!"

One of the Huckebeins piped up, hesitant in its tone. "Er, Commander. Isn't that a little small to be the Nightmare of Terra Sigma."

"NONSENSE! There is only one Valsion. If there were more we'd know. Now, none of you interfere this is personal!"

Without giving much, if any, time to respond the MP Type 2's eyes lit up, beams coming from them after only a split second had passed. The target of these Eye Solid Lasers was what ever the Grungust was looking at at the time, in this case. The Valsion's face.