"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Prism.
"No," said Harley tightly, making no effort to speak over the engine of his Sparrow.
"Are you sure?"
"What is there to talk about? You were there. You know what happened."
Prism didn't reply. Part of Harley wanted to believe that meant that she'd given up, but he knew his Ghost too well. Prism didn't give up. She bided her time until the next opportunity came along. He sighed.
"What do you want me to say here, Prism?"
"Well, maybe you should start by telling me what the Mindbender was saying to you."
"Why does it matter? Isn't it enough to know that he got control of me?"
"It's better to operate with all of the facts. Who knows? Something like that could happen again."
"The Mindbender's dead. I killed him in his Throneworld. He's not coming back."
"Harley…"
"Fine. You really want to know? He said a whole lot of nonsense. He sounded like he was describing me and then he offered me a knife."
His Ghost was silent for a moment as she thought it over.
"And that was it?" she asked.
"Pretty much… I think he said something else about me being Taken, but that was it."
"Wait, he said 'Taken'? Harley, what were his exact words?" her tone carried a note of urgency.
Harley frowned, trying to bring back the memory. "He said...that I had been touched by the Darkness. That I'd been Taken and known 'true perfection.'"
Prism said nothing.
"What do you make of it?" he asked.
"I'm not sure what to think," she said carefully, "I...may have a theory. I'll tell you about it after I've considered it some more."
Harley nodded. "If that's the case, do you have any theories on what happened with my Light? Because I'd sure like to know the answer to that one."
"Not a theory but maybe the beginnings of one. I'd like to have more data though. I'd like to know the extent of your Solar abilities, like whether you could summon a Golden Gun."
"Who knows? I can at least try, though… What do you think caused my Light to manifest as Solar rather than Arc?"
"We don't have a lot of research on the Light," admitted Prism, "I'm sure we could ask Jade to look into it once this business with the Barons is finished. However, I think it may be tied to your emotions, at least partially. That's one of my ideas."
"What's the other?"
"Well...Cayde used Solar Light. Maybe your connection with him triggered it. I'd rather not back either of those theories without more to go on, though."
Harley nodded. Both theories sounded possible, but they both also had their respective holes. This whole escapade was turning out to be a lot more than Harley had bargained for. Instead of closure for Cayde's death, he was just finding more questions to answer about himself. But for now, he pushed them to the back of his mind. At the moment, there were more pressing matters to contend with and none more pressing than finding the Machinist.
Yyrhiks wasn't occupying his usual spot when Harley arrived in the club. He asked the Vandal bartender where the other Fallen was and was pointed to a back room. Sure enough, the Captain was back there looking over a datapad. He glanced up when Harley walked in, not attempting to knock beforehand.
"Vel, Har-lee Lo Variisis," greeted Yyrhicks, inclining his head slightly.
"Vel, Yyrhiks," Harley replied.
Yyrhiks chuckled. "We make Eliksni-kind of you yet, Har-lee… Kyleriks not here?"
Harley shook his head. "I came alone this time… The Mindbender is dead."
Yyrhiks' eyes gleamed. "This is good news," he said, "Hiraks lacked honor. Followed path of Bonewalkers. Traitor to Eliksni."
"'Bonewalkers'?"
"Hive. But now Hiraks is dead, you seek Elykris." Harley nodded. "Not many reports of Fikrul or Uldrenkel but Elykris… Elykris been-gather bad Ether for Scorn. She takes what she needs. Eliksni, Human, Awoken, Cabal...all the same. She has much loyalty for Fikrul. Beware, Har-lee."
Harley nodded. "Where can I find her?"
"Har-lee must go to Soriks' Cut. Look for the acid pools and you find Elykris."
"Thank you."
"Ta ke ze, Har-lee. Bring death to Scorn and free the Shore of their filth. Other times, they stand ireliis. Now they die." He reached out, clasping Harley's arm, "Good-hunt, Lo Variisis. We speak again after Elykris is dead."
"We will. Thank you for the information, Yyrhiks." With that, he walked out.
On the way back to his Sparrow, he consulted with Prism. "What do you think Yyrhiks meant about the acid?"
"I'm not sure," she replied, "But I have a feeling we'll know it when we see it. Otherwise, he would have given us more to go on."
"Then let's get to Soriks' Cut."
Sure enough, after a short while spent looking around the Cut, Harley stumbled across some pools of putrid yellow acid around the remains of a Walker. He buried his nose in the crook of his elbow, almost gagging at the sulfurous odor.
"How concentrated is that stuff?" he asked Prism, his voice slightly muffled.
"I don't think it can get through your armor," she said, "But I would keep my distance if I were you."
"Great."
He entered the tunnel behind the Walker, hopping over the acid pools.
"I hope you keep what Yyrhiks said in mind," said his Ghost.
Harley's lips twitched into what was almost a smile. "Telling me to trust a Fallen, huh. Who would've thought it'd come to this?"
"I know he's a Fallen, but he seems trustworthy. At least, as trustworthy as Fallen come. And he is right. You should be careful around the Machinist. She's very close to Fikrul."
"I know. I'll watch out."
They entered a scrapyard full of acid and machine parts. Several Scorn roamed the area. Harley took out the ones on ground-level before making his way over to a tank that Prism had taken note of. She seemed confident that she could hack into it. Luckily for both of them, the tank began to move as soon as she connected with it.
At her direction, Harley scavenged some replacement parts while his Ghost laid down cover fire. He had to admit that having her actively fighting beside him was a nice change. Once he retrieved the necessary parts, Prism prepared to surrender control.
"Don't tell anyone I said this, but I've always wanted to operate a tank," she said regretfully.
Harley paused. "Here's an idea," he said, "Why don't you keep driving it? I'll stay on top."
"Are you sure?" He nodded and climbed onto the tank. "Alright. But you might want to hold onto something. This is my first time driving."
Harley was glad that he listened to that advice because Prism didn't hold back. They barreled through the junkyard, running over Scorn left and right. On their way, they encountered enormous containers of the corrupted Ether Yyrhiks had mentioned. Prism didn't hesitate to use the tank's turret to blow them up. But the real trouble came when they ran into a Walker. Even as his Ghost made full use of the weapons system, Harley was doing his best to weaken it without getting thrown off the tank. Once they were past it, they found another one waiting for them further along. Harley heard Prism give a mechanical sigh.
"Harley, I'm not sure this tank is going to be able to withstand another assault from a Walker."
"Yeah...I figured. I might have an idea though…"
"What is it?" she asked warily.
"I'll need you to drive straight at the Walker at full speed. Will you be able to transmat out before hitting it?"
"Yes, I should be able to do that. But what about you?"
"I'll get clear now." He hopped off of the tank, landing on a patch of clear ground. "Ready?"
"Let's take this Walker down."
Harley watched as the tank started to roll, slow at first, but gathering momentum as it went. The Walker began to fire upon the tank to destroy it before it could make contact. Smoke began to billow from the tank as it careened toward its target and Harley began to worry that it wouldn't make it the rest of the way.
But as it turned out, his worry was for nothing. The tank slammed into the Walker, taking out two of its legs and causing it to crash to the ground. In the span of one of Harley's breaths, a colossal fireball erupted from the tank as it exploded, shearing through the mechanical body of the Walker. The ground quaked under Harley's feet at the force of the blast, nearly sending him toppling into one of the acid pools. When the smoke cleared, he saw the remains of the two machines lying in a shallow crater, almost unrecognizable.
"Prism?"
"I'm here."
He relaxed marginally at the sound of her voice.
"Your plan worked," she said.
"Surprised?"
"No, it's just...I think I'll miss driving that tank."
Harley's lips pulled into a small smile. "I'm sure we can get you another tank sometime but for now...let's get moving. It's time we finished this."
He summoned his Sparrow, not wanting to risk setting foot in the acid and pressed onward.
A short while later, he came to a section that was blocked off by an energy barrier. Scorn stood guard next to a station to the left. Harley could make out the glow of a few screens through a window.
"That must be where the controls are."
Drawing back his bow, he sent arrows into the sentries' heads before dismounting his Sparrow and jogging over to the station. There were even more Scorn inside, though all were soon dispatched with the help of Perfect Paradox. Prism appeared to hack into one of the consoles as he stood guard against more Scorn.
Soon, the energy barrier was down and they were moving on. They entered a larger area mostly covered in acid. Harley shot from his Sparrow, taking out the Machinist's minions as he went. He heard a crackle of static as a comm channel activated.
"Shipments...away," hissed the voice of the Machinist, "All our weapons...to Fikrul and...the Awoken King."
"We'll see how much that helps them against me," Harley muttered.
He drove through another tunnel, emerging into a wide space. The Machinist was crouching in the middle. She cocked her head, inspecting him.
"You want revenge? I watched Cayde die! Pathetic death!"
"Yeah, well I'm about to grant you a pathetic death of your own!" Harley retorted, leaping off of the Sparrow and hurling a grenade at the Machinist.
It detonated on impact, blasting her with Solar Light. She staggered with a growl before bending down, activating a weapons array strapped to her back. A series of missiles shot into the sky and a yellow beam fell upon Harley.
"Harley, move!" warned Prism, "You're being targeted!"
Harley jumped clear just as the first missile struck the ground where he had been standing seconds earlier. Another targeting beam illuminated him. He cursed and began to run as the missiles left a trail of destruction in his wake.
"The Scorned Barons...always stand together," said the Machinist, "Divide us...but you cannot break us."
"We'll see about that!"
He threw another grenade at the Machinist. As she recovered and prepared another missile barrage, he got an idea. The second the first missile fired, he changed course and ran straight at the Machinist. She laughed and drew her gun, preparing to shoot him. But before she could pull the trigger, Harley dropped, sliding under her.
As he slid, the missiles that had been tracking him slammed into the Machinist, who landed heavily on one knee, her weapons array smoking dangerously. She rose slowly, breathing heavily, and turned around to face him.
"Well played...Hunter. But not done yet."
Harley closed his eyes and reached for the Light. He searched for the fire that he now possessed and found it ready. Calling it to his hand, he shaped it into a blazing cannon, leveling it at the Machinist's head. She laughed, the sound becoming a coughing wheeze in her throat.
"I bought them...time. The Scorn… The Barons...stand together…forever…"
Harley fired. The sharp crack of the bullet rang through the air as it blazed through the Machinist, bringing the death that had been promised. Harley let the fire die out, his eyes locked on the Machinist's corpse.
"Seven Barons dead…" said Prism.
Harley nodded. "It's just the Fanatic and Uldren now... We're so close."
His comms crackled. "Harley."
It was Petra.
"Petra," greeted Harley.
"Congratulations on the success of your mission."
"Thanks. Why are you calling?"
"I have news. I know where Uldren is headed. Are you ready to end this?"
Harley nodded. "More than ready."
"Good. Meet me at Spider's safe house."
"I will."
Harley ended the call.
"It's time to end this," he told Prism, "Let's go find Uldren."
Petra and the Spider were waiting when Harley finally arrived at the safehouse.
"Ah, there you are," said the Spider, "Well done, Hunter. Seven Scorned Barons dead...a commendable feat."
"Good, you're here," said Petra, "I tracked Uldren to Earth and I believe I've figured out his next move… He's going to the Watchtower. That's where we'll stop him for good."
"The Watchtower?" asked Harley.
"I've always wondered what secrets and treasures the Awoken stashed in that ersatz spire," said the Spider, "But my friendship with Queen Mara, while she lived, stayed my hand. Well, that and a locked door. Thus I am honor-bound to send a selection of my finest to help you find that ever-elusive closure. I must say...I cannot wait to see how this ends."
Petra nodded. "Your assistance is appreciated, Spider. I shudder to think what Uldren has planned."
"What exactly is the Watchtower?" Harley asked, "And what does Uldren want with it?"
Petra pursed her lips. "That information is not for the present. As for what he wants… I'm not entirely certain. But I know that it's nothing good."
"Alright," said Harley grudgingly, "What's the plan?"
"You will approach the Watchtower on foot along with Spider's forces. Meanwhile, I will approach by air. We must reach Uldren and the Fanatic before they can accomplish whatever they have planned."
"Got it."
"Very well… Let's move."