S1-157
The Mindbender

5:11 PM
03/11/3273

The Tangled Shore
Jetsam of Saturn

Music
Destiny 2 - Tangled Shore

Michael, Hayden-10, and the Shadow were searching around a sector of the Tangled Shore, finding another of those Scorn devices, but it was inactive. Hayden-10 had his Ghost, Cyleena, scan the device. "{This is a synaptic amplifier. A mind control device specifically calibrated to interface with the Hive.}" She stated, finishing her scan.

"{We're on the trail of the Baron called 'the Mindbender'.}" Rocco added.

In a nearby cave were more Hive, which were decimated by a Nova Bomb, courtesy of Michael.

"{Another amplifier.}" Rocco was right.

Cyleena was sent out to trace the signal source. "{I need a minute to triangulate the signal's origin.}"

More Hive began coming out of the woodwork, with Thralls rushing at the trio, only to be blasted away by the Torch Hammer of a Taken Minotaur, controlled by the Shadow, who had melded into his summoned minion and was firing its weapon at a higher rate.

Eventually, the scan was complete. "{Got the coordinates. The signal's coming from that crashed Tombship.}" Cyleena reported.

The Shadow unmelded from the Minotaur, instructing it to return to the Dreadnaught and await further orders.

The Fireteam headed back out of the cave, spotting a few platforms appearing out of nowhere, and on the largest platform was a bigger synaptic amplifier. "{This one has a safeguard. I'll need a minute to disable it.}" Rocco stated, scanning the machine.

After repelling Hive and Scorn, the machine went offline. "{That's the last amplifier. The signal we're tracking now is from the source: the Mindbender.}" Rocco reported. Their target was within the Tombship.

The Tangled Shore
Hall of the Exalted

"{This guy's file says he's obsessed with creating his own Throne World, a pocket dimension in the Hive's Ascendant Plane. When the Hive kill powerful beings, their Throne Worlds increase in size, but that should only work for the Hive... and the Shadow.}" Rocco explained, reading up on the Mindbender.

Up ahead were Hive and a single Scorn, which were all cleared out by Hayden-10 using a Blade Barrage. More Scorn and Hive filled the halls and chambers of the Tombship as City Hawk 723 approached their target's position.

They soon found themselves in the final room of the Hive shuttle, seeing and killing off more opposition, and their target came out of hiding.

SCANNING...
NEW ENTRIES

1: The Mindbender

Not long after the first shot was taken against Hiraks, he retreated through a Rupture that had just opened. "{Stay on him.}" They followed the Mindbender through the Rupture.

Ascendant Plane

Music
Destiny 2 - The Mindbender

They entered a Throne World, and it was dark... and massive. "{How did the Mindbender get a Throne World this big?}" Rocco then had a moment of realization. "{Oh. Cayde.}"

The Shadow picked up Michael by the arms and lobbed him straight at a greatly enlarged Mindbender, followed by the IMC ace initiating a Thundercrash, nailing the Mindbender in the head like a missile, making him lose balance and fall over.

"{The bigger they are, the harder they fall!}" Rocco cheered as Michael jumped off the Mindbender's face.

When Michael landed, he heard the Shadow laughing. He turned around, seeing his other half pumping his fist. "YEAH!"

"Nice shot, Death!"

The Mindbender scampered through another Rupture, coming back out from another, and with a lot of Hive under the effects of his synaptic manipulation as he opened fire with a Boomer.

Once the Fireteam regrouped, Michael deployed an A-Wall, allowing Hayden-10 and the Shadow to deal increased damage with their Charge Rifle and Touch of Malice respectively.

The Hive were cleared out, along with any Scorn devices, allowing the three to focus on the Mindbender with Andromeda Cannons, Blighted Andromeda Cannons, and amped energy beams. Hiraks was forced to fall back a second time.

Music
Destiny - Regicide

When the Mindbender returned, the Shadow had summoned and melded into Oryx, raising the former Taken King's weapon.

He slew the Hive that accompanied the Mindbender, then turned his attention to Hiraks himself. The Shadow destroyed the Mindbender's Boomer with a single swipe, followed by the Mindbender's right arm, finishing up by impaling Hiraks on the Willbreaker. "You are not worthy of your own Throne World." Those words were the last things the Mindbender ever heard.

The Shadow [Willbreaker] The Mindbender (Scorn)

Music
none

With the Mindbender dead, his Throne World began to collapse. "{We've gotta go. This place is destabilizing.}"

The Shadow, still melded with Oryx, picked up Michael and Hayden-10, then rushed back through the Rupture.

The Tangled Shore
Hall of the Exalted

Music
Titanfall 2 - Uphold the Mission

The team had returned to the material plane, the Rupture closing behind them. "Everyone alright?"

"All good, Death."

"That was... exhilarating. Let's not do that again."

"Can't make any promises until we know for sure." The Shadow had a point.

"{I want to think Cayde can rest easier now that the Throne World built from his death has been destroyed. Let's gather Dane and Mark-18. Our next target is Pirrha, the Rifleman.}"

With that, the Shadow unmelded from Oryx, commanded him back to the Ascendant Realm, then vanished through a Taken rift, followed by Michael and Hayden-10 heading back out of the Tombship.

The Shadow has his own Throne World, which he took from Oryx. The Mindbender had his own Throne World as a result of his direct involvement in Cayde's death, until he died within it. If the Hive aren't the only ones who can have Throne Worlds, does that mean Michael has his own?

See you next time, where you'll see Mark-18 use a spot I actually use in-game… with Hayden.