Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

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Chapter 14- A Drastic Turn

(October 2, 2004)

As the sun begins to set over a city on the planet of Fondor, on top of a building, Philip looks over the city. A slight breeze is blowing, causing his cape to flap around him a bit. He is completely still, just watching over the city.

In the last month, starting shortly after Philip killed Reva on Tatooine, Philip had started to notice that the Empire seemed to be mounting more efforts to go after him. Philip is beginning to think that maybe his involvement in Obi-Wan's brief foray out into the galaxy may have struck the Emperor in a way that made him order further efforts made to bring in Philip.

Philip had just spent almost an hour escaping the local garrison after they had spotted him. Now, he's just staying on the roof of a large building, watching Imperial troop movements, waiting for the chance he needs to make a break for his shuttle.

Philip suddenly feels something. Looking up into the sky, he sees a Lambda class shuttle descending towards the city, heading for the main Imperial landing pads. Philip feels suspicious. He reaches out through the Force to see if he can discern who is onboard.

Almost immediately, Philip feels a darkness. A thick, powerful darkness he has only felt once before. Years ago, on Nur.

"Vader," he says under his breath. Of course. That's why he's felt a sense of unease and darkness in his life since the duel on Tatooine. Vader must have decided to finally start searching for Philip himself.

Philip thinks quickly. He knows that Vader will be able to find him sooner or later. The question is whether or not to face him or flee. Philip has grown a lot stronger since he last faced Vader, but so has Vader.

After a moment, Philip decides he's not going to face Vader here. He's ready to face Vader, but he needs Vader to come to him on his terms. Philip turns and heads for the stairs that lead onto the roof, knowing he has to move quick.

It takes Philip less than a minute to get down to the ground level and out of the building. As he heads out of the building, he quickly ducks behind some crates to avoid being seen by some stormtroopers, then heads down the street as quick as he can, heading for where his shuttle is parked on the outskirts of the city.

As Philip is running, he's careful to keep his senses open. He doesn't trust that he'll be able to keep ahead of Vader forever, especially if he's spotted again.

Thankfully, Philip is able to make quick progress running towards the edge of the city, encountering only a single squad of stormtroopers, which he slaughters with ease before they can send out a warning.

As Philip nears the edge of the city, he is starting to feel a sense of ease, thinking he's gonna be able to get to his shuttle without interference. Then, all of a sudden, he feels something. A slight chill, one he knows now is typical of an Inquisitor.

Philip skids to a halt, quickly drawing his saber and igniting it, turning slowly, looking for whoever caused that feeling. It doesn't take more than a few moments before a young man, wearing the customary robes and armor of an Inquisitor, holding a lit double bladed lightsaber.

"You seem young," Philip says, snark filling his voice.

"And I will still bring you in," the Inquisitor responds. However, Philip can sense unease from the Inquisitor. It's clear this Inquisitor is relatively young and inexperienced. He must be another relatively new recruit to the Inquisitorius brought in to help fill the gaps in their ranks he created with his crusade.

"We'll see," Philip says firmly before he uses the Force to lift several crates and send them flying at the Inquisitor. The inquisitor cuts them up with his lightsaber, but the distraction allows Philip the opportunity he needs. He charges at the Inquisitor, leaping up and coming down at the Inquisitor with extra momentum, slamming his saber against the Inquisitor's.

The Inquisitor stumbles back, but strikes back at Philip, trying to keep distance between them. Philip easily deflects the saber before stabbing at the Inquisitor's leg. The Inquisitor just manages to deflect the blow, but Philip reaches his leg forward and stomps on the Inquisitor's foot. The pain throws the Inquisitor slightly off balance, which Philip quickly takes advantage of.

Philip puts all of his strength into his next blow, intentionally aimed high. The Inquisitor, not realizing this, raises his saber to block it, bringing it high over his head. Philip then does a back flip, kicking the Inquisitor's saber out of his grip, before drawing his saber back and driving it into the Inquisitor's chest.

The Inquisitor gasps as Philip's saber enters his chest. Philip then kicks the body off of his saber, and it falls to the ground with a thud.

Philip stands over the body of his fallen enemy as he deactivates his lightsaber. He then walks over and crouches down next to the body, reaching for the dead Inquisitor's wrist. Picking it up, Philip activates the commlink on the wrist. A second later, he speaks into it, "This is the Crimson Blade. I have killed your Inquisitor. If you came looking for me, Lord Vader, your arrogance has cost you more. See you next time." Philip then takes off running again.

It doesn't take long for Philip to reach his shuttle. After entering the cockpit, Philip powers up the Lambda quickly before lifting the shuttle off the ground and flying up out of the atmosphere.

As the shuttle leaves the atmosphere, Philip is thinking. If Vader is going to keep coming after him, eventually they're going to meet. It's best to meet sooner than later, before Vader gets too powerful.

The question is, how to draw Vader in? He's going to have do something big to draw Vader in to him and on his terms. And on a battleground that he chooses.

Then, something occurs to him. Something that will surely draw the attention of not only Vader, but also the Emperor himself. And something that will result in Vader coming to him on his terms. A smirk crosses Philip's face as he orders, "R2. Set course for Naboo."

(The next day, Theed)

In the throne room of the royal palace in the city of Theed, a small meeting is underway. It's a meeting of just a few individuals: the Queen of Naboo, the governor, the local head of the ISB, and Moff Panaka, the moff in charge of the sector. The Queen's family is waiting on the room, watching the meeting, waiting for the queen to be done with the meeting so they can have lunch with her.

"Now, to a more serious matter. The Gungans have been attempting to refuse Imperial oversight, threatening violence if we attempt to push any harder. The Emperor has informed me to put down the Gungans if they continue their resistance. However, I have been granted permission to offer one last chance. If you will speak with the Gungans' boss and can convince them to once more accept Imperial oversight, we will not carry out any offensive action against the Gungans," Panaka says.

"You would take such action against the Gungans? They have been our friends for decades now," the queen protests.

"And that is why I am allowed to offer this last chance," Panaka responds.

Suddenly, without warning, a series of massive explosions send massive fireballs into the air outside the front of the palace, shattering most of the windows along the front of the palace. Several of the Queen's family stumble and almost fall from the shockwave running through the palace.

"What the-?" Panaka says. Then, a speeder appears outside the windows on their level. A figure is standing up in the speeder. As everyone watches, the figure reaches out with one hand and makes a motion with his hand. In sync, a massive chunk of the wall is ripped out of the palace wall, falling to the street below. The figure then leaps from the speeder and into the throne room.

Several stormtroopers in the room raise their blasters. However, the figure draws his own blaster and kills them all. He then puts the blaster away before igniting a red lightsaber. The figure laughs before he declares, "None of you move, and you will all live."

"Who are you?" Panaka demands.

The figure pulls his hood back before removing his mask, revealing Philip's face. A sickening smile crosses his face as he shouts, "I am the man known as the Crimson Blade. I rival Lord Vader himself, and you all will help me bring him to me."

Philip then raises a hand, and everyone suddenly feels restrained. Philip smirks as he uses the Force to move everyone in the room into a single line where he uses the Force to push them onto their knees.

Philip then turns as he hears someone walk in to see an Imperial officer. Philip reaches out with the Force and restrains him. "Lieutenant, I'm seriously tempted to kill you, but I'll let you live if you promise to do what I say."

The Lieutenant nods in response, afraid of the man before him. Philip releases him as he walks behind the officials he just took captive and says, "You will record a message for me, which will be broadcast to the Empire."

The Lieutenant nods in fear. He quickly finds a camera and moves to record Philip's message.

Once the Lieutenant is ready, Philip nods at him, and the Lieutenant begins recording.

Walking behind his captives, holding his saber over their heads, Philip begins to speak, "People across the galaxy know me as the Crimson Blade. I have hunted Inquisitors for almost a decade, and I have left a trail of bodies as long as Darth Vader in my wake. The blood of thousands lies on my blade. And now, I have grown…ambitious."

"As you can see, before my kneel Moff Panaka and the governing authorities of the planet of Naboo. I have also set bombs around the city of Theed, and secret bombs in a Star Destroyer over the planet. I now have a message for the Emperor.

"Emperor Palpatine, you will listen to me now, and do exactly as I say, or I will slaughter everyone you see before me, and I will bring destruction down on Theed. I know you wish me dead, so that should give you extra motivation. Here is my demand: Lord Vader will come to me and face me in single combat. Lord Vader, you will come alone to our duel in the entrance hall of the royal palace. If Lord Vader does not come in the next 36 hours, or he does not come alone, I will carry out my threats. The clock starts now."

Those kneeling in front of Philip, and the lieutenant, shudder in fear or nervousness. Behind them, Philip laughs, his eyes momentarily taking on a sickening yellow color.

And, i'll end the chapter there.

I think everyone expected this sooner or later. Philip's willingness to delve into the dark side, learn from the ancient Sith, and be as ruthless as he has to be has led him to a very dark place. That last line was to show how far Philip has fallen in his pursuit of vengeance.

Next chapter will be the duel between Philip and Vader. It should be up in a day or so. Until then, please leave a review, and stay tuned!