Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 4- A Dark Turn
(August 7, 1994)
As the sun sets over the landscape of Ossus, Philip takes a deep breath, eyes closed as he's meditating. For the past several days, Philip has been using the holocrons he retrieved from the ruins of the great Library to learn about the Force. It had taken him some time to learn how to even use the holocrons, but he had figured it out and was now slowly probing their secrets to learn how to use his powers.
As Philip is meditating, he slowly reaches within himself to access his power. Slowly, he feels his body rise off of the rock he's been sitting on, lifting about four inches. Then, reaching out with the Force, Philip grabs hold of rocks lying on the ground around him and lifting them into the air. He lifts them over his head and switches up their positions before lowering them back to the ground.
Philip lowers himself back to the ground. Opening his eyes, he looks out over the landscape of Ossus, the setting sun painting the landscape in orange hues. He looks solemnly into the distance. He's started to truly understand the kind of power he holds over the last few days. Not only that, but he's started to think that if he can train himself properly, he can stand a chance of bringing down the Sith.
As he's looking over the landscape, Philip looks down towards where the holocrons he gathered are resting on top of a flat stone a few feet away. He's counted himself very lucky he has these holocrons to guide him in his training. However, now, his gaze focuses on one of them.
The one he focuses on is the pyramidal shaped holocron that was identified as having been created thousands of years ago by the ancient Sith Lord called Tulak Hord. Against part of his conscience, and certainly what the Jedi would've advised, Philip has begun to sincerely believe that his best chance of bringing down the Sith lies with this holocron and understanding the ways of the dark side.
However, today, Philip has begun to think that the secrets contained in the holocron are not enough. From what he's been able to tell by examining the holocron's contents, Tulak Hord reigned over the Sith around 6,000 years ago. He has begun to feel that he needs to know more than this holocron will reveal, but is certainly to be found elsewhere.
As he looks down at the holocron, Philip comes to a decision. He climbs down from the rock he's sitting on and proceeds to gather up all of the items laying around him before he heads back to the shuttle. When he gets to the shuttle, Philip places all of the items in a storage chest in the back of the shuttle before making his way to the cockpit.
"Alright, R2. We're leaving. Power up the ship and prepare for hyperspace," Philip orders. R2 beaps a few times in response.
Philip and R2 work together to power up the ship, and within a minute, Philip lifts the shuttle off the ground. He holds it on level flight for a few seconds before pulling up and flying up out of the atmosphere.
R2 beeps a few times to ask where to go. Philip, without looking back, orders, "R2, set course for Korriban."
R2 beeps in alarm a few times. Glancing back, Philip says firmly, "You heard me, R2. We're going to Korriban, so program the navicomputer."
R2 beeps in a lower tone, but obeys and starts programming the navicomputer. After a few moments, it trills to confirm it has programmed the navicomputer. Philip then pulls the throttles, and the shuttle disappears into hyperspace.
(Over a day later)
"And, now," Philip mutters to himself. He pulls back on the hyperspace throttles, and the shuttle comes out of hyperspace. And just up ahead is Korriban.
Philip stops to look at it for a few moments before muttering, "Well, there it is, R2. Korriban. The old home of the Sith. Question is, how many secrets are left down there that I could use."
R2 beeps in worry. Philip grins a bit and says, "Don't worry, R2. All you have to do is guard the ship. I'll be doing all the dangerous things."
Philip guides the shuttle down into Korriban's atmosphere. As he flies low over the surface of the planet, he takes in the barren wastelands that make up most of Korriban's surface. Privately, he muses that the Sith must have only held onto Korriban due to its dark side power and history. It definitely doesn't seem like a planet that can sustain life.
Finally, up ahead, a canyon comes into view, with what looks like a series of temples and extravagant tombs carved into the sides of the canyon. Philip decides this is as good a place as any to set down and start his search.
Philip sets the shuttle down and powers it down. He stands up and says, "Watch the ship, R2. If I'm not back in a week, then take the shuttle to Alderaan and inform Senator Organa where I went."
Philip then makes his way into the ground. He loads up on all of his weapons, and also takes the holocron of Tulak Hord, just in case it might come in handy. Then, he leaves the shuttle and heads into the canyon.
As Philip makes his way into the canyon, all he can feel is overwhelming darkness. This planet itself is strong in the Dark side, but in this canyon, it's even stronger.
Philip makes his way down the canyon, looking at all of the temples and tombs. It begins to dawn on him that this canyon must be dedicated to leaders of the Sith, and likely also containing their graves and tombs.
Close to the end of the canyon, Philip notices a particular temple. It looks relatively freshly built compared to most of the other ones. Or at least the best kept. Thinking perhaps this would be the most likely spot to find something he can use, Philip ventures into the temple.
As Philip enters the temple, he realizes how dark it is. He quickly pulls out a small flashlight and clips it to the end of carbine's barrel. He then moves deeper into the temple. As he pushes out of the entryway, Philip realizes he's in a massive tomb. He's in a massive open space bigger than a football pitch. Arches and statues ring the sides of the chamber. At the far end is a massive statue, about the size of Big Ben, of an armored warrior. And at the base of the statue is a massive stone sarcophagus.
Philip's eyes narrow, knowing this has to be a Sith Lord of particular importance. He moves carefully towards the sarcophagus, assault rifle at the ready.
As Philip near the sarcophagus, suddenly, a collection of embers and ash form above the sarcophagus. Then, a fiery specter of the statue behind the sarcophagus rises from it. Philip lowers his assault rifle, knowing it will be useful against this thing.
"Why do you come to my tomb?" the specter asks.
"I'm here to find the secrets of the dark side I need," Philip responds.
"Do you know who I am?" the specter asks.
"No idea," Philip responds.
"Fool. I am Darth Bane, the Sith Lord of old. I created the Rule of Two. I chose to pass my knowledge onto only one. I created a legacy so resilient that you have come here," the specter says.
Philip frowns. He remembers reading about Darth Bane. He was the last surviving Sith Lord 1,000 years ago before his disappearance. His disappearance is what led the Jedi to believe the Sith were gone for good. Philip now realizes that this is in fact Bane's tomb.
The specter laughs ominously before he says, "Have you come to be my apprentice? You must kill me to gain my place."
"Nah, I don't think so. You have nothing to offer me, because all I want is all Sith destroyed. I'm not afraid of you. I've seen a lot scarier things," Philip says. As he does, he's tapping into his Force powers, summoning it around himself. Then, he raises his hand and lets out a wave of Force energy. The specter roars in anger before it disperses.
As Philip looks at the sarcophagus, musing over what happened. Then, he notices what looks like a small stone box on the front of the sarcophagus. Philip walks over slowly until he's standing right in front of it. Then, he reaches down and slowly opens the box.
As he opens the box, he's stunned at what he sees. A lightsaber is resting in the box. The lightsaber has a curved hilt, with a gold grip and an elaborate emitter. As Philip looks down at it, he realizes this must be Darth Bane's own lightsaber.
After a few seconds, Philip reaches down and picks up the lightsaber. Lifting it up in front of his face, he looks at it for another moment, then presses the activation button. The blade instantly springs to life, a brilliant crimson. He holds it up for a moment before twirling it around, then cutting a slash into the sarcophagus.
Philip again lifts the lightsaber in front of his face, looking at it intently. After a few moments, he comes to a conclusion. He needs a lightsaber, and now, this will be his lightsaber. Darth Bane's lightsaber is now his.
Philip turns back towards the entrance to the temple, the lightsaber now held at his side. He knows now that he will be staying here for a little while, forging himself into a warrior that will be enough to bring down the Sith.
(two days later)
In the basement of one of the temples in the Valley of the Dark Lords, the room is aglow with flames. In the center of the room, which was once a forge, Philip is hammering away at a sheet of metal.
It's been two days since he came to Korriban. Ever since he arrived, he's been looking for anything of interest in the Valley of the Dark Lords. Among his discoveries was that Darth Bane had once worn a suit of armor that was an ancient Sith design. After looking into it, Philip had decided to forge his own suit of armor after the same design, but with more flexibility. Thankfully, the materials needed were available on Korriban.
Philip had been spending almost a day forging this armor, and was now finishing the last piece: the breastplate. He continues to hammer for another few minutes before pausing to insect the breastplate. He smiles a bit as he looks over the breastplate, pleased with his work, before using his heavy set of tongs to dunk the breastplate in a trough of water.
Once the breastplate is cooled, Philip lays it on the table near him, where the rest of the armor is sitting. As he looks down at the pieces of armor, Philip gets a cold smile on his face. Now, he's ready to really begin training in the Force. And soon enough, within a few years, he'll be ready to wage his one-man war on the Empire.
And, I'll end there.
I hope you liked Philip's mission to Korriban, and especially the idea of him claiming Darth Bane's lightsaber for himself.
Next chapter will be time jump of about two years. It should be up soon, but I make no promises, since I've started school up again. Until the next chapter, please leave a review, and stay tuned!