Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. And we have come to the rematch, and true duel, between Philip and Vader.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 15- Duel of Darkness
(October 4, 2004)
In the city of Theed, the atmosphere is nothing but tension. For the last day, the city has been virtually held hostage by Philip because of his threats. Surviving troopers in the city have not found the bombs Philip hinted at, but have been too afraid to go to far in the search for fear that Philip would notice and come after them.
The message Philip had recorded has flashed across the Empire. Most of the Imperial military and government is now aware of the situation in Theed. However, no official response has been given by the Empire so far, and the population is waiting anxiously to hear more news on the situation.
Outside Theed, the Empire has set up a perimeter with thousands of stormtroopers and a few dozen walkers, placed to try and keep Philip from escaping and keeping the situation contained. An Imperial colonel is in command of the operation. Intelligence from a spy probe has confirmed that Philip is still in the palace, making no signs that he intends to run. It sure seems that he does intend to stay and face Vader if he comes.
"Any word from Imperial Command?" the colonel asks one of his communications officers.
"No. Nothing," the officer responds.
The Colonel looks back out at Theed, weighing the risks. He had been ordered not to go into the city, but he's starting to wonder if that's the wisest move. If he can move quickly enough, maybe his army can rescue the hostages in the palace.
Suddenly, another communications officer calls out, "Colonel. We have a Lambda class shuttle coming in for a landing."
The colonel feels a sense of relief. This shuttle has to be Lord Vader, or someone almost equally capable of handling this. He heads out of the command tent he has been in and heads for the landing pad. He gets there a minute before the shuttle comes flying in, slows down, and carefully lands on the landing pad.
The colonel comes to attention as the boarding ramp lowers, and sure enough, to his relief, Darth Vader slowly comes walking down the ramp.
"Lord Vader, thank you for coming-" the colonel begins to say.
"Enough of the introductions, colonel. I am not here to waste time, nor do I have time to listen to your tactics. I am here to face the Crimson Blade," Vader interrupts curtly.
"But, my lord-" the colonel begins to respond.
Vader again cuts him off. "Do not speak against me, colonel. Just tell me if the Crimson Blade is still in the palace."
"Yes, my lord," the colonel responds.
"Good. Then order your troops to stay where they are. I will face him alone. Keep a squadron on alert," Vader orders.
"Yes, my lord," the colonel responds, bowing his head as Vader strides away.
Vader orders an officer piloting a speeder to take him to the palace. Vader climbs into the speeder, which takes off into Theed.
As they enter the city, Vader has his gaze locked on the palace. As the speeder moves quickly through the streets, Vader can't help but allow himself to be flooded by the many memories of his past life as Anakin Skywalker.
It doesn't take too long before the speeder stops in the main square at the base of the steps leading into the palace. Vader shakes himself out of his stupor and disembarks from the speeder. The speeder moves a short distance away from the palace to wait as Vader begins walking up the steps leading into the palace. A handful of locals still in their homes watch in silence from their windows as Vader slowly ascends the steps up to the palace doors.
As Vader reaches the doors into the palace, he raises his hand to open the doors with the Force. The doors creak open as Vader forces them open and then walks into the palace.
As Vader enters the palace, he immediately sees the hostages, all kneeling on the floor at the back of a massive open area just inside the doors. And standing a few yards in front of them is Philip. He has a cape flowing behind him, but not his outer cloak and hood, revealing his armor and mask for all to see.
As Vader stops, Philip laughs, a chilling laugh to echoes through the entrance hall. "I'm surprised. I did not actually think you would come alone just as I demanded."
"I require no aid to kill you, Crimson Blade," Vader retorts.
Philip laughs once more, taking a few steps towards Vader. "I think by now, you should know exactly who I am rather than this silly nickname I've been given," he says. Philip then slowly reaches up and removes his helmet, revealing his face.
Philip smirks at Vader, a dark gleam in his eye, as he says, "You would likely not know my face. But once, many years ago, I was Staff Sergeant Philip Nelson, 1st Division, British Army. I was there when you and your clones came for the Jedi Temple. I witnessed you and your clones slaughter the Jedi and my comrades. Ever since then, I have looked forward to this day, when I would finally exact my revenge on you for what you and your Empire have done."
Vader looks at Philip for a few moments and says, "A Terran soldier, on a one man war against the rightful Empire."
"There is nothing rightful about the Empire. And I will take my revenge," Philip says.
"You will take nothing," Vader replies.
"Oh, won't I?" Philip asks. He smirks evilly as he then says, "I have studied the ways of the Force for the last ten years. I have searched the teachings left behind by Jedi and Sith of old. In their writings left behind, I have learned from the Sith Lords of old. I have learned powers of the dark side few Sith ever did. And since I killed my first, I have killed 16 Inquisitors in my pursuit of you. I trained on Korriban, and stole my lightsaber from the tomb of Darth Bane himself. I have created such a reputation of death and destruction that you came to me on my terms. I have become someone who believes they can stand against you. And at the end of today, I want to see you dead at my feet."
Vader is quiet before he draws his lightsaber and ignites it, the blade humming ominously. Philip smirks, hsi eyes again flashing yellow as he draws his lightsaber and ignites it. The two slowly begin to circle each other, watching each other carefully, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Then, Vader decides that his best chance will be to start this fight with the Force, not lightsabers. Vader holds his saber out in front of him as he begins walking towards Philip. Then, pieces of rubble from Philip's initial attack begin to lift off the ground and hurl themselves towards Philip. Philip raises his hand in return, halting them in midair, but this grants Vader a moment where Philip is otherwise occupied, and he surges forward towards Philip.
Philip uses the Force to throw the rocks away before spinning his saber once in hand. Philip takes a firm step forward, planting himself firmly, as he brings his saber up. The two lightsabers clash with each other with a mighty crackle, the signal of the beginning of a great duel.
Vader immediately pulls his saber back and stabs at Philip's chest. Philip sidesteps and deflects Vader's blow upwards and away from. He then tries to slash at Vader's exposed side, but Vader opens his palm and restrains Philip's hand mid-stroke. Vader then swings his saber around before bringing it down towards Philip's neck, but Philip ducks down and does a combat roll, popping up on his feet on Vader's other side. He tries to slash at Vader's back, but Vader turns towards him and blocks Philip's blow before he's even fully turned around.
Philip strikes towards Vader's neck, but vader easily blocks the blow. Vader then tries two quick strokes aimed at Philip's head, each coming from a different side, but Philip ducks and avoids both blows. Philip then stabs at Vader's waist. Vader dodges aside, but the saber burns a hole in Vader's cape.
The two exchange two blows before Vader releases a wave of Force energy, knocking Philip tumbling. However, Philip uses his momentum to regain his feet and throws his saber at Vader. Vader deflects the incoming saber upwards. Philip sprints towards Vader, leaping up to grab his saber in midair, and falls back towards Vader with a war cry, stabbing his saber down towards Vader's head. Vader side steps and slashes at Philip's saber, forcing Philip to stumble to the side. Again, Philip uses the momentum to roll away from Vader and get back to his feet. Philip charges back in, slamming his saber against Vader's. The two struggle against each other for a moment before Vader uses his brute physical strength to force Philip back. Vader then tires a downwards stroke aimed at Philip's shoulder, but Philip sidesteps, grabs Vader's wrist, and uses Vader's momentum to throw him forward, sending Vader stumbling. Philip then tries to step up behind him and strike at his back, but Vader reaches his arm behind him to deflect the incoming blow.
Vader turns back to face Philip, right as Philip raises his hand, and with a cry, unleashes a bolt of Force lightning at Vader. Vader manages to raise his saber to intercept the incoming bolt, only for Philip to charge him as soon as he ceases the attack. Philip feints a strike at Vader's waist before striking at his shoulder, but Vader anticipates the attack and blocks it. Vader then uses the Force to send Philip skidding back several feet.
As the two combatants take a moment to reassert themselves, Philip smirks. "You truly are a worthy opponent, Vader. I'll give you that. You are on par with the Sith Lords of old. But, I will never give in. This duel is just beginning!" Philip then reaches out with the Force towards a fire burning in the distance and uses the Force to suck the flames towards Vader. Vader sees it coming and raises his hand, letting the flames splash aside on either side of himself.
Vader spins his saber once in hand before charging at Philip. Philip runs at Vader, but then drops and hits his knees, sliding under Vader's first slash. He pops back up to his feet on Vader's other side, and the two whip around to face each other again, their sabers meeting with a loud crackle.
Philip and Vader push against each other for a moment before Philip pulls his saber back and tries slashing towards Vader's elbow, but Vader deflects it with little effort. Vader then strikes right at his chest, the sheer force behind his blow forcing Philip stumbling back. Then, Vader reaches out and uses the Force to restrain Philip in midair.
Philip, however, is unfazed. Smirking, he points his fingers at Vader and releases another bolt of force lightning. Vader cries out in pain as the lightning courses through his body, forcing him to release Philip. Philip charges at Vader, swinging his saber down at Vader's head, but vader just manages to block the incoming blow a few inches from his helmet.
The two struggle against each other for a moment before Vader actually reaches out and grabs Philip's ankle, yanking Philip down. Philip rolls away as Vader brings his saber down towards him. The saber hits Philip's armor, and to Vader's frustration, fails to break through the armor. Vader realizes he's either going to gave to go for the gaps in his armor or a more direct, powerful blow if he wants to penetrate the armor.
Philip regains his feet and charges Vader. Vader swings wide, coming in for his side, and Philip twists slightly, bringing his saber behind his back to block the blow. However, Vader responds by bringing his fist up and punching Philip in the face. The blow is strong enough that it knocks Philip's mask off. Philip looks back at Vader with hate, and Vader can see his eyes turning more yellow.
Philip lunges at Vader, stabbing his saber right at the control panel on Vader's chest.. Vader deflects it and manages to twist his saber around Philip's, making him drop it. Vader then tries driving his saber towards Philip's waist, but Philip raises a hand, halting the point of the saber an inch from his hand. Philip then raises a hand and sends out a Force wave, sending Vader flying back across the hall and into a pillar.
Philip reclaims his saber as he reaches out with the Force. Immediately, fixtures along the wall begin pulling themselves off the walls. Within a second, chunks of masonry begin ripping themselves free of the walls. Gather them all behind him, Philip begins throwing them at Vader.
Vader raises a hand, desperately trying to protect himself from the barrage flying at him. Philip stalks slowly towards Vader, keeping up the barrage. "Your emotions hold you back, Vader. I can see that this place has some meaning to you. But this place…it means nothing to me. I have nothing holding me back! And that is why you will die."
Vader bellows and lets out a massive burst of Force energy, sending everything flying at him and everything philip has yet to throw flying through the air. Vader then throws his saber at Philip, but Philip leaps over it and dodges it. Philip then reaches up and pulls a massive chunk out of the ceiling right above Vader, sending it falling towards him. Vader just manages to hold it at bay in time.
Philip casts another bolt of Force lightning at Vader, which Vader blocks by bringing the chunk of the ceiling into its path, the lightning blasting it apart. However, it's clear now that Vader is struggling a bit. Philip charges, leaping high into the air, bring his saber down towards Vader's head. Vader raises his saber, and the two clash with a might crackle.
Philip laughs aloud as he slowly tries pushing Vader downwards. "You have something holding you back, Vader. I have nothing. I have nothing in my way. I will kill you, and bury your body in the rubble of this palace!" He then kicks Vader in the chest, knocking him back. Vader stumbles back, and Philip stalks towards him, saber at the ready.
Suddenly, Philip hears something. Philip looks to the side, towards his prisoners. His focus is drawn towards the royal family. All of them are looking at Philip in utter terror. Not just the children, but the adults as well. Philip freezes, just staring at them, taking in the looks of terror and fear on their faces, his mind truly digesting that these looks are directed at him. He is causing that level of terror in innocent civilians. He's not the anti-Empire hero he thought to these people. He's a subject of terror.
Then, Philip turns his head slightly, and looks into a large piece of glass lying at his feet. In it, he can see his reflection, and the sickly shade of yellow his eyes have turned to. Philip takes a step back in shock at the sight, then slowly begins to look around, seeing the state of ruin the once beautiful palace is beginning to be turned into by his actions.
Philip stumbles back away from Vader, the full magnitude of what he's done hitting home. Philip is finally realizing just how far he has fallen. Philip looks down at Vader, who is now getting back to his feet, and whispers to himself, "I've become him."
Vader turns to face Philip once again, lightsaber in front of himself. Then, Philip does something unexpected. Philip uses the Force to summon all of the rubble lying around to form a wall between him and Vader. Vader quickly uses the Force to tear apart the makeshift wall, only to see Philip fleeing through the torn up entrance to the palace. Only a second later, Philip disappears from sight.
Vader takes a few steps in Philip's direction, holding his saber carefully at his side. However, as he waits, there is no sign of his opponent. It takes Vader a minute to realize that Philip has in fact fled and that this isn't a trick.
Vader slowly lowers his saber. It's clear at this point that Philip had abandoned the fight, and likely intends to flee the planet. The fight is over, but only leaves Vader a bit confused.
And, I'll end the chapter there.
Next chapter will wrap up this story and Philip's arc. I hope you guys have enjoyed this story, and are looking forward to the final chapter. It'll be up soon. Until it is, please leave a review, and stay tuned!