His thoughts were calm, at peace. Even as the fires of Sullust raged behind him, a calm was filling inside Darth Stryker. He stared downward, looking directly at the lightsaber attatched to his belt. He took it off, igniting it. The red blade shot up, glowing brightly. The red beam reflected off his face like fire, mirroring the rage within him.
"It's almost time.", he said, almost as if he was talking to someone. "Soon, all that remains of the Skywalker bloodline will die. And with it, the entire Jedi Order.", Stryker said.
This place seemed strange to him, surreal. Jarec Cross knew he had to stand by the Jedi Code, praise its teachings and stay loyal to the Jedi way. But even in a place as strange as Dagobah, he felt nervous.
"Feel it.", Luke Skywalker said, now ten years removed from the Galactic Empire's fall. "Let it flow through you, uninterrupted. It echoes through you.", Luke instructed.
Jarec sat, meditating. His thoughts raced, constantly switching to different scenarios and feelings.
"Clear your mind, Jarec. It must be calm, holding at one singular moment...", Luke said, waiting for Jarec to finish it.
"The force.", he said, giving Luke a thin smile.
"Yes. That is what drives you, Jarec.", Luke said as Jarec raised his hands upward, lifting a few rocks from the ground. They came up, one by one, creating a small tower on one another.
"Let go of your feelings, trust the force. It will guide you.", Luke said.
Moments later, Jarec stood across from a cave. He could not see into the blackness, the deep blackness. It seemingly called to him.
"What's in there?", Jarec asked.
"Whatever you take with you.", Luke replied. "Fear, agression, hate. If you have these things in your heart, they will be waiting.", he said.
Jarec paused for a moment, contemplating Luke's words.
"If you go inside the cave, I will not come with you.", Luke said. "This is a test you must do alone."
Jarec looked toward the cave, his mind going a million miles a minute. He slowly stepped forward, unsure of what was going to come. Jarec entered the blackness, the evil, forboding blackness. Yet, in some way, the darkness of the cave seemed comforting.
Jarec was not naieve, though. He knew of the Dagobah cave training. His master had done it, faced his fears. Luke's father, Anakin Skywalker, the chosen one, had done it. But could he?
"I can do this.", Jarec said to himself in the blackness.
But that was all he could say until a lightsaber lit up. He turned, expecting to find an enemy, only to see himself. A mirror image of himself stood before Jarec, grinning. The red blade of the lightsaber lit up the cave, creating a red glow upon their faces.
"You're afraid. You are...afraid.", the other Jarec said, taunting him.
"No. I'm not.", Jarec replied, igniting his lightsaber. "I don't fear.", he said.
Jarec raised his weapon, and in one swift strike, cut down his opponent. Jarec watched as the mirror image of himself flopped to the ground, head rolling across the floor. Jarec paused breifly, then turned his lightsaber off, the darkness wrapping around him again.
Outside, Luke sighed, knowing his student's journey was just beginnning.