The cave was cool and hollow. Somehow, Anakin expected hell to be hot. The fact that it was cold made him feel uncertain. Terrified. It smelled of death there.
Bats winged by his head and he remembered Mace Windu and expected him to appear among them for another battle. The duel was much needed practice. He was only beginning to learn what he could do with his powers. The force flowing through him felt good. He felt invigorated by it, alive.
He sensed the emperor and muscles flexed. "I can feel you…" Anakin mumbled, chest swelling with rage.
Then he sensed someone else…Before him an aged figure rested on a rock with pointed ears and green pruned-skin.
"Master Yoda," he said.
The little green Jedi nodded in his old wise way and pointed into the deepening darkness with his cane.
"Remind me of Luke. Much like your son, you are. Determined."
"I would say, he reminds you of me. I was here first, after all."
"Yes," the Master nodded. "Caution you I will, just as I have cautioned him… if further you go, be wary."
"I'm not afraid," he answered, chest swelling.
"You will be…" Yoda answered. "You will be…"
Anakin walked into the darkness of the cave. A cold mist blew from his lips which turned blue from the freezing air. He heard the whirring of the lightsaber. He raised his own in an aggressive stance.
Yoda shook his head and faded into the blackness.
Anakin felt something move and swung blindly into the darkness with nothing but the red glow of his lightsaber to light his way.
He swung again and heard deep raspy breathing "Chooooosh Shiiiiiiiiiiiish… Choooosh… Shiiiiiiiiih…"
He paused. "You're playing tricks," he observed.
"No trick this is," came Yoda's voice. "Your destiny this has become," he finished.
Anakin stepped forward and a cage closed in about him. He closed his eyes. He felt like a mummy with his arms stuck at the sides. He wriggled and pushed them forth. And when he opened his eyes again, the darkness had turned red with computations and coordinates spelled out before him like a computer screen. He inhaled and heard the sound of his own exaggerated breathing … "Chooooooosh… Shiiiiiiiiiish…"
Fear seized him. Darkness consumed him. Then he felt the heat of flames upon his back…
"What anger has done to you, this is…" Yoda scolded. "In you, it lives, still."
"Master Yoda!" Anakin wailed as he relived the memory of flames crawling up his spine.
He shuddered and then there was silence. He regrouped. Must not give in to fear... mustn't feel so lonely in here. I wish I were in your arms, Padme.
But love gave way to anger as the reality sank in. The suit was a reminder of the prison he lived in for twenty - six years. He took a step and his leg clamped down as though it was robotic again.
Could he go into battle this way?
His powers were still as strong as they were only moments before. Why did Yoda trick him into wearing the suit? It only made him angrier, wanting revenge even more. Perhaps Yoda liked it better when he was suffering! Anakin gasped as rage crept up his back instead of fear.
Then he heard the Emperor's cackle . He was taunting him. The lights on the vest of his Vader uniform blinked erratically.
"If I must leave the after life and Padme, I will not go alone.We will die together," he announced. "Nothing will stop my wrath. It is your destiny," he commanded, as though the emperor stood right before him.
His legs were heavy, but he marched onward, into battle.