Yoda crossed the room and sat down on his bunk. It was no longer as damp as it had been.

"I am old, Master Kenobi."

"900 years is old."

"And worn-out."

"Not so worn-out as you might think, Master. Where is my pot?"

Yoda looked up at the empty shelf.

"There was... an encounter," he said.

"An encounter? Not so difficult an encounter that you were unable to preserve Qui-Gon's cloak, I see."

"Always with you it has to be both. Difficult choices, must we make sometimes in this world."

"As now, Master."

"Here, you are, for that?"

"Master, I want you to take on a new Padawan."

"You do, do you?"

"I want you to train young Skywalker."

Yoda felt his heart thrill. He did not imagine it could have happened, but here it was!

"Yes..."

"You agree so quickly?"

"Long have I wanted to train her."

"Master, I want you to train Luke."

Yoda looked at the shimmering face.

"No!" he said. He stamped his cane on the floor. "That is not the one. Not ready is he."

"Who is ever ready?"

"Not that one. A Jedi must have the deepest commitment. That one looks from one cloud to another. A Jedi must have the most serious mind. That one cannot keep his mind from his speeder! Hmph. Not him. Her!"

"Master..."

"He will not finish what he begins. He is reckless."

"Master-"

"And well we know, the path a reckless one must set his foot."

The shimmering Obi-Wan sat down on the bunk beside his old master.

"This is damp," said Obi-Wan.

"Bother you does dampness do, Master Kenobi?"

"You'll be surprised, Master."

"For one 900 years old, no more surprises are there."

Obi-Wan smiled, "I promise you, Master, you will be surprised."

"Hmph," said Yoda.

He lay down on his bed and pulled the blanket up around him.

"Already, come the time is, to be with you. Already, come the time is, to become one with the Force."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "Not yet."

"And to tell me this, you are the one?"

Obi-Wan spread his arms wide, almost as if he would embrace his old master.

"I am the one to tell you this."

"Hmph. Impertinent still."

"Yes, Master."

A long silence.

"The other Skywalker, I would train. She is ready."

Obi-Wan shook his head again.

"Hmph! Demanding now, we have become, have we?"

"Forgive me, Master."

"And if I try to teach this rash, this impatient, this mindless boy, the ways of the Force and fail - what then?"

Obi-Wan smiled, "I seem to remember an old master of mine who liked to say something about trying."

"Hmph," said Yoda, and drew the blanket up closer. He closed his eyes, and Obi-Wan waited.

"Send him to me, then," said Yoda, in a voice quiet as a whisper.

Obi-Wan tucked the blanket around Yoda's chin.

"And Obi-Wan..."

"Yes, Master?"

"Sorry about the pot. I-"

"It was old and ugly."

Yoda opened his eyes. "So am I."

"No, Master."

"Look, Master Kenobi, look! Old and ugly! What see you?"

Obi-Wan leaned down close.

"A luminous being," he said.

"Hmph," said Yoda, and closed his eyes again. "Annoying, one's own words to use against him. A bad feeling, I have about that."

But Obi-Wan was already gone. Yoda nestled deeply into Qui-Gon Jinn's cloak. He would sleep now - at least, he would try to sleep. His eyes opened. He probably would not sleep. It was not what he had wished for. Not at all. Still, for the first time, in a long time, he was eager for the next day.[/url]