This story is firmly planted in my head-canon. It will probably be Jossed one day, but for now, to me, this is how the crew came together before they met Ezra. This is supposed to be set about eight months before Spark of Rebellion.

It's also supposed to be a couple months after my how-Kanan-met-Zeb fic, Best Empire Day Ever. It recalls some of the events there, but it is not terribly necessary to have read it. Though, it is significantly lighter fare, if you care for a primer.

Please enjoy! And remember; fic authors love feedback!

MTFBWY!

Gathering Ghosts

Prologue

"Master, how did you first know?"

Depa Billaba looked away from the controls of the transport she had been monitoring as the ship flew through the swirling blue of hyperspace. Next to her, in the copilot's seat and practically disappearing into a Jedi cloak that seemed almost too big for him, was her recently acquired Padawan. He was looking at her, eyes wide with bright curiosity and a thoughtful, searching glint. She gave him a smile and a gentle laugh when no further detail was forthcoming in the question.

"I'm afraid that you're going to have to be more specific, Caleb," she said.

"You know," Caleb replied, "when you accepted me as your Padawan. You said you thought that I was young, but that I was needed anyway. How did you know that?"

"Ah, you're wondering why I finally said yes," she said, "even though I hadn't been inclined to take on an apprentice."

"Well, sort of, I guess," Caleb said, looking away and running a hand through his hair. "Why'd you change your mind?"

"Well, you seemed to know before I did," Depa replied, "how did you know?"

"I dunno," said Caleb, "it was just a sort of a feeling, I suppose. I was passing your bacta tank in the Infirmary and you just sort of got my attention. It was like a... a pull or something."

"What sort of a pull?"

Caleb looked frustrated and waved a hand in the air, sullenly sinking even further into his seat. "Just a pull," he said, "you know? Like something important. I... I don't know how to put it."

Depa gave a small hum of understanding. There was a long pause as she considered what to say next. "For me, it was that I kept running into you at the Temple. In crisis or not, you simply kept crossing my path. One doesn't tend to ignore such coincidences, because where the Force is involved it usually isn't one."

Impossibly, Caleb sank even lower in his seat, giving a groan and pulling the hood of his cloak up over his head. He looked perfectly mortified and Depa couldn't help but give a small laugh.

"Caleb? I take it that wasn't the answer you wanted to hear. What is it?"

"Um... I don't think it was the Force," the Padawan mumbled, pulling his hood down further.

"Why not?" Depa asked.

"I was sort of... trying to get your attention," Caleb admitted, softly.

Depa blinked and stared at Caleb for a long moment, then broke out into an all-out, full-on laugh.

"It's not funny!" Caleb protested. "It's really embarrassing. And I probably messed up everything."

"Padawan, you haven't messed up anything," Depa said, the she reached over and pulled Caleb's hood back, revealing his face again, "now come out of there so we can speak properly." Caleb didn't resist the action, but refused to look up after the hood was down. His cheeks turned a deep red color and he bit his lower lip. She reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I hate to tell you this, Caleb, but your efforts to get my attention were hardly subtle."

"That sure doesn't make it any better," the boy muttered, once again running a hand through his hair.

"Maybe not," she admitted, "but I was very flattered."

"But don't you see?" Caleb protested. "I'm only your Padawan because I bothered you a whole bunch. It wasn't the will of the Force at all. It was me, being... annoying..." His eyes suddenly went wide with some realization that seemed to disturb him greatly. "What if I'm not supposed to be your Padawan? What if someone else is? What if I'm supposed to be apprenticed to someone else? What if I'm not meant to be a Jedi Knight? What if-"

"Whoa! Whoa! Slow down!" Depa said, putting her other hand on Caleb's other shoulder. "Focus on what is, not what could be. Live in this moment and be calm."

Caleb seemed to be studying his lap, once again biting his lip in uncertainty. When no response seemed to be forthcoming from him, Depa sighed. Reaching back to the controls, she checked that the auto-pilot was engaged and then stood up from her seat. There was a clear space toward the back of the cabin. She settled on the floor, legs crossed, Caleb watching her intently and with no small amount of trepidation.

"Come and sit with me," she said, indicating the space in front of her.

Caleb looked as though he was resigned to being blasted into another incarnation. Still, he slowly stood and came over to sit on the floor in front of Depa, back ramrod straight.

"Now give me your hand and close your eyes," Depa said and Caleb did as he was told. "Now, consider for a moment before answering. How do you feel?"

"Nervous," Caleb finally admitted. But she knew, that was only what was on the surface.

"All right, now breathe and collect that tension in your belly. And then, gently, allow it to flow out of you. Good. Now. How do you feel?"

"Embarrassed," Caleb answered.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to be a Padawan so badly that I went against the will of the Force."

"And why do you believe that?"

"I didn't let everything happen the way it was supposed to."

"So, because you took action, you believe this was not meant to happen. Why did you take action?"

"I... I felt it was right."

"And why did you feel this?"

"I... Well, I... I don't know..."

"So the action you took was a leap of faith," Depa said, gently, "faith that what you were feeling was correct. How can that not be the Force at work? Look at me, Caleb."

Slowly, almost unwilling to leave behind the safety of meditation, Caleb's eyes came open and he looked up. Depa placed a hand on the side of his face.

"You are my Padawan," she said, "and you are meant to be my Padawan. The Force wills it. It simply chose you as its instrument. You asked how I knew? I knew because you insisted. And I saw the faith you had in it. Don't begin doubting it now."

Caleb took a deep breath in through his nose and released it from his mouth, giving a nod. "Yes, Master."

Depa sat back again and the two of them regarded one another for a long moment. The Force felt warm and comfortable around them, like a blanket.

"There will be many people who come and go in your life," Depa went on, "some will be there only for a moment. Others will be with you for a very long time. They are all equally valuable. It's important that you remember that pull that you felt. That is the Force speaking to you. Listen for it."

"Yes, Master."

"Good," Depa said, rising to her feet with the grace of a bird taking to wing. Caleb followed suit. "Now, come my little strategist. We'll be there, soon. And then we will meet our new brothers-in-arms and show everyone what the Force has brought together."

"Yeah," Caleb agreed with a wide smile.