"The discovery of force sensitives on Earth gave the remnants of the once powerful Jedi Order new strength to draw on and helped cement Earth's place in the galaxy. The Alliance and the Order is indebted to them for their service in the face of grave consequences."

- Ailla Mothma

Chapter 17: The Force on Earth

"So how exactly is this going to work?" Ezra asked the team of doctors who were looking at the large vile of vaccines that were being held in a container.

"These are the proofs of concepts for what we need for the midi-chlorian tests we plan to administer worldwide." Dr. Anthony Kerry said. One of the world's leading vaccine specialists, he had played an important role in the creation and testing of the various vaccines developed for COVID-19.

"We will be able to replicate the technology and create large numbers of the midi-chlorian testers which will be put in this year's vaccine for our flu. It will be able to detect anyone above a certain midi-chlorian count and notify us via a small microchip. We will then speak to you and other Jedi of the rebellion if anyone above the threshold is found." He said. "Then they will be in your hands, should you choose to accept them."

"Alright, I can manage that," Ezra said. "Any further estimates for the total number of force sensitives?"

"Frankly master Jedi we have very little idea. It could be in the hundreds or thousands or there could be none at all. When cross-referencing some of the skills and abilities of one there are several matches across the world, both in the modern day and throughout our history. Several of our historical religious leaders appear to have had abilities in the force, at least depending on who you believe."

"Fascinating," Ezra said. "Do you have an estimated timeframe as to when you will be able to find some results?"

"It, unfortunately, will be several months, but when that starts you should have nearly a billion people tested and more and more as time goes on. We can't get everyone to get the vaccine, of course, some will simply not have access to it in a reasonable amount of time, and others that deliberately avoid taking such vaccines."

"Why is that the case?" Ezra asked.

"A wide variety of reasons, for some it's religious and for others, they believe in conspiracy theories that the government is manipulating them. Others think that it is connected to several rare diseases this talking point has been mostly disproven."

"Hmm," Ezra said. "I will keep that in mind."

He would soon be leaving the planet with the other Jedi who had been sent here to investigate this world's connection to the force. It was a fascinating world, and a nice change of pace from the war going on in the rest of the galaxy.

As he walked down the stairs he soon had a faint feeling of something.

It was a presence in the force. In an instant, he ran back up to the doctors in the medical room.

"Dr, I think that I found a place to test your vaccine. Do you have one ready and a method of transportation?"

"Indeed I do." He replied. "I will get you where you need to go, master, master Jedi. Several of the other doctors followed them down the stairs and out to an underground parking lot for primitive motor vehicles. Repulsorlift technology was at this point reserved for military and some government vehicles, and the white van that would be transporting them where Ezra wanted to go was a model from before the technology had been introduced. There was some joke by the scientists that it would be a bad vehicle for the job for some reason he didn't understand and that they were reluctant to tell him about.

He guided the van across a variety of different streets before getting as close as possible

to the presence of the force as possible. They were soon in a deserted alley where the van could no longer travel.

A sudden flash of movement appeared in the corner of Ezra's eye. He spotted who he was looking for, a teenage or younger boy darting away. The boy used the force to push over a trash can, trying to block Ezra's pursuit.

This boy however was not expecting to have his powers used against him. Ezra used force to hold the boy and prevent him from fleeing.

"What, you have the powers too!" He cried.

"Indeed," Ezra said. "If you come with me I can train you to use them even more."

There was a moment of hesitation on the part of the boy, but after a moment he reconsidered.

"I don't have much to lose." He said and moved over to him. The kid reminded him a lot of a younger Ezra, a naive kid from the streets of Lothal doing what it took to survive.

"Who even are you?" The kid asked, coming into view of him.

"Ezra Bridger." He said, shaking the kid's hand. "I'm what you call a Jedi. I use those powers that we have to do good for society, to protect the innocent and fight evil."

"Do you work for Earth or the UN?"

"No, I'm a Colonel in the Rebel Alliance. We fight the empire across the rest of the galaxy. I'm from another planet, far far away." He paused for a moment.

"What's your name kid,

"Rick, Rick Carpenter." He said.

"Where are your parents?"

"Either dead or addicted to crack. I've been on the street for a few years now. Better than living with my dad. Don't have any worthwhile l possessions besides what's in this backpack. Will being a Jedi make me money?"

"Sort of but it's not the point. You'll live comfortably and have all of your needs met though."

"Never wanted much in life, so I won't have problems. So do you guys fight the empire or something?"

"Yeah, we do. We used to have over 10,000 members a few decades ago but then we got purged when the Empire was created." Ezra said. "I wasn't around them but there were a few of us that had to go into hiding. A few of them were still kicking but once the rebellion became an official organization on we were able to operate more boldly. And after the Rebellion started to take over territory we got more and more people like you that turned up. Now we have a few dozen, training or working on missions all across the galaxy."

"Wow, that's cool. When do I start?"

"Essentially right now," Ezra said. "You'll be progressing a lot faster through your training so that you can get one of our weapons, the less lightsaber." He held up his and turned it on, a green blade showing in the relative darkness of the alley.

"Wow, that's cool. Are there any other Jedi from Earth?"

Ezra smiled. "Well kid, you're going to be the very first. I'm going to take you to meet with some important people, like the Secretary General of the UN and Admiral Johnson."

"Will I also get to meet other Jedi like you?"

"Yes, you'll meet two others very soon and some more as time goes along. We have a headquarters on a planet far away from here, in fact, you will be one of the first people in your world to travel that far in such a short period."

"I'm glad you found me, Ezra." He said. "So what are these other Jedi like?"

"Well let me take you to see them." He said.

Not too long later they were making their way up the steps of the UN headquarters building towards the guest rooms the Jedi were using. Aillia and Luke should have been there before and he had notified them through the holonet that he was such a force sensitive. The medical teams had verified he had a high midi-chlorian count and therefore would be suited to being a Jedi. The raggy kid seemed out of place in the posh suits, dresses, and military uniforms of the UN but he didn't care, especially after everyone found out who he was and why he was there. And Ezra's military garb also stood out compared to what the other people were wearing, especially after its Jedi modifications.

They entered Aillia's room where both she and Luke were waiting.

"This is Aillia, she's the daughter of the rebellion's leader." Ezra pointed to an attractive young woman wearing a blue dress.

"And this is Luke, he destroyed the biggest weapon in the arsenal of the empire," Ezra said, and Rick looked at the other person in the room. He was tall, blond, and didn't look that much older than him, wearing what he would later see as the pilot's uniform of the Alliance.

"Pleased to meet you." He said, shaking their hands. It was indeed one to go meet these people. He might have a chance at success in life now instead of just being confined to the streets.