Battlelords

Blanket disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Star Wars

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I use the word planet because so many Sectors, Systems, Planets and Cities bear the same name. Kuat is my favorite example. At any rate it is to prevent confusion rather than being boring or repetitious. Unfortunately it's necessary with certain worlds and I prefer to be consistent. Here is Chapter 12. Enjoy!

{ } Signifies an alien language

…

Last time:

Year 22 BBY

Planet Coruscant, Senate District, Jedi High Temple, Jedi Temple Library

"… If memory serves; it was claimed that individuals chosen to become Sith Battlelords would undergo a series of complex rituals that bonded them to their troops via the Force. The rituals took place at sites strong in the Dark Side of the Force like a Sith Temple and according to most reports would take place within an altar room inside. The rituals drew upon the Dark Side and used Sith magic; inflicting pain upon the prospective Battlelord and bringing the being to the verge of death. Some did not survive the ceremony. Some people claimed that aspiring Battlelords were drained of all their blood, although the publication also noted that there was no exact consensus on how individuals were brought to a near-death condition."

"That's horrible." said Barriss in a shocked tone.

"Full of horror, the Dark Side is young Offee." replied the diminutive Grandmaster. "Proceed Master Naruto."

Gathering his thoughts; the young Jedi Master continued. "Following performance of the rituals; some form of interaction between the unconscious leader and their followers was required to complete the leader's transformation into a Sith Battlelord. Followers normally paraded past the lifeless body of their leader for about an hour; walking through the leader's blood. The leader's condition had to then stabilize without an application of the Force or medical intervention and if the leader survived; the being was returned to full health. With the process complete; a Force bond was forged between the subordinates and their leader which signified the leader's successful transformation into a Sith Battlelord."

Barriss looked a bit ill and asked, "Whatever happened to these Battlelords?"

Naruto looked troubled. "They fell out of favor with the Sith for one reason or other. Various explanations were given but there was never a single answer everyone agreed on. Eventually the knowledge to create Battlelords was lost and forgotten. The Sith Rule of Two made Battlelords obsolete anyway. Whether that would stop someone from creating new ones is an entirely different matter. Clearly they've been digging around the Sith Fortress on Almas. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if the knowledge to create Battlelords is hidden away there."

"Then to Planet Almas you must go." said Yoda. "Information, the Almas Academy will have."

Naruto nodded grimly. "I understand Master. I'll get going."

Yoda added; "Alone; you will not go." Naruto was going to protest but the Grandmaster held up his hand. "Take your Padawan and two others with you. Friends you will need for this mission. Put the Battlelords to rest forever; you will…"

…

Chapter 12

Year 22 BBY

Core Worlds, Corusca Sector, Planet Coruscant, Jedi High Temple

Jedi Master Naruto Uzumaki was less than thrilled with his situation. He foresaw clashing with the darkness on this mission like on Korriban and didn't think his Padawan Barriss was ready for it. He had asked Aayla Secura and Obi-Wan Kenobi to join him on this mission but unfortunately they both had assignments of their own.

That was when Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano arrived. Their ship, the Resolute, was undergoing refit and repairs so they were available and Anakin was itching for action. Naruto sensed his slightly younger friend's presence as Anakin practically broke the door down to join the mission.

"Hello Anakin." said Naruto smiling as Skywalker came busting in without preamble.

Anakin had Ahsoka in tow and said, "Naruto! We heard you had a mission to the Expansion Region from Master Yoda and came to help."

The whiskered blonde nodded. "We're headed to Planet Almas to investigate a Sith Fortress. The Dark Side is strong there. Master Yoda insisted I take others with me and it sounds like you were volunteered by him for the job. Truthfully I'm used to operating alone in these situations."

"All the more reason you shouldn't go alone then Master." said Ahsoka. "You need friends to combat the darkness."

Barriss Offee came in and said in surprise, "Master Skywalker, Ahsoka. It's good to see you. What brings you here?"

Ahsoka replied wryly, "It's our job to keep our Masters from destroying the Expansion Region with their antics."

The strait-laced Barriss smirked and said, "We padawans have great responsibilities keeping others out of trouble."

"What's on Planet Almas that's so bad?" asked Anakin. "Not that it should be a problem."

"Planet Almas has an unorthodox Jedi Academy on one side of the planet and an ancient Sith Fortress on the other." said Naruto. "If that's not a recipe for disaster then add in the rumor has it there is a Dark Side Cult running around on Almas as well… Our duty is to investigate the Fortress and hopefully stop any new Battlelords from being created."

"And what, pray tell, is a Battlelord?" asked Anakin puzzled.

The blonde explained, "Sith Battlelords were a special class of Sith that were deployed against the Jedi by Darth Riven some 1,000 years ago during the New Sith Wars. They were leaders of regiments and bonded to their troops through Sith Magics. In short, they were very dangerous and our job is to go to that Fortress and stop more from being created."

"So how are they created?" asked Ahsoka curiously.

"No one knows." answered Naruto. "If the secrets to their creation lies anywhere it's in that Sith Fortress on Almas. That's where we come in."

"Our first stop is the Almas Jedi Academy to talk to Jedi Master Lanius Qel Bertuk and find out the situation." explained Barriss. "Hopefully they'll have some insights into the matter."

"Hmmm…" pondered Skywalker. He turned to Ahsoka. "Sounds like an adventure Snips. Are you game?"

"I'm always ready Master." replied the young Togruta with a confident smile. "When do we leave?"

Naruto said, "I've got a T-6 shuttle on standby. We leave as soon as we are packed and ready to go."

…

Expansion Region, Thaere Sector, Planet Almas, Almas Jedi Academy

Two days later Master Uzumaki and his group arrived at the Almas Jedi Academy in the Town of Forard*① only to find they were right in the middle of a local crisis. The head of the academy, Jedi Master Lanius Qel Bertuk; had sent a team of twenty Jedi to the Almas Sith Fortress to investigate Darth Riven's old construct and to guard it. Unfortunately, they'd lost contact with the twenty Jedi sent there…

Master Lanius was the picture of composure despite his worries when Naruto and the others arrived. He invited them into the Almas Academy to discuss things. Qel Bertuk was a physically fit man in his fifties with ice blue eyes and black hair with a graying beard. "I take the lives of my students very seriously." said Bertuk as he stared off into the force trying to feel things.

"There is a Dark Side Sect that call themselves the Believers*② that have been dismissed as only rumors until recently. I believe the Jedi I sent to guard the Sith Fortress came into contact with the Believers and we haven't heard from them since." explained Lanius. The was a sandstorm in the area that caused us to lose contact and we have yet to reestablish it. If you go there; you will be going in blind Master Uzumaki."

Naruto nodded. "I sense time is of the essence. Do you have any researchers that know the Sith Fortress well Master Bertuk?"

"There are a few." answered the graying Jedi Master. "I'll send a pair of them with you and a few guards just in case."

Within the hour the four Jedi and eight passengers set off for the Sith Fortress…

…

Almas Sith Fortress

When the T-6 shuttle that Naruto was flying came within visual range of the dome-like Sith Fortress; all the force sensitives on board sensed something was terribly wrong. The blonde said, "I'm setting her down here. We need to land at a safe distance." He turned to Barriss and said, "Lower the landing gear." As the shuttle came in for a slow landing; something near the fortress emitted a colossal bolt of force lightning that sheared the wing off the shuttle and sent them plummeting to the ground. The ship was only about ten meters above the surface when it was hit and none of them had any time to react.

The T-6 went straight down on its belly and was totally demolished. The only reason the four Jedi survived was they were in the reinforced cockpit section. Ahsoka Tano was the first to scramble out onto the surface and was able to help the others out of the smoking cockpit before it was engulfed in flames. The four Jedi had no chance to see if any passengers were still alive because the ship exploded in a ball of fire as they ran away from it. They instinctively shielded themselves from the shockwave using the Force but suffered numerous cuts and bruises from the flying debris. It was a minor miracle that they survived at all.

After making sure everyone was relatively uninjured; Anakin got out his macro binoculars and saw a pair of land speeders racing away from the fortress only to see them blown to pieces in a flash of force lighting as well. Scanning around rapidly he saw bodies everywhere lying on the ground smoldering. "What in blazes happened here…?" he asked.

That's when all of them saw two towering beings about four meters tall come walking slowly out of the destruction. They looked like silhouettes with white eyes that were blindingly bright. "Are those Battlelords Master?" asked Barriss in a whisper.

"Not that I've ever heard of." said Naruto gravely. "A Battlelord is a normal warrior enhanced with Sith Magic. Those two things are just weapons; I don't sense a conscious thought at all."

"I agree." said Anakin. "All I sense is a Dark Side presence like a creature rather than something with reason."

Ahsoka saw movement over to the left of the creatures and said, "There are some others over there that are alive. It looks like they are setting up an ambush."

Naruto whispered, "Don't do it!"

Four beings; two with blue light sabers and two with red light sabers sprang up and attacked one of the creatures savagely only to crumple over screaming in agony as the creature used the Force drain technique to feed upon them. Three died instantly but the last managed to escape only to be hit in the back with Force lighting. She fell only to be caught by four others who simply dropped all pretenses and ran in fear. The creature slowly pursued the ones retreating and the other slowly advanced forward as if nothing had happened at all.

Ahsoka asked. "What's our next move Master Uzumaki? You're in command of this mission."

Naruto reached out through the Force and said, "We need to link up with the five stragglers the one creature is pursuing. The other is focused on the burning shuttle. Be ready to defend against Force lightning with your light sabers. Everyone stay low to the ground and follow me."

The group of four looped around to intercept the runners and the two behemoths continued to lumber along on their separate courses unfazed…

…

The blonde Jedi and his companions came around the fortress in a circular pattern and the five stragglers met them at about halfway. The exhausted runners and the injured one were from Almas Academy. A black-haired Jedi woman said. "Those monsters killed everybody! Everybody!"

Naruto said, "We've got to get out of here. Those things must feed on Force users. The Believers created them."

"What are they though?!" asked Barriss.

"We think they are failed Battlelords." said the dark-haired woman as she gathered her wits. "I'm Nala Ferge, a Jedi Archeologist. All the Believers are dead. Their life forces were consumed by those things they created."

Naruto knew there was more to it but decided withdrawing was more important for the time being. "Let's get going." he said. "We can talk once we're out of range of those things. Barriss and I will be the rear guard. Master Skywalker will take lead to get us out of here."

"Head that way." Nala said. "My ship the Ebony is hidden over that ridge in the distance. Maybe we can escape in it."

The whiskered blonde nodded. "It's as good a plan as any. Let's go."

A while later the tired group cleared the ridge and reached the transport Ebony and clambered aboard. Nala climbed up in the cockpit with Naruto and the others strapped in as well as they could. Naruto said "Fly us low and fast with shields doubled on the rear. Get us to the Almas Academy Nala."

The Jedi woman gave him a confidant smile before she said, "Watch me fly!"

The Ebony took off and hugged the ground just above the level of the treetops as it rocketed along. The group held on for dear life as force lightning bolts narrowly missed the ship due to Nala's wild evasive maneuvering. She finally took a deep breath and said, "We are out of range. It will be around twenty minutes to the Almas Academy. Hopefully Jedi Master Lanius can help us."

…

Almas Jedi Academy

When the Ebony landed safely at the Forard Spaceport, Master Qel Bertuk was waiting for them with medics standing by. The injured Jedi had to be carried off the Ebony but everyone else was just exhausted.

Naruto was soon meeting with Master Lanius so they could discuss the situation. Qel Bertuk asked, "So these so called Battlelords… They aren't like the ones in the historical texts are they?"

The blonde shook his head. "They seem to be mindless destroyers from what I can tell. The original Battlelords were very powerful Sith Commanders. These aren't beings with reason. If the Believers were trying to create a new generation of Battlelords then they failed spectacularly and it cost the Believers and many Jedi their lives."

"The Almas Academy lost sixteen Jedi today and from what Nala Ferge said there were at least three times as many Believers that perished." said Master Bertuk. "What a terrible waste of life."

The blonde sighed. "I'm sorry for your losses Master Qel Bertuk. But I'm afraid the situation with the Battlelord copies is the issue is far from over."

"We here at Almas Academy will do all we can to help you Master Uzumaki." said the older Jedi Master.

…

Almas Jedi Academy, Guest quarters

Naruto was in deep meditation as he spoke to his friend Kurama in his mind. 'I've never seen or read anything about creatures like these two Battlelord copies.' thought the blonde. 'Maybe Anakin is right about lobbing a few thermonuclear detonators at them and running like hell. The problem is we can't get near them except on foot.'

'Have you considered using a Rasenshuriken?' asked Kurama. 'If Force abilities don't seem to harm them then chakra powers just might. It's worth a try before you just start leveling the local landscape with explosives.'

Naruto nodded. 'That's a great idea Kurama! I could scout them out with shadow clones and then nail one with a rasenshuriken. Why didn't I think of that at the time?'

'You were more concerned with getting your friends out alive than you were mounting an offensive.' said the ancient fox. 'Don't beat yourself up over it. Besides, with the Battlelords shooting force lightning all over the place it made concentration a bit difficult.'

That's when Naruto heard someone knocking on his door. 'Sounds like you have company Naruto.' said Kurama. 'I'll keep reflecting on this matter while you take care of business.'

Naruto mentally nodded and turned his attention to his door. "Who is it?" asked the blonde.

It was Anakin. Skywalker came in and said, "Hey Naruto; Snips and I found a load of thermonuclear detonators. If Plan A doesn't work out then-"

The whisker marked blonde smiled. "-Then we'll blow everything to hades."

…

The next morning Naruto got up bright and early and found Master Bertuk was up already and waiting for him. Lanius said, "I sense you are much more at peace now Master Uzumaki. I trust you've come up with a plan?"

"I've come up with the beginnings of a plan Master. Are there any small scout droids we could send to keep an eye on those monsters? We need to keep anyone in the area away from those Battlelord copies."

Lanius nodded. "You are in luck. There are some observation droids at the Forard Research Station and more importantly there are no settlements around or remotely near the Sith Fortress. If those creatures move as ponderously as you and the others have indicated, then it will take weeks for them to find any sort of life forms aside of plants and wild animals to feed on."

The blonde was relieved. "I feel a bit better about things then. Let's see about scouting the locations of those monsters and see where they are headed."

…

Forard Research Station

The four Jedi in Naruto's group were at the Research Station analyzing the information the small scout droids transmitted.

It hadn't taken long to locate the Battlelords. They seemed to be mulling around the Sith Fortress aimlessly but staying within the dead zone around it where nothing could live. The small observation droids didn't attract the creatures' notice either so there were no further bolts of Force lighting to be seen.

The droids also scouted the remains of Naruto's T-6 shuttle but found nothing but ash, debris and twisted metal.

"They don't seem interested in anything that is smaller than a human being." said Ahsoka as she looked at the results. "The droids have come as close as ten meters without getting any reaction at all."

"Hmmm… It makes me wonder if they only notice living things," said Barriss. "The shuttle, the speeders and the Ebony were all manned when those things attacked."

Naruto nodded. "That might be the case Barriss. I have to wonder how they sense things." He turned to Ahsoka. "Are the droids getting any sort of life signs from those monsters?"

"The droid's scans indicate they are simply humanoids of tremendous size Master Uzumaki." said Ahsoka. "The Battlelords seem to be flesh and blood but they must have the ability to deflect light sabers and blaster bolts using the Force as well as Force lightning."

"Then they could be mindless but very instinctive." said Skywalker as he looked at the scans. "They just seem to be wandering around. "Are they protecting the Fortress?"

The whiskered blond thought aloud, "That would indicate something is controlling them like a Force spirit. I wonder…"

"What is it Master?" asked Barris.

"We don't know exactly what the Believers created or how because everyone who survived wasn't present during the ritual." explained Naruto. "If they followed the ritual as we know it; then two individuals were chosen to be Battlelords and would have been bonded to their followers. Instead, something went wrong and they absorbed their would be followers."

"Shame we can't just blow up the fortress and be done with it." grouched Ahsoka.

Barriss smirked. "You sound like Master Skywalker. The fortress is made of Mandolorian iron*③. Even an orbital bombardment won't scratch that thing. I'm afraid it's here for the duration."

Master Uzumaki grimaced and said, "Anakin, Ahsoka; I'm going to have to teach you both how to deflect Force lightning. Unfortunately; we don't have the luxury of time so you're going to have to learn the hard way like I did." He motioned outside and said, "Follow me."

"How is that?" asked Anakin confused. Ahsoka looked puzzled as well.

Barriss decided to fill them in. "Essentially Master Naruto hurls masses of Force lightning at you until you learn to deflect it or get roasted trying."

Skywalker got bug eyed and said to the spiky haired blonde, "Since when have you been able to use Force lightning...?"

…

Almas Jedi Academy

Meanwhile Master Lanius Qel Barkut was teaching younglings Force levitation when he heard young Master Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano shrieking through the Force as they got zapped with another minor bolt of Force lightning…

…

Outside the Research Facility

"…I think that's enough for today." said Naruto. "You aren't doing as well as Barriss did but neither of you use defensive light saber stances so I suppose it is to be expected."

"Sadist!" cried Anakin and Ahsoka. "You are enjoying this!" they said as one.

That's when the whiskered blonde shook his head. "No, the woman I learned from was a sadist. She laughed the whole time saying, …And this is only the beginning! Ahahahaha!"

Anakin shivered and said, "Never talk like that again Naruto. It scared the living hell out of me,"

Ahsoka nodded rapidly and said, "Ditto."

…It took about a week to get Ahsoka and Anakin up to speed on how to deflect Force lightning effectively. Naruto strictly taught them to defend against it as opposed to how to use Force lightning. Aside of the fact Master Yoda forbade teaching the use of the Force lightning technique; Naruto felt it would be a bad idea to teach Anakin regardless. His slightly younger friend had enough anger issues as it was…

After resting and recovering from their training, Naruto pronounced them all prepared to defend against a Battlelord's Force Lightning. That was when Nala Ferge approached them. She spoke to them and said, "I want to help. I'll fly you to and from the Sith Fortress as much as you need in the Ebony. I want to see those Battlelords destroyed as much or more than you four do."

Master Bertuk walked up and said, "I've been watching your training through the Force. You can be a harsh taskmaster Naruto Uzumaki. On the other hand I sincerely believe you've given your Team the edge to win this battle. I suggest you take Nala along with you. While she can't participate in the battle, I assure you she will do everything she can to help you."

Naruto nodded and said, "We need all the help we can get."

Nala smiled happily and replied, "I'll do my best."

"Stacking the deck in our favor Master?" asked Barriss.

The whiskered blonde replied, "Always; my apprentice."

The Ebony took off minutes later. Nala flew them in low and hot and they landed as close as they could to the Sith Fortress without drawing the attention of the Battlelords.

Naruto led the other three down towards the Sith Fortress and they were soon within the line of sight of the first one. The group carefully maneuvered around so the second Battlelord was on the opposite side of the Fortress. "Here we go everybody. Be ready to defend." He started building up a Futon: Rasenshuriken while Bariss, Anakin and Ahsoka ignited their light sabers.

The monster slowly looked over in their direction with its blinding white eyes. The thing seemed to ponder a moment before it unleashed a torrent of Force lightning at the quartet of Jedi.

Barriss deflected the bolt skywards with her spinning saber staff. Anakin and Ashoka were parrying more than defecting and were being pushed back. Naruto leapt up from behind Bariss and unleashed his jutsu from above her yelling, "Rasenshuriken!" at the top of his lungs.

The Battlelord was puzzled as to why its foes hadn't died. It was still on the offensive and wide open when the wind enhanced disk of chakra impacted the monster dead on. The creature never knew what hit it and the thing exploded with a shockwave of pure Force energy that blew Naruto and his friends completely off their feet and sent them tumbling backwards.

The scream of agony the first Battlelord let loose drew the attention of the other one and the second came plodding around from behind the Sith Fortress about the time the four Jedi were unsteadily getting back to their feet. The Battlelord was clearly looking around for it's twin because it didn't seem notice Naruto and the others at all.

Seeing the creature wasn't paying any attention to them; the injured Jedi withdrew back towards the Ebony to lick their wounds. Then the Battlelord noticed them and unleashed a bolt of Force lightning that Naruto was able to deflect straight back at it. The monster's own lightning destroyed it and the second Battlelord exploded knocking the four Jedi out cold…

…

Almas Jedi Academy

Jedi Master Qel Bertuk was the first person that Naruto saw when he woke up. Several Jedi healers were around and Lanius said, "Welcome back to the world of consciousness Master Uzumaki. Your plan worked."

"What about the others?" asked Naruto blearily.

"They are all still asleep Master Naruto." answered the older Master. "You all needed minor medical treatment but Nala Ferge brought you all home safely."

The whiskered blonde laid back a relaxed knowing everyone was safe. "Is Nala still here Master Lanius?"

The graying man replied, "She is outside with the others burning a pyre for those lost against the Battlelords. Just rest for now and recover. We of Almas Academy will always be in your debt."

…

POSTSCRIPT:

*①: Forard is a town on Almas, and the only large settlement on the planet. It was built around the Almas Jedi Academy and had very little besides for basic services and entertainment facilities. The town grew in a circular pattern around the Academy, with one quarter of the circle housing the spaceport and other large facilities. People who were not students or Jedi were usually not allowed near the Academy, so there was a hole in the center of Forard between the Academy and the rest of the town. A research station stood just beyond the outskirts of the town. See Wookieepedia for details.

*②: The Believers are a Sith worshiping cult that formed in the Cularin System in the years preceding the Clone Wars. The cult was founded by the human Len Markus; a student of the art of Sith Magic. They seek to study the ways of the Dark Side of the Force and to challenge the Jedi Order in order to bring about a new age of the Sith.

*③: Mandalorian iron (also known as beskar) is one of the toughest metals known to science. Cherished for its incredible strength and durability, beskar was notable for being able to withstand blows from even a Light saber and was commonly thought to be nearly indestructible, making beskar more prized than durasteel or cortosis.

In the next installment we head back into space. See you next time. Blue out. 1/20/24