Chapter 2 – Trails of the Warrior
As Naruto exited the tomb the desert sands rushed with uncharacteristic intensity, leaving trails of miniature sandstorms threatening to unleash their full potential. As the sands whipped across the area, he marveled at the vaunting entrance of the Sith Academy. After the Sith Civil War and their retreat into the Unknown Regions of space, the Republic's leader Supreme Chancellor Pultimo ordered the destruction of Korriban and saw to the bombing of the Valley of the Dark Lords and the Sith Academy. When Korriban was retaken by the Empire, the Valley of the Dark Lords and the Sith Academy were quickly excavated and restored to their prime.
Walking forward he saw acolytes, overseers, and soldiers walk about. Following the Great War, the number of Sith had dwindled down, so the Sith Empire had become desperate in their search to replace those lost on the battlefield, allowing Force-sensitive slaves, captured Jedi and even aliens the opportunity to become acolytes and possibly join the Sith. Most were human and Sith Purebloods but there were also Cyborgs, Zabraks, a few Twi'leks and some Rattataki. Naruto guessed that Anyara was the only Cathar acolyte on Korriban since most of them join the Republic or become Bounty Hunters.
Reaching the top of the ramp, Naruto saw a beautiful Sith Pureblood with ruby red skin, black, curly hair, and piercing red eyes who beckoned him forward. The look she had said that she wanted something, whether it was trouble, or something else entirely, he couldn't possibly guess. So, he decided to walk towards the Pureblood and find out.
"Acolyte. I am assistant overseer Loun. I come with a message." She stated. "Overseer Tremel can teach you the ways of the Sith but not all of the skills. For that, there are specialists in the Academy and Overseer Tremel wishes you to meet with them and learn what you can.
Naruto nodded. "I understand assistant overseer. I believe that is a wise idea." While he spent his whole life training under Serevin and Malgus, that was limited to what they only knew. His father specialized in Ataru, Shien/Djem So, while Serevin taught him Shii-cho and Soresu, Jar'Kai was the form he taught himself along with Juyo. Training under specialists with a wider range of skills would be good for him.
"An acolyte who thinks. Good. There is hope for you yet. Overseer Rance is a master lightsaber combatant while Lord Samus has mastered many Force Powers and Dark Rituals. Both instructors can be found on the second level in the Academies Archive. Go." Loun dismissed with an arrogant glare.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. If the Purebloods had bothered to read their history, they might have been surprised to learn that the reason they were part of the Sith order was because humans first arrived on Korriban and subjugated their race in the first place. Though Naruto could not deny the sight of the beauty before him. When he studied part of the Sith Code "There is only Passion." Naruto had fully embraced his lust and passion for the female flesh. During the years he spent with his father's Expedition Force he had taken a few women to his bed. Human and non-human, captured POWs, slaves, civilians, even his own troops.
So, Naruto decided to take a chance. "May I also say that the pure blood in your veins gives you a very attractive coloring." He complimented flirtatiously, stepping closer.
"Oh my." Loun scoffed. "An acolyte attempting to court me? I commend you. You are either very bold or very stupid to do so, maybe a bit of both."
"Trust me assistant overseer, I do so simply because I can do so and have the power to back it up." He replied confidently, stepping forward until their chests were almost touching. Taking a gamble, he raised his left hand and gently stroke the Pureblood's right tendril handing from her cheek.
Loun was taken aback by the sudden gesture. Technically, the stroking of one's tendril was regarded as an intimate lover among Pureblood Sith. It was bad enough that this human had the gall to attempt at displaying his power before her. It angered yet impressed her at the same time, but she did not show it outwardly. Almost immediately, she slapped away his offending hand impassively and glared.
"I sense a great power buried within you acolyte, but until you unlock it, you are nothing. To even touch a pureblood woman, you must prove that the Sith runs strong through your muddied veins. A Sith woman only respects power. I will forgive your offence just this once. But I will not be merciful next time. Now leave! Maybe someday you may learn enough to impress me; maybe even bed me." The pureblood female hissed. Loun had seen many acolytes pass through these halls. Most of them ended up dead but she could not deny the impressive specimen before her. The whiskers marks and blue tipped ears gave the young man a wild appearance that she found…intriguing.
Naruto smirked and bowed as he entered the Academy and turned towards the stairs that led to the libraries and combat training rooms.
As the blond-haired acolyte reached the training room, he found the overseer he assumed was Rance dueling an acolyte. Both were using Form I but while the initiates style demonstrated a rather clumsy performance, Overseer Rance demonstrated a mastery of Shii-Cho as his strikes were fluid, highly randomized, and unpredictable. Eventually Rance disarmed the acolyte, followed by a force-enhanced punch to the gut which sent the initiate crashing into a wall.
"Pathetic." Overseer Rance spat. "You wish to follow the path of the Warrior, but you cannot even master the basic principles of the simplest form of Lightsaber Combat. Get out of my sight, filth!"
The young acolyte ran out the room as Naruto stepped forward, drawing Rance's attention.
"Ah yes. The new acolyte brought in by Tremel, good. I am Overseer Rance, master and instructor of Lightsaber Combat."
"I received Tremel's message to see you. Saying you can help me in in my skills with a lightsaber."
"That's correct. I sense that you are strong, but with my training you could be stronger. The Force is a weapon, I will show you how to wield it." Without giving a warning, Overseer Rance attacked the acolyte.
Naruto sidestepped the attack and jumped back as he drew his warblade and got in a traditional Shii-Cho stance. Rance attacked again and both opponents engaged in Form I combat. For five minutes Naruto and Rance blocked, parried, dodged, and struck blades as they tested each other, both seemingly equal in Form I. Rance soon backed off and switch to Form II, performing the Makashi salute as Naruto got in Form III, Soresu stance and the two were once again engaged in combat to test Naruto's skills. This continued with the five of the seven forms of Lightsaber combat Naruto knew, plus Jar'Kai, so Rance could see where Naruto excelled at.
At the end, Rance gave his report on Naruto's blade work. "Impressive, clearly, you've been better trained than most here. I dare say even Vemrin and Esorr Kayin for that matter couldn't match you. It seems your main strengths lies in Shii-Cho, Soresu, Shien/Djem So, and Ataru, your Juyo is at the level of an apprentice and your very adaptable in Jar'Kai. Tell me, who were your previous instructors."
Naruto knew he shouldn't give out too much information too soon but lying would not help as Rance was a veteran in the war and would sense his deception. "My instructors were Darth Serevin and Darth Malgus. I served with Malgus's Expedition Force for several years. I spent my last year on Ziost before Tremel transferred me here on Korriban." Naruto didn't need people to know he was Malgus's son…yet.
Rance's eyes widen at the statement. "I see. No wonder your mastery of Lightsaber Combat is so great. I didn't even know they had taken a student. Still, there is much for you to learn. Carry on acolyte.
With a bow Naruto left but not before noticing Anyara training with Lord Samus in a variation of Force Lighting.
Naruto made his way to Tremel's chambers through the corridors. Rounding a corner into the chamber adjacent to the withered Overseer's office, he was suddenly stopped by two figures; one bald and standing tall like a Rancor with a short beard and a Sith tattoo on the right side of his head and face, and the other slightly shorter with a more defined build and red buzzcut hairstyle with a crosscut scar on his face but sporting a nasty demeanor.
"Hey there, acolyte. Hold on a moment. Let me get a look at you." The latter barked. Naruto stopped and observed the two. The short one must have been Vemrin, the other, he didn't care. "Hmm. So, you're Overseer Tremels secret weapon, huh? I can tell your strong. But I'm afraid the old man waited too long to make his move, though. I'm Vemrin, and unlike you I've fought and bled for everything I have. I demand respect."
"Believe it or not Vemrin but we're actually cut from the same cloth. Though I doubt you can survive six months on your own on a hostile jungle planet. So, this is your only warning – you don't want to make me angry." Naruto growled.
"I'm trying to keep you from getting killed you fool. If Overseer Tremel had made his move a year ago when I first arrived, you might have stood a chance. But now - too little too late."
"This is ridiculous, Vemrin. Let's just kill him and hide the body!" The larger man finally speaking. It was obvious to Naruto that he was a typical oaf, all brawn no brain.
"We're not on Balmorra anymore, Dolgis. There are rules. Traditions. We'll leave the shortcuts to Overseer Tremel and his last pathetic hope here."
"You're not very good with people, are you? Nonetheless, I'm going to take what's yours and then I'm going to kill you." The blond-haired acolyte said.
Vemrin sneered. "You have no idea the enemy you are making. Coming Dolgis?"
"Be right there, Vemrin." Dolgis replied.
Vemrin, nodded and brushed past Naruto. Dolgis, however, stepped up to him to intimidate him.
"Listen to me you useless priss." Dolgis spat. "Acolytes aren't allowed to murder each other. But accidents happen. It isn't murder without witnesses. No more warnings. Vemrin's the alpha monster here. You go after Vemrin, you d—AUGH!" His rant was cutoff as Naruto gripped the large male by the throat with his foot and slammed him into the ground with an overhead somersault. This move was known as The Hammer of Ryloth, developed by Twi'lek martial artists. With Dolgis pinned he started choking underneath his boot.
"Now, you listen to me you worthless excuse of a Sith." Naruto hissed. "Run back to your master, tell him if he tries to cross me again, I will destroy him, after I destroy his world. Now get out of my sight!"
Lifting his boot, he turned as Dolgis ran. As he entered the room, he saw Tremel was having a conversation with another dark-skinned acolyte, a young woman with three long scars going down the left side of her face. She also had features similar to that of Tremel himself. Seeing Naruto, the Overseer said "Good you've returned. You seem to be in one piece, tell me how do you like your new blade?"
"It's sufficient, combined with my vibroblade I plan on drowning it in blood." Naruto replied.
It was at this moment that the young woman spoke up, addressing Tremel. "What are you doing father? I only just got my war blade, and I have been at the academy for six months." His now-identified daughter exclaimed.
"I have my reasons, Eskella. And you will not breathe a word of this to anyone. Do you hear?" The Overseer stated firmly.
"Yes. Yes, father." She bowed meekly.
"Acolyte, this is Eskella, my daughter. She's one of the advanced students here. On her way to becoming Sith. If she minds herself." He declared with a sharp look.
"I'll keep quiet about your new charge, Father. But I won't be there if whatever you're planning blows up in your face." Eskella snapped and turned to leave curtly.
Tremel turned back to Naruto. "Don't mind her she just sore that I am keeping secrets. She growls but she's loyal. Now I thought I heard Vemrin's voice in adjacent chamber before you arrived. Did he make his move already?"
Naruto shrugged "It was nothing that I couldn't handle." he said.
Tremel paused for a moment gathering his thoughts. "If he didn't attack, he must not realize how much of a threat you truly are. Good. Good. Still it would have been preferable if we had had more time. Vemrin is not the type to sniff around for too long before trying to take a bite."
"In the demand for numbers the entry requirements for the academy have been relaxed somewhat. Vemrin is of low birth, his parents both slaves, the invisible rot that is eating away at the foundation of the Empire. He must not be allowed to advance." Tremel explained.
While Naruto didn't really care where the empire got its numbers from, he decided to play along and said, "So please just let me kill him then, if he is such a threat."
Tremel tilted his head and said. "I don't really think you understand the seriousness of this threat." He then went off into a long rant about blood purity, while Naruto rolled his eyes and ignored the old bigot. He wondered what the reaction would be if he told him he was a Twi'lek-human hybrid. When Tremel finally got back on topic he said. "Unfortunately Vemrin's caught the eye of Darth Baras. One of the most influential Sith lords. He is being groomed to be Baras's new apprentice. As Darth Baras's apprentice, the power at his fingertips would be considerable, he could change the Empire for the worse."
"Now onto your next trial." Tremel continued. "I want you to interrogate three prisoners in the academy jails and decide their fates. Consider each criminal's story carefully, for they will be scrutinized. Let your passions guide your judgments."
"It won't be a problem" Naruto replied, thinking this would be a simple trial.
Tremel nodded and said "Speak to head jailer Knash and pass judgement on the prisoners. Return to me when you are done."
Naruto bowed and left.
A short while later, Naruto was entering the academy jails when he overheard a conversation. Deciding to keep his presence hidden for the moment, he listened in.
"One more chirp from you, little bird, and you'll regret it!" Grunted a bald man sporting a goatee.
"Chirp. Chirp, chirp!" quipped a lithe, lean and Rutian blue Twi'lek with violet eyes. Seeing her reminded Naruto of his mother Eleena as he clenches his locket. The sound of electrocution via shock collar emanating from the room brought him out of his thoughts. "Arguuhhh! Ow, Jerk! If you don't like that, just say so. I can do other animals too! Dire-cat, frog-dog, Kowakian monkey-lizard, you name it."
"Ahem." Naruto coughed, making his presence known. Immediately, the bald man spun and directed his attention to the newcomer.
"You. I'm jailer Knash. I run these cells and slave pits. You're the acolyte Tremel sent for the test, right?" It was a rhetorical question, so he kept quiet as he looked Naruto up and down as if to calculate his worth. "Hrmph. He thinks highly of you."
"That's good to hear. This challenge should be relatively easy to complete."
"Then you should know this situation is highly unusual. Normally, an acolyte goes offworld for the interrogation. Overseer Tremel had these three shipped in for you." Knash stated with a quirked brow. "He thinks you're the next coming of Exar Kun. But you ought to know, Tremel ain't the only one paying attention to you."
"Now, these three prisoners have been transferred here for your inspection. You gotta interrogate them as needed, and then decide their fate. The convicted are usually executed or given a trial by combat to see if they're worthy. Whatever you decide, you will be the one to carry out the sentence." Knash explained.
Naruto smirked. "Hopefully this will keep me entertained."
"Hrmph. Fine, lets get started. We'll start with the one on the left, she-
Before the jailer could continue the prisoner spat. "You freaks aren't getting anything new out of me. Just do whatever you're gonna do and get it over with." Stepping up to the bars of the cage Naruto took a few seconds to get the measure of the woman before he got started.
"So, you're hoping for blind mercy? Do you know where you are woman?" He asked
Strangely she wasn't fazed by this and replied back "You don't have to tell me. There's no such thing as mercy among the Sith. I know how this story ends."
The jailer shook his head. "Defiant till the end. As I was saying, she was hired to kill an imperial spy in the Yavin system. Throughout her torture she maintained that she was hired anonymously."
The woman snapped. "Get it through your damn head! I had no idea my target was imperial, and I don't know who hired me."
"So you're telling me your not a Republic assassin?"
"I'm not political. I work for whoever pays."
"The point is, she doesn't deny the charge. So now you must choose, execution or trial by combat?"
Naruto paused for a moment thinking over all the facts that he had heard about. "She will face neither sentence. Send her to Imperial Intelligence, they could always use some new recruits."
"I don't come cheap." The assassin said.
Nodding at his decision the jailer moved Naruto onto the next prisoner.
"Please, I am a fellow Sith. Judge me with an open mind and grant me trial by combat, I beg you!" The bald and clean-shaven occupant exclaimed. Naruto noticed some cybernetic implants jutting out from beneath his skin around his chin, meaning he may have turned himself partly into a cyborg.
"Shut up." Naruto said as Knash explained.
"This pile of waste is Devotek." Knash spat. "Once a valued Sith champion, until he botched an important mission and caused a thousand imperial deaths. Now look at him, pathetic."
"I served faithfully for twenty-four years. Then one mistake and they threw me away. Now, I have been left here to rot. Please, let me feel the weight of a weapon once more."
Naruto sneered back at him, someone who was as useless as this fool did not deserve to live. "You shall feel the weight of a blade once more…" for a moment the fallen warrior looked hopeful "in your throat!"
Before he had a chance to reply Naruto reached out with the force and choked him. Devotek fell to his knees from the pain and Naruto kept his promise. He drew his vibroblade and thrust it through the throat of the disgraced warrior. He did not deserve the honor of dying by his Sith warblade. Withdrawing the bloody weapon Naruto turned as the jailer said to him. "Good I won't have to look at his miserable face anymore. Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
The jailer grunted and continued. "Well this last prisoner is a bit of a puzzle. He's called Brehg, a jittery little wretch. Accused of supplying forged documents to republic agents." A male Nemoidian sat in the cage, scanning him up and down Naruto spotted signs of recent torture all over the aliens' body. "Strangely he maintains that he's innocent despite being severely tortured."
As soon as the jailer finished speaking the Brehg quickly replied in his own language "That's because I am innocent. I had absolutely nothing to do with forging those papers. I was set up!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow skeptically and asked. "Come now, who would go to all that trouble just to set you up?"
"I have no idea, but they did it because I am the perfect candidate to implicate in this." Brehg said "Yes, I did some time in a republic jail for forgery. So, it gave whoever did this a fall guy if their operation was discovered. But ever since I got out, I have been completely straight, I swear no illegal activity."
Running his hands through his beard the jailer said "Hmm. He's never wavered from that line and the evidence is circumstantial. I suppose it's possible that he didn't do it. So, what do you decided?"
Naruto paused for a moment and thought through the evidence in his head. If he decided to release the Nemoidian he would lose respect among the Sith in the academy and that wouldn't improve his chances of moving up in the ranks. Finally he said. "I don't care if he is innocent or not. Torture him enough and he'll confess!" To prove his point he choked Brehg with Force Choke which brought the alien to his knees, gasping for air.
"Please no it's just not fair!"
"Shut up you fidgety fool. The decisions been made." The jailer said "You're an interesting one kid, I can see why people are keeping an eye on you. I will be transmitting your results to Overseer Tremel. He will then tell you what he thinks of your choices."
Nodding curtly, Naruto left the jail.
When Naruto returned to Tremel's office, there was another acolyte already in the room explaining something to Tremel.
Leaning against the door, Naruto listened to the acolyte convers with Tremel. "Is this everything?" He grunted.
"Everything Lord Renning was able to obtain, yes." Said acolyte replied.
"Then run back to your master in the beast pens, before I cut you in half." Tremel growled. Sensing obvious danger, the acolyte turned and hurried away. The weathered overseer sighed and stood up to address his charge. "Sorry to make you wait, acolyte. These interruptions are incredibly annoying."
Naruto nodded as Tremel voiced his frustrations. He knew being an Overseer of the Sith Academy would keep him busy, so he just kept quiet as he waited for the Overseers judgment of his trial.
"Now on the business at hand: your test in the jails. First, the assassin, Solentz. She attempted to kill an Imperial spy but was unaware of her client's affiliation. You assigned her to Imperial Intelligence. I commend you, that was excellent thinking. Never waste a potential resource."
"I'm glad you approve Overseer, she'll either prove to be a valuable asset or just more meat for the grinder." Naruto replied.
Tremel nodded. "What's more is that Darth Baras would approve. Now Devotek, the former warrior. He wanted trial by combat, but you struck him down. Perfect. The man was utterly worthless."
"I do not ever choose to waste my time."
"Agreed. Once something is used up, it should be eradicated. Lastly, the forger you sent back for more torture even though he seemed innocent. A strong decision. Leave no stone unturned."
"The ripple from even a tiny stone can flow a great distance, Overseer."
"Well, well…" Tremel said with a smirk. "…look who just turned deep and insightful. It's always best to know beyond any doubt. After all, what is one man's sanity or life versus the fate of the Empire. Hmm, each time you faced a prisoner, you made the best possible decision. You may yet be able to challenge Vemrin for Baras's attention. To celebrate: a reward."
Pressing a button underneath his table, a hidden armory in the wall opened up, revealing a beautifully crafted curved blade.
"This is an Honor Guard's vibrosword that was gifted to me when I was very young. On my way to becoming Sith, I saved an Honor Guard's life, and he gifted me with this blade. I've since moved on but still keep it in good condition."
Naruto walked over and picked up the blade. He could tell it was made from tempered metal and had a compact ultrasonic generator to increasing its deadliness. Parallel to the edge of the blade was an electro-plasma filament. Activating it, a stream of purple plasma ran along the edge of the blade.
The blond gave it a few practice swings, and he liked it. Looking at the Classic Vibroblade at his waist he decided to discard it since the weapon was a credit a dozen throughout the galaxy.
"Thank you very much overseer." Naruto bowed.
"Thank yourself, acolyte. It's performances like this that might just beat the extreme odds you're facing. Now, because I forced you into the Academy ahead of schedule, Darth Baras will be predisposed to judging you severely. And by severely, I mean fatally. Now we must hurry to your next trial. Every day that passes is a risk of Baras discovering you before you're ready. In the caverns of Marka Ragnos is the beast he left to guard his legacy. Go there, sit among the flames, and wait for the beast to come to you."
Before Tremel continued Naruto interrupted. "I should know more Overseer. Do you have any idea the manner of creature this beast is?"
Tremel shook his head. "Anyone who has gone after it has not returned but know that defeating this creature will take your best effort. Tomorrow, you will return to the Valley of the Dark Lords and find the tomb of Marka Ragnos. You will slay it, or you will die. Good luck." Tremel said, indicating for Naruto to leave.
Naruto returned to Rance and for the next couple of hours worked hard to improve his skills. To improve his speed, Rance had him wear weights on his arms and legs while he practiced his Juyo as the seventh form was the most demanding form of lightsaber combat with its fast movements that utilized bold, direct attacks. By the end of his training session he was left physically exhausted and all he wanted to do was eat dinner and go to bed.
Entering the cafeteria, he spotted Anyara eating by herself with a platter of meats. Getting his food, he sat across from her and ate his.
"Something wrong, Anyara?" Naruto asked as he ate while noticing that his fellow acolyte tear into her food.
"Oh everything's fine Naruto…" The Cathar female said as she tore into another piece of meat. "…except for the fact that the Overseer in charge of my trails is a kriffing xenophobic piece of Hutt shit! Harkun's obsessed over some pureblood named Ffon to be Darth Zash's apprentice that they've already killed two other acolytes. It doesn't help that Harkun has singled me out as the center of his disgust because I'm not human or pureblood."
Naruto frowned. He knew being a slave would be tough for Anyara but being an alien slave was making things even tougher for her.
"Well I wouldn't worry it…" Naruto said, trying to comfort her. "I've seen how strong you are. You'll pass your trials no problem, and if you need help with Ffon, just ask and I'll kill him."
Anyara smile. "My, aren't you sweet. But I think I can take care of myself."
The two continued to eat and make small talk for several moments before they went to bed.
Here is the second chapter. Hope you all like it. I wanted to do more but I'm trying to keep my chapters between 9 and 12 pages.
Not much going on except Naruto going through his first trials. Had to replay SWTOR but my computer is so old (6) that's it's so slow so I'm forced to watch video's on Youtube. Trying to raise money for a new one.
I don't just do the main missions in SWTOR. I'm a perfectionist. I do all the side quests and think of ways I can add them to my story.
Next chapter won't just be "Slaying the Beast" mission but also the "Dark Science" mission you get from Lord Renning.
For those familiar with the game, I had Naruto replace his Classic Lightweight Vibrosword with a Dark Honor Guard's Curved Vibrosword. You can look at all the Armor and Weapons in swtorista site.
For those who want me to update my other stories, like I said I'm getting as much of my idea's out as I can before updating current ones but this story does hold a special place in my heart.
As always, please leave a review and if you have any constructive critisism it is welcome. No flames please.