Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
A/N Double update, read this Ch (21) first! Also, If you got an update before seeing these It was a combination of Doc not saving this A/N, and Kuro wanted to do a double update due to us being ahead and wanted to go ahead and do Naruto going back home as soon as I uploaded just Ch 21.
Beta: Chaos-PSD. Contributor: Kuronodono12.
Chapter XXI: Bounty Hunters.
Courage Makes Heroes, But Trust Builds Friendship.
The death toll rises! As the battles intensify and threaten a growing number of Republic worlds, planets are left to survive on their own. While the Jedi struggle to fight a war on many fronts, a series of medical stations have been established as a lifeline for those in need, but the facilities are easy prey for Separatist attacks. After losing contact with the medical station orbiting Felucia, Naruto Uzumaki, and Zule Xiss are accompanied by Sabine Wren and a group of Mandalorians to investigate….
Felucia.
One of Naruto's gunships crashed onto the planet before Naruto's blade cut a hole in the door. He and Zule walked out with a group of Mandalorians and Sabine. "That could have gone better."
"Where on Felucia do you think we are?" Zule asked as they looked around.
"I'm not sure," Naruto replied as the Mandalorians checked their weapons while animals growled.
Sabine looked around after putting her helmet on. "I don't like the sound of that."
Naruto just pointed ahead at that. "And I don't like the look of that."
They looked ahead to see a group of other species of Rancors. They have brightly colored skin, sharp spines that run along much of their body as well as its tongue, and webbing between their fingers and toes. They also have much larger jaws.
"We don't want to scare them." Naruto finished before a male Mandalorian walked to Naruto.
"We can't just wander around aimlessly. We need a plan."
"Yeah, my comm got busted in the crash," Naruto stated as BD had jumped down to scan one of the Rancor and ran back to jump on Naruto's back. "So unless you have something we should find shelter."
"Uh, if you two are done," Zule said before pointing ahead to smoke rising in the distance. "I think there's some smoke on the horizon. Which means people, and a way off this planet."
The group then started walking to the smoke and after a while came up to see huts. "Look. There's a village."
"Maybe they have a ship we can borrow," Naruto said as they walked in and saw it was a large farm.
"Hmm, they're growing healing herbs. Nysillim, I believe." Sabine said as they walked through the crops. "One of the most valuable crops in the galaxy."
Zule looked at the huts and saw no one was inside. "This place looks deserted."
Naruto crossed his arms as BD scanned one of the pink plants. "I don't believe it is. The crops are ready to be harvested. Tools are lying about. No, something's amiss.
Sabine then saw a barn before walking to it. "Well, there's one thing I learned as I grew up. If you want to know what a farmer's up to, look in their barn."
Going to the barn, they opened it and saw a ship was inside. "This is an odd ship for farmers." Naruto mused as Zule looked back to the crops.
"Perhaps someone's here to pick up the sillim."
"I still don't get it. Where is everyone?" Naruto asked before they walked ahead to a hut.
Zule followed and while looking around, saw a hatch on the door, and opened it showing a family of aliens. "Mystery solved."
They're short in stature, with thick legs and four-fingered hands. They have elongated heads with reptilian faces, similar to that of a tortoise, with beady eyes wearing overalls.
"They're terrified," Zule said looking down as someone walked in behind them. "It's okay, we won't hurt you." She finished before hearing a gun cock.
Naruto looked to see a female Zabak alien with black hair styled in a mohawk/top knot wearing a red sleeveless top with vambraces, and dark chaps over pants pointing a pistol at Zule.
He also saw an alien wearing armor and a tall lanky, bipedal humanoid alien with green skin. He's wearing corrective lenses and a highly pressurized filter mask, a metal circular hat, armor on his chest, and tan pants and boots.
And then saw a female alien holding a sniper rifle. She's tall, has red skin and four nostrils set upon a narrow snout, and has four fingers on each hand, with the one next to the thumb is the larger. She's wearing a hooded cloak with the hood pulled up.
These are Sugi, Embo, Rumi Paramita, and Seripas.
"Kindly drop your weapons, Jedi," Sugi said as Naruto raised his hands
"Take it easy, Zule. We don't want any trouble." Naruto said as Embo spoke in an alien language. "It's not always about the numbers."
"Four on one is hardly a fair fight, even for a Jedi," Rumi said as Zule took offense to that.
"Wait a minute, four on one? You mean four on two."
Seripas looked over to the Padawan. "We don't count you, knee-high."
"Do you count me?"
Sabine asked walking in holding her pistols as the other Mandalorians flew outside pointing their weapons inside.
"Stop! Don't harm them!" One of the male Felucians yelled. "Can't you see these are Jedi? We are saved!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow at that. "Saved?
Sugi glanced at the alien before speaking. "Need I remind you, Casiss, you already made a deal with us?"
"But with the Jedis' help-"
Casiss was then interrupted by Zule. "Excuse me, but help you with what?"
"Pirates," Casiss replied before explaining that pirates have been asking for a portion of their crops or they would attack them.
"Simply stated, if we don't give the pirates a portion of our crop, they will destroy our homes with us in them."
"Hmm, I see your dilemma," Naruto said as he saw this happen before remembering meeting the Mandalorians for one of his first missions. "Since the war began, Pirates and other criminals do this since most of the authorities have their attention on helping out with the war."
"Sillim farming is a meager trade. Without our herbs to sell, we will have no money for food, fuel, or equipment."
"And yet you can afford to pay mercenaries?" Naruto asked, pointing to the mercenaries in the room.
"These bounty hunters drive a far more reasonable bargain than the pirates."
"Why not just fight them yourselves?" Zule asked as Casiss turned to her.
"Easy for you, perhaps. But look at us. We are farmers, not warriors. Even with the bounty hunters' help, I had feared the worst. But now, there are more of you."
Sugi then turned to Naruto before speaking. "What do you want, Jedi?"
"We need a ship. Ours is beyond repair, I'm afraid. The one in the barn, that'll do."
"Ha-Ha! That's our ride. It doesn't go anywhere without us. And right now, we're busy." Sugi said before Zule spoke.
"Busy extorting farmers?"
"I don't hear you offering to help."
"Unfortunately at the moment, we couldn't help even if we wanted to."
"What?" Zule asked, looking to her Master. "Master, these farmers are in trouble. Why can't we help them?"
"We need to report that the medical station has been destroyed. If we stay too long, the Separatists will show up looking for us here."
"But-"
"They have the bounty hunters." Naruto interrupted. "Better they face off against pirates than attract the interest of General Grievous and his horde."
"Pirates! Pirates, pirates! The pirates are back!"
They turned to see a group of Weequays, Rodians, Humans, and several pig-like and reptilian-like aliens.
Sugi then walked up to the lizard who was in front of wearing blue clothes.
"That's far enough. I speak for the people of this village. State your name and business."
"My name is my own business. And my business is taking what's ours."
"There is nothing here that's in yours," Naruto said, walking up as the Mandalorians all walked up reaching for their weapons. "Unless you're here to buy it. Wait… I know you." He said zeroing on the lizard alien in front of him. "You're Ziro's man Uldux. So resorted to pirating after your boss got arrested huh?"
"Wouldn't have to if you Jedi didn't arrest him!"
"Leave," Naruto ordered as the Mandalorians pulled their weapons out.
After dealing with the pirates, the group went back into a hut where BD had a holo-map of the farm on the table so they could come up with a plan. And Naruto decided to give anyone on the farm who wanted to fight lessons as not to attack any attention from Separatists.
"When the attack comes, it will come from two fronts. The forest to the south, and the ridge to the north. Whatever you do, you must defend both sides."
"But there are only four of them." One Felucian said, wearing a hat. "How can four bounty hunters defend against so many?" Embo then spoke up in his language before the Felucian continued.
"But we are just simple farmers. Why are we paying bounty hunters to defend us if we are just going to end up doing it ourselves?"
"Hush, Dilanni." The older Felucian spoke.
Naruto just smirked at that. "Trust me. We'll have you ready. Plus if Sabine and her men want to help, that should be more than enough. This isn't my first time doing this and besides the training of you is really in case no one is near you if a pirate attacks... Or another group? You can protect yourself at least until you get help."
As dawn approached, Naruto and the Mandalorians helped put the crops into the barn. "Put it in the barn. Every bushel." Sugi said as Sabine was giving the other farmers training.
"All right, everyone, form up." She said as they just stood still
"Um..."
"Divide into rows of five." She said getting them all to murmur.
"I told you, we are not soldiers. "We don't even have weapons," Dilanni said as Sabine walked to him and gestured to his staff.
"May I?" She took it and spun it around as she made several attacks with it. "Yep, these will do."
Up at the barn, Naruto and Sugi were looking at the crops. "What happens if you need the barn as a fallback position? With all the sillim here, it will be difficult to squeeze the farmers in." Naruto said as BD beeped while looking over his shoulder.
"(Trills)"
"There's room," Sugi said as Naruto sighed.
"I worry that you care more for the safety of the sillim than you do for the safety of the villagers.
"You think I'm only worried about my profit. Is that it?"
"I've worked with bounty hunters before. The thought had crossed my mind."
"So, in your mind, I'm just like any other pirate."
"You are better looking than most. But am I wrong?"
"Heh! Not entirely. But it is easier to protect the villagers and the sillim if they're both in the same place." Sugi explained as Naruto nodded.
"Then might I suggest-"
"You might suggest anything you like, General Uzumaki. But I know what I'm doing, and I will keep these people safe, my way."
"Then you aren't like most bounty hunters I met," Naruto said, seeing Zule with Seripas creating walls by sawing trees before Seripas tried to hold onto one and Zule pushed the bounty hunter away as it fell.
"Seripas?" She asked as his suit hissed and started to open.
"Don't look! I'm having a suit malfunction." She then saw Seripas was a small alien with bulbous, bug-eyes, and a tiny mouth with sharp teeth wearing a blue bodysuit.
"Not very intimidating, am I?"
"You don't have to look tough to be tough," Zule said, crossing her arms as Seripas closed his suit and stood up before replying in a deep voice.
"I thank you for your help."
Up with Sabine, Embo laughed as several of the farmers fell while training.
"The bounty hunter is right," Dilanni said to The Mandalorian. "Every minute you waste teaching us to twirl these stupid poles is time you could have spent beating those pirates yourself."
"And what good would that do you?" Sabine asked, crossing her arms over her chest plate. "Another band of brigands would inevitably come along. Or do you intend to give away part of your crop every harvest season?"
"If you make us do this, there won't be another harvest season!"
"All right, everyone, get back in position," Sabine said, ignoring the farmer. "Let's continue."
They then started going through each move before a male Mandalorian spoke pointing to the cliff overlooking the farm. "There! A scout!"
"Embo!"
Embo grunted before running after the scout pulling a crossbow from his back and shot the speedster bike near the farm. Embo then grabbed the scout and broke his neck.
"Quick work," Naruto said as Embo just grunted. "Yes, but when this scout fails to report to Uldux, he'll be coming, soon."
Pirates Hideout.
In the pirate's hideout, one of the men went to Uldux to report on their scout not reporting in. "The scout has not checked in From the village. He's long overdue."
"Well, well, well. So it looks like the Jedi are getting involved, doesn't it? Or, at least we now know we can't take these villagers for granted. But you know what I always say. 'Speak softly and drive a big tank.'"
Uldux finished walking to a tank in the back of the hideout.
Farm.
"The farmers are in position. Well, the ones who stuck around, anyway." Sabine said as Naruto nodded
"Very well, Sabine. Turn on the fence." They then hear rumbling in the distance after the fences turned on.
"Battle positions, everyone!"
The pirates came in on speedsters before the bounty hunters and Mandalorians started firing with Rumi on a roof using her rifle. The farmers also attacked with traps and their weapons. Embo rode on a stolen speedster and threw his hat around blocking shots and hitting more men before stopping ad was hit with a blast from the tank
"Embo!"
They ran to him as Sugi dropped down in front of Embo. "Embo, can you hear me?" She asked as he groaned weakly. "You'll be alright. We'll get you inside."
"Everyone, fall back to the barn!" Naruto yelled as the tank started firing.
That tank is going to tear the villagers apart." Sugi said before Naruto ran ahead with Sabine.
"Get him inside. We'll hold them off as long as we can."
"Die, Jedi scum!"
"No! Sugi! Watch your flank!"
Naruto and Sabine ran up to the tank where Naruto fought Uldux and Sabine ran in and turned the tank off before Naruto blocked several strikes from an electrostaff before quickly spinning and beheading the pirate.
"The day is won!" Casiss yelled getting the rest to cheer. "There are crops to harvest, fields to till, huts to rebuild. Now, let's get to work." He then turned to the group as Naruto and Sabine joined. "How can I ever thank you for saving our village?"
"We didn't save your village, Casiss. Your people did." Sabine said, taking her helmet off.
"For the first time in my memory, my people don't have to be afraid. We will never forget you."
"Still need that ride back to the Republic outpost?" Sugi asked as Naruto nodded.
"If it wouldn't be any inconvenience."
"On the contrary, it would be my pleasure," Sugi replied as they walked to her ship.
Coruscant; Knight's Billet, Naruto's Room.
Naruto was finishing working on the seal he had a vision of when getting his crystal before smiling. "There, done."
To Be Continued.
A/N: Thanks for reading and let me know of any mistakes.
Beta: Chaos-PSD. Contributor: Kuronodono12.
Double update, read this Ch (21) first! Also, If you got an update before seeing these it was a combination of Doc not saving this part of the A/N and Kuro wanted to do a double update due to us being ahead and wanted to go ahead and do Naruto going back home.
OK, the next Ch (23) will go up with the next EMH hopefully by next week as for the foreseeable future, I am without a car so I will have extra time to write. The reason being is I live in an area where once a year a car needs to pass a safety inspection.
(Check the lights, brakes, belts Etc.) and the chemicals they put on the roads when it snows ate my undercarriage so it didn't pass because it rusted to the point it's unsafe to drive. That started back when I got the car when I got my license as at that time, they put harsh chemicals down that turned the road white and when hearing how badly it did rust cars we started to wash it. But the damage had started and worsened over time.
So for those of you who live in an area where it snows, wash your car at least once a week (Mainly when they put salt/chemicals on the road for a storm)
Nothing else to say.
Talk To You Later,
Lone Wolf Out.