Rodrigu Battle

Rodrigu Battle was an Iridonian Zabrak pit fighter who fought at the fighting pits on the planet Nar Kanji during the reign of the Galactic Empire, where he was an undefeated champion among his class. In 3 ABY, he fought in a match against the underdog human fighter Tasu Leech. During the battle, the blade that was attached to one of his limbs was severed by Leech, losing him the fight soon after. After the fight, Battle promised his opponent that he would combat him again as soon as he replaced his missing parts.
Sometime later, the Zabrak was recruited by Grand Leader Vukorah of the Unbroken Clan criminal syndicate to serve her as a bodyguard. He was present in Coronet City on the Core Worlds planet Corellia when the crew of the bounty hunter T'onga, including Battle's old competitor Leech, undertook a mission to capture Vukorah as part of their hunt for Cadeliah, the rightful heir of the syndicate. Battle once again fought Leech, being defeated a second time while losing his right leg in the process before he fell off a high platform.
Following his loss on Corellia, Battle was at Jabba's Palace along with other mercenaries and bounty hunters when the cyborg Beilert Valance entered uninvited. Insulted by his presence, the Hutt Jabba Desilijic Tiure put an immediate bounty on Valance to be captured. Battle took his chance to apprehend the cyborg, but Valance took him down and severed his new right leg cybernetics.
==Biography==
===Against an underdog===
By 3 ABY,Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of Bounty Hunters 15 to 3 ABY. during the reign of the Galactic Empire, Rodrigu Battle was a pit fighter in the fighting pits of the Hutt colony worldStar Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary Nar Kanji. He was undefeated among his class, giving him a high reputation, and was popular among the crowd due to his outstanding record. That year, Battle was introduced to a match with a roaring crowd, being called the "breaker of bones" and "crusher of spirits;" among the audience was the human bounty hunter T'onga and her wife,Bounty Hunters 33 Losha Tarkon, who originally thought they were there to hire the Zabrak for a job. T'onga then corrected Tarkon that they were there for his opponent instead, whom the announcer proceeded to announce: the human fighter Tasu Leech, who was considered an underdog. The two fighters had a pair of large blades each, ready for a fight.
Starting the match, Battle engaged the human. As they tussled, Battle offered Leech a last chance to beg for mercy, an offer the human mocked, angering the Zabrak. Battle threatened Leech that he would feast on his human heart and pick his teeth with his spine. Leech smirked and remarked as to how he could possibly carry through with his threats after he had cut off Battle's limb. Fulfilling the threat he made to the Zabrak, Leech proceeded to cut off Battle's limb attachment, which was one of the blades he used to fight prior, then held Battle at knifepoint. The Zabrak promised to take on Leech as soon as he had replaced his missing parts. Leech considered Battle a noble foe and honored the Zabrak's words, leaving the pit with his new trophy. His loss caused people betting on him to lose money, including the Imperial Inferno Squad agent Del Meeko, who had bet twenty credits on the Zabrak.
===Hired muscle===
Sometime between 3 ABY and 4 ABY, establishes that the events of Star Wars: Bounty Hunters, including Bounty Hunters 21, take place between the events of and , which Star Wars: Timelines dates to 3 ABY and 4 ABY, respectively. after his loss against Leech, Battle was hired by the criminal syndicate Unbroken Clan and made his way to the Core Worlds planet Corellia to pose as a bodyguard and protect Grand Leader Vukorah, who had recently taken over the Clan from its previous leader. He was walking in Coronet City, along with Vukorah and other Unbroken Clan soldiers, to show off their might. Unbeknownst to the syndicate, a disguised Leech, along with the Trandoshan bounty hunter Bossk, approached the grand leader and offered a captured T'onga. The grand leader welcomed T'onga to Coronet City, claiming the city as Unbroken Clan territory. T'onga reminded her about the true heir of the criminal syndicate, Cadeliah, aggravating Vukorah about her position and title as the grand leader. Vukorah ordered her soldiers to execute T'onga, but an attack came from above, interrupting her execution. Fulfilling what he was hired to do, Battle directed Grand Leader Vukorah towards a vehicle to keep her safe from the attacks, though she disregarded the directive, deducing that it was a trap setup by T'onga and her crew.
Other members of T'onga's crew then came to her aid, including, to Battle's dismay, Leech. The former pit fighter took off his disguise and revealed himself amongst the assailants that had attacked the Unbroken Clan and then confronted his "old friend." Though he declined, Battle told Leech to accept his inevitable defeat with honor. As the two fought, Battle then cornered Leech. The human questioned if Battle was still upset about the loss of his arm and promised not to cut his arm during their current fight. Leech threw his knife at the Zabrak, which cut right through his right leg, fulfilling his promise of not cutting Battle's arm. The loss of his leg caused Battle to fall from a high platform, ending the fight. His failure to defeat Leech contributed to Vukorah's capture by the assailants.
Sometime later, Battle was at Jabba's Palace on the planetStar Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, Updated and Expanded Tatooine along with other mercenaries and bounty hunters when the human cyborg Beilert Valance barged into the throne room uninvited. Angered by the cyborg's presence, the Hutt Jabba Desilijic Tiure considered it an insult and ordered Valance to be captured. Jabba told them that whoever handed him Valance would rise in his esteem and be rewarded fifty thousand credits. Battle licked the blade of his arm attachment with a smile and took a chance at the cyborg. With a battle-ax he took from a Gamorrean Guard, Valance hacked his way through and took Battle down by cutting off his new leg cybernetics, much to Battle's displeasure.
==Personality and traits==
Rodrigu Battle was a muscle-bound Iridonian Zabrak with tan skin. He was covered with red tattoo-like markings all over his body. With his title of being "undefeated," Battle underestimated his competitors in the fighting pits, even after his loss, which tarnished his clean record. Battle was upset to lose his leg once more when it was severed by Beliert Valance.
==Skills and abilities==
Being a seasoned pit fighter, Battle was skilled in close-quarters combat. His massive build allowed him to become more aggressive, though it also gave his opponent an opportunity to strike back. His show of strength convinced Tarkon that Battle could take on the Empire alone, while Leech considered him to not be much of a test. The Zabrak spoke Galactic Basic Standard and was able to understand Jablogian.
==Equipment==
The Zabrak had a pair of large knives, one of which was attached to his left hand. During his pit fighting days, Battle wore a pair of black pants with a brown belt. When employed by the Unbroken Clan, Battle wore a black jacket with a black top underneath and a pair of black gloves. After his fight with Leech on Corellia, Battle got a new right leg cybernetics to replace his missing limb.
==Behind the scenes==
Rodrigu Battle first appeared in the fifteenth issue of the 2020 Marvel comic-book series Star Wars: Bounty Hunters, which was released on August 4, 2021. The issue was written by Ethan Sacks and illustrated by Paolo Villanelli.
==Appearances==
*Bounty Hunters 15 
*Bounty Hunters 21
*Bounty Hunters 33 
*Bounty Hunters 42
==Notes and references==
Category:Bodyguards
Category:Gladiators
Category:Individuals of unspecified gender
Category:Individuals with he/him pronouns
Category:Individuals with lost limbs
Category:Iridonians
Category:Unbroken Clan members
Category:Zabrak