07.32.2002

It's been just a year since I first left Glee Anselm and ventured out into the Galaxy in search of... well I'm not quite sure what I left in search of but one thing's sure... I've found out more in the past year about myself than I have in all my years back on Glee Anselm. I've met new and strange people from humans to Wookiees and everything in between. I'm still not quite sure what I'm doing out here... you'd think that in a Galaxy filled with so many different peoples a little Nautolan from Glee Anselm would feel completely out of place. And perhaps in a way I do... however in some strange way... I feel... at home.</font>

Zanik put the datapad down for a second and looked out into the twilight sky of Coruscant. It was nothing like Glee Anselm and that didn't unsettle him. It felt good to be free, not trapped within the confines of the Nautolan family structure, what he did now affected him and him only and that meant something.

He sat there on the side of the building... amazingly within the dense population of Coruscant he had the area mostly to himself... and the rats. Of course as soon as he walked out onto the main street there would be thousands of people again, there always were in Coruscant. It would be near impossible to feel lonely on a planet like Coruscant Zanik thought.

"Hey you... get out of here kid!" The man said coming from behind the building.

"Who..wha?" Zanik said as it was all he could muster.

"Get up... get out of here..." The man said leaning over him offering a hand to help him up from his relaxed position.

"uh..O.." And before Zanik could offer another confused word another group of men came from behind the building.

"Blood Razors... let's get out of here kid." The man said pulling Zanik to his feet.

"Hey squid head... give me your 'pad." One of the men in the back of the group said. There were at least five of them and likely more not far behind.

Zanik looked down to his datapad and gripped it ever more firmly.

"Kid toss them the 'pad and let's get out of here." The man who stood in front of him said.

The man snatched it out of his hand before he could even give it a second thought, or a first for that matter and tossed it over to the gang grabbing Zanik and pulling him away from the ruckus.

"Wait!" Zanik exclaimed as he turned to see his datapad recieved by one of the thugs. He pulled himself away from the man and ran towards the gang that was now in possession of his datapad.

"No kid! Don't!!!" The man stood there for a second. "What have I gotten myself into?" He whispered to himself.

Zanik was greeted by a swift fist to the chin. His momentum caused him to fly backwards landing on his head first, the rest of his body fell with a dull thud.

He got up quickly and did the same thing. However this time lucky enough for him the thug did also. When the man pulled his arm back he telegraphed his punch just enough for Zanik to duck, as the punch sailed just over his head the man's body involuntarily lunged forward. As this happened Zanik picked the larger man up using his own momentum to send him sailing several meters away.

He still however had one solitary focus and that was to retrieve his datapad. The next man between him and his datapad through a swift punch to Zanik's midsection which could not be avoided. This folded Zanik's frame as he gasped having the wind knocked out of him. A huge hulking man came running from behind the gangster and sent Zanik a kick to his face as he was tee'd up perfectly for the man. Zanik flew back slamming into the side of the building. He was knocked out cold. The last thing he saw was the largest boot he'd ever seen sending him into slumber land.

"Hey kid! Wake up kid!" The man said as he shook Zanik vigorously.

As Zanik slowly came to he found himself sprawled out across a bed. His vision was blurry at first but as it slowly came into focus he saw the man from the alley.

As soon as he realized what had happened in the alley he began looking around frantically. "My Datapad! They took my..."

"Hey kid... calm down." The man said, cutting him off mid sentence. He reached over and grabbed something off the table and tossed it to Zanik.

"My Datapad!?! But how'd you... Thank you!" Zanik said releasing a deep sigh of relief. "There were like, five of them... They were pretty big, how'd you?" Zanik said letting his sentence trail off.

"Let's just say that big guy's gonna be singing Soprano." The man said not able to contain a smile. "You know you messed with the wrong guys, if I know the Blood Razors they're not through with us yet."

"The Blood Razors?" Zanik said quizzically.

"You really are new to town aren't you kid? The Blood Razors, they're a local swoop gang, that big guy who kicked you into a coma is Gizz, their leader."

"I can't thank you enough for recovering my Datapad." Zanik said. "Zanik Prez of Glee Anselm. I am in your debt."

"Sane Karno, don't mention it." Sane paused for a second scratching his head. "You know, I'd think you had the secret location of Bastion locked into that thing or something. I mean with as much stock as you put into it. It almost cost you your life." Sane said, wondering how Zanik could put his life at danger for a simple computer.

"This Datapad... it's my most prized possession. It has a diary of my travels since I left Glee Anselm, it's all I've got." Zanik said slowly pulling the Datapad close to him.

The Nautolan began to look around at Sane's lavish furnishings. "This is quite a place you've got here Mr. Karno."

"Thanks, I do alright. And... Sane's fine." Sane said as he walked towards the kitchen.

"Can I get you anything? You've been out cold since yesterday?" Sane said as he grabbed a mug of some hot caffeinated beverage.

"No thanks, I'm fine." Zanik said as he slowly began to get up.

"You're a... Nautolan aren't you?" Sane said, his brow slightly rose as he took a sip of his drink.

"Yes, I am how'd you..?" He said but was once again cut off by Sane Karno. "Let's just say I've made my way around the Galaxy." Sane replied coyly.

"From my encounters with Nautolans their senses are amazing, almost... like a Jedi. But in the alley... you.."

"I was so wrapped up in my writing that I wasn't paying attention to anything else." Zanik said as he knew where Sane was going with his questioning. "I just love to write and when I pick up that Datapad the whole world kind of... melts behind me."

"Sounds like you really do love that thing ah?" Sane said referring to the boy's Datapad.

"Ya, I don't know what I'd do without it. I thank you very much Mr... Er.. Sane Karno."

"The pleasure's all mine kid, By the way, where you staying?" Sane inquired.

"Well, I've been staying at the Best Coruscan Inn just around the corner from the alley where you found me yesterday."

"You're gonna stay with me for a while kid, this place is plenty big and besides I just get lonely sometimes." Sane said without even confirming Zanik's approval.

"But..." Zanik began. "But nothing kid, we'll go pick up your stuff as soon as you're up to it. I insist, consider it you're way of thanking me." Sane said with a bright smile on his face.

"I don't know what to say Sane.. thank you." Zanik looked out the viewport of his new room, the Coruscant skyway was as busy as ever. Zanik picked up his Datapad and began to write. Now he really did feel at home.

<font color = #3333ff>7.33.2002

Yesterday I met an interesting human, he goes by the name of Sane Karno. While writing in my journal behind a local diner, a gang of men known as the Blood Razors tried to steal my Datapad. Sane Karno insisted that I hand it over and avoid bodily injury. When I refused to give up my most important possession, I was met with servere violence. I was knocked unconscious yet he managed to recover my Datapad and free me from any other harm. He even went as far as to bring me into his own home to care for me. I am greatly in his debt, I have a feeling that debt will only grow as time goes on. He's confirmed my belief that there are truly good people in the Galaxy.

</font>

Zanik pressed a button on the side of his Datapad saving his newest journal entry.

<font color = #3333ff>Transmitting File......10.1.0.2...File Sent</font>

Zanik folded the screen onto the keyboard of his Datapad and set it on the nightstand beside the bed.

"Sane, if you're ready I'd like to go and collect my things from the Inn... that is... if it's not too much trouble." Zanik said still seeming quite unsure about the whole thing.

"Sure kid, I've been waitin' to get outta this dump all morning. Let's hit it." Sane said as he got up.

The two men left Sane's apartment not far from where the fight had broken out the day before. They made their way towards the Best Coruscan Inn where Zanik had been staing since he arrived on Coruscant. When they got up to the door Sane noticed something strange.

"Hold it." Sane said reaching an arm back to stop Zanik from going into the room. "Something's not write." Sane motioned for Zanik's access card to the room. Sane swiped the card through the slot and the door opened with an audible woosh.

"Frell!" Zanik yelled at the site of his room, completely thrashed. Sane walked in in front of him to assess the situation. It was definitely the Blood Razors, Zanik also knew this to be true. It was too much of a coincidence to think otherwise.

"I'm gonna get those..!" Sane cut Zanik off mid-sentence. "Calm down kid, everything's gonna be fine." Sane said in a soothing tone trying to keep the Nautolan calm.

"What did I ever do to them? Why do they have to come and assault me, and break into my home?" Zanik said very distraught over the whole situation.

"It's OK kid, you're with Sane Karno now, nothing's gonna happen... I'll make sure of that." Sane said, and he meant every bit of it. From now on, everything was going to be alright.