I never wanted to be a Launchie, I wanted to live with my family, to ignore the Bugger threat and play like the other children of my age, but fate is stubborn, if she decided that something was to happen there would be no persuading her otherwise, for no amount of pleading from my mother nor debating with my father would make the I.F. let me go back to my little country home, and, two weeks after I said my last goodbyes to my father, brother and mother, my brother was killed whilst he was at ground school, I cried all through my Launch but... I never got to attend Stilsons funeral.
My name is Desiree Stilson, but everyone calls me Ruby, because of my hair. I never liked my brother but his loss broke my heart. They said red-haired people went extinct years ago, then I was born. A scientific miracle, the first red haired person for twelve generations to be born on this earth, hence, Ruby was the name I was publicly christened. I used to try and hide it, it made me stand out so much in a crowd that for years I never left the house without a hat, Then, I started Ground school, and they wouldn't let me wear it inside. I copped soil for a while... Then, my brother, who witnessed my getting beat stepped in. Nobody bothered me after that, nobody beat up Stilsons sister if they liked their nose shaped the way it was, it was an unspoken law. I still owe him for that, thats why I've got massive problems now. Because I tried to repay my brother, and now- I've gotta be smart or I'll end up dead like my brother and sent back in body bag.
And now, I'm hiding in a bathroom, waiting, hoping, praying that Ender won't realise that his victims sister was in his launch...
... That was a year ago now though, Ender never realised, I dont think anyone did, no Battle school child knew about my brother fate, not one, except me. I never talk to him though, he's weird, doesn't talk much, we both left the launch group quickly though, Ender, to Salamander, myself, to Condor. That was one of the first times I spoke to him, definitely the last, as we walked, I asked him how old he was. he said he wasn't sure any more, I didn't know what to think of it.