Kezi never wanted a life of excitement. She would've been at peace with the quiet life she'd started out with.

But naturally, she got everything she never wanted.

Kezi glanced up as the guards came to retrieve her from her room. She quietly followed as they led her along.

The Earth Coalition's former colony of Erridan wasn't like its mother planet.

Any peace and happiness she had, it was gone by the year she turned nine.

Her father was killed in an explosion while on a shuttle headed for Earth. Seth Hawkins was an infamous terrorist on Erridan as he rebelled against the government. In that explosion, he sought to take down as many Erridan people with him.

As for her mother, when she learned of the Order's suspicions of her being a terrorist, she smuggled her infant daughter to Earth. She attempted to do the same with Kezi and her twin brother, but before she could, she was arrested.

The Order took Kezi and Keni into custody and placed them into an orphanage. Within two weeks, Keni was adopted and taken away from his sister.

Kezi waited for the day that she would get out of that orphanage. No one spoke to her unless they wanted her to do something for them. And she did whatever was asked of her, desperate to escape the loneliness. And she got out, just not in the circumstances she had hoped.

When Kezi was twelve years old, the Order trained her to become a fighter against the Earth Coalition, who they hoped to break away from. She was taught survival skills, hand-to-hand combat, and lots of other things she would use in a war zone. They whipped her into a soldier.

She failed her trial when they were assigning cadets to the advanced groups, but there was one skill she could do better than anyone else, even the experienced.

That gift was piloting a star racer. She could perform extremely dangerous stunts while fighting enemy flyers. It had earned her rank and glory in Erridan.

Things she'd never dreamed of.

Kezi walked silently between the guards as they led her to the Governor's residence.

When they arrived at the doors of his office, one of the secretaries opened the door so that the guards wouldn't have to release her. 'That's because I'm dangerous in all of Erridan's eyes.' Kezi thought to herself. 'The child of terrorists.'

Soon, the guards had brought the young girl before Governor Saxon, leader of the Order of Erridan. Kezi stood before him wondering what could he want her for.

Saxon stood up and approached his subject. "Hello, Kezi Hawkins." he politely greeted. Kezi bowed her head in acknowledgement. Any other action might have pissed this guy off.

He began to pace in front of her, making her nervous. He started, "During your recent performance, we have recognized your advanced skills as a star pilot." He stopped in front of her. "And it would be a shame for us not to take advantage of Erridan's best."

Kezi fought hard not to shake with anticipation.

Saxon rambled on. "The Great Race of Oban has returned and after just three years! We need a star pilot from Erridan to represent us." He abruptly walked away from her a few paces.

"After all, we should only send the best." he continued. He turned to look at the girl.

Kezi remained silent a few moments before answering.

"Yes, Governor Saxon."

Kezi knew this was her chance to find a shining tomorrow.