Kezi knew that winning this race was important; if they won it, they were on their way to Oban.

She climbed up the ladder into the star racer. No one said or asked anything about yesterday. Zack followed her into the racer. Then they set off for the track.

This race went well for Erridan, too. They won again. They would be on Oban tomorrow. Kezi beamed at that.

'I'll clear your name, Mom.' Kezi thought. 'I swear.'

She was surprised when the Earth and Nourasian teams were at her pit that evening. She tried not to look annoyed. She decided to speak to Rick.

"Good job, kid." he said. "I had a feeling you'd make it to the finals."

"Thank you, Rick."

Korra came over and handed Kezi a bracelet. "I made this for you."

Rick laughed and said, "She's taken a liking to you."

The teams celebrated together, even though they were still enemies. Kezi just wanted to be left alone so she walked to the balcony. After a few minutes, she heard someone behind her. She turned to see Korra standing there with her arms behind her back looking shyly at Kezi. Kezi motioned for her to come sit next to her. Korra crossed her legs and sat down.

"You're really good at flying, Miss." Korra said. Kezi smiled and replied, "Thanks, but you can call me Kezi, ya know?"

Korra smiled back. She turned her attention to the landscape.

Kezi felt a little calmer with the little kid next to her. It felt like that her sister had stayed with her all along.

Korra dozed off after about an hour, and a little while after that Rick came to put her to bed. Kezi paced on the balcony after that for a while, thinking about yesterday afternoon. She noted the railing on the balcony was weak. Then she heard a sigh behind her.

Jordan stood there watching her. She grew annoyed immediately and turned away; she accidently leaned on the railing and started to fall.

Kezi didn't have time to process what exactly what happened. All she knew was that instead of landing on the ground and breaking a bone, she ended up on top of Jordan's chest as they fell backwards.

He looked into her eyes as she stared at him. She hurriedly scrambled to her feet, her face a bright scarlet.

Jordan had a light blush on his cheeks, but it faded quickly. Kezi turned herself away from him as she cut her music player up on maximum volume on the song "Shut Up!". She didn't notice Jordan had approached her until he cut the music off.

She turned to glare at him.

"Can I say something?" he replied.

Kezi gave a sharp, irritated nod.

"I'm sorry for not helping you earlier." he said. " All I could think of was your ties to the Crogs. And what you would do to us if they threatened your-"

Kezi snorted. "You think I'd obey them? They can only threaten to take my life. It's not like I have a family they can use against me."

With that comment, she hurried away.

Jordan sat there thinking on the things she'd said.

'She sounds as if she hasn't a reason to live' he thought.

He thought more deeply about Kezi in general. Her curly dark hair bounced everytime she took a step. Her eyes were a bright green color. She was a tiny little thing, too. Now that he recalled, he was even more amazed at her strength.

He blushed a little thinking of her.

'You love Eva, Jordan.'

He rose and said, "Besides...it'd never work out."

The Erridian team pprepared the following morning to board the Avatar's ship. Kezi did so without one glance toward the Earth team. She could feel certain feelings for a certain Earth boy rising in her.

'I don't wanna feel this way...' she thought to herself. 'I can't...risk it.'

It took a while before the ship reached Oban. When it did, Kezi was the only one brave enough to explore the land. She took in everything in awe; the plants, the trees,...she felt like she could stay here forever.

Kezi walked around until she saw creatures congregating at the center of the temple. She walked over to the group. The sky grew dark after a few minutes, followed by a flash of light. When Kezi reopened her eyes, the Avatar was in front of them.

"Greetings, pilots from all corners of the galaxy. I, the Avatar, have brought you to the mother planet of Oban, where you will race one another at the same time."

Kezi took a look around her at the other finalists. They looked determined as she was, including Aikka and Eva. Kezi set her mind to win; she had no choice, if she wanted her mother freed.

The Avatar spoke his parting words. "Only those with pure intent will claim the prize." He faded away, and the sky returned to normal.

Kezi immediately returned to the temple and informed the team of this. Jeffery simply nodded and continued with his business. She noticed Zack glare after him.

"Zack..." Kezi started. Zack looked at her and said, "I'm fine...it's nothing."

Kezi looked after him worried as he walked away. She turned to go to her room. After she changed into a tank top and shorts, she layed down on her bed. As she looked up at the ceiling, she thought of Jordan and how he'd just stood there and watched her yesterday. He didn't even try to help...

'Well, Kezi...' she told herself. 'You should be used to that by now...the kids at the orphanage did it all the time.'

Kezi sat up as she heard a noise. She called out, "Is anyone there?". She shrugged it off after there was no reply. She cut her music player on. It played the song Never Be The Same by the band Red. She had just finished listening to the bridge when she heard another noise. She jumped out off the bed and picked up a large metal pole.

Slowly, Kezi rounded the corner. When she saw a shadow, she swung hard.

"OUCH!" yelled a familiar voice. Kezi withdrew the pole and Jordan stepped out from the shadows holding his hurt arm.

Kezi grew annoyed and snapped, "What are YOU doing here?"

Jordan looked at her. "I came to apologize. For the other day."

"I don't accept!"

Jordan ignored her protests as he walked further into her room. He turned around to face her.

"Listen. I still want to be friends. It's just...Neither Aikka nor I know...if we can trust you. What with the Crogs ordering you around."

Kezi flexed her hand; she wanted to hit him badly. "I don't take orders from anyone if I can avoid it."

"I know, but..."

"You don't know anything about me. You never ask why to understand anything. So shut up. I don't wanna hear it."

"Kezi-"

"Don't tell me who I should be or what I should do. You're not my father. I don't wanna waste my time."

Jordan seemed to grow frustrated. "I'm trying to be civil. At least you could do is listen to me."

"Don't make me laugh. You Earthlings don't understand anything about our alliances."

"What-?"

Kezi whirled around and said, "Cadets are chosen from orphanages. They either join the military and fight on the front lines, or be thrown out. You think I wanted to be a soldier? No. I wanted to be a pilot. My mother used to take me and brother flying in her ship. That's when I realized that flying was amazing."

Jordan just watched Kezi as she tried to keep her reserve. She stared him in the face as she continued.

"How do you think I felt when my mother was dragged out of our house? She was thought to be a terrorist after my father blew up a shuttle to Earth. I never saw her again. My baby sister was smuggled to Earth right before this. I have no idea where to find Korra. And my brother..." Kezi choked out.

Her hands balled into fists. "I was beat up everyday of my life at that damn hell hole after Keni was adopted." Kezi closed her eyes as she tried to control her emotions. She had no idea why she was explaining herself to this Earth boy; he bugged her more than anyone ever had.

And she think she understood the reason.