Grayson is a 15 year old sophomore distance runner on the Muir Millitary Academy track team. Gray was born and raised on E2 in the capitol city of Humanity, where his father is an up and coming, conservative polititcian who has sent Grayson to military school in hopes of "straigtening him out." Grayson struggles with the ostricization from his fellow class and teammates that comes with his fearless adherence to his alternative orientation and non-conformist bravado that sticks out like a sore thumb amongst the rank and file at Muir.
Surprisingly enough, Grayson finds unconditional love and friendship from an unlikely member of his track team, Russia Jacobi, the daughter of celebrated Race Wars veteran and acclaimed Apologetic theologian and theology professor, Mars Jacobi. Russia always sticks up for Grayson and goes out of her way to befriend him, which fascinates him, given her fundamental background and devotion.