Aria Tensus is a Centauri female from a minor noble family. In 2258, her family arranged for her to marry a Centauri noble old enough to be her grandfather. She had fallen in love and wished to marry a man her own age, Kiron Maray, the cousin of Vir Cotto. While on the station, both of them were attacked by members of the Homeguard, a radical anti-alien group. Aria suffered minor injuries, but Kiron was seriously wounded, left in a coma. Aria insisted on staying at his side in medlab. Kiron managed to recover, awakening only a day later.