Virlomi was a Battle School Student, the leader of India, and later the governor of Ganges.[2] She was first introduced in Shadow of the Hegemon.
History[]
Early Life[]
Virlomi was born in India. She was one of the very few female Battle School students and spent a lot time looking for other female Battle Schoolers while she was there. She kept to herself and mostly stayed under the radar, both due to her personality and because she wasn't as brilliant as the other children - she was above average, but average among the extraordinaire.[1]
Shadow of the Hegemon[]
After Petra Arkanian's escape from Achilles de Flandres, Virlomi took off on her own. Her destination was unknown and Achilles was not too concerned about it, so he let her go.[1]
Shadow Puppets[]
Tired of living in the Hegemony compound, as well as constantly being flirted with by Suriyawong, she went back to India and started to reflect on some things that convinced her that she could do something to help her people against the Chinese invasion (backed by Achilles). With small comments and actions she manipulated a village into believing there was a "Great Wall of India" being made in other villages - which was a lie. Surprisingly, people backed her up saying it was true, they had heard of it too. Soon enough, the Great Wall of India was created and soon became as much of a symbol for the people of India as a bother for the Chinese invaders, who tried to destroy it and ban it unsuccessfully.[4]
Along her journey across India, she began to be seen as a kind of goddess among the people, who went to her for advice. She started to act benevolent and divine, watching her every move and word, behaving like a goddess so well that she herself believed it.[4]
When Han Tzu asked her to marry him, she refused, saying she wouldn't marry the one who defiled India, referring to the previous Chinese invasion and later atrociousness or restrictions committed against her people. Afterwards, she turned and went to the Hegemon, Peter Wiggin, offering herself and India as a strong ally. He refused her. Out of bitterness, indignation and desire to prove him he had made the wrong decision, she offered herself to Caliph Alai, who couldn't resist her as a woman and accepted her marriage proposal and implicit alliance between nations.[4]
Shadow of the Giant[]
Later, after Virlomi tried several dangerous attacks against China and Peter Wiggin's Free People of Earth, Alai ended up separating himself from her, not only because of her carelessness and consideration to their armies but also due to the attempts on his own life. Suriyawong, who was in love with her, convinced her that she had gone insane at some point, during a disgraceful and bloody battle that resulted from her reckless plan based on her divinity. Virlomi, suddenly realizing everything she had done, called a stop to war and decided to step back from her desire to "expand" India, which had only resulted in unnecessary death and battles so far. Later, she married Suriyawong.[3]
Ender in Exile[]
After the Wars on Earth ended, Virlomi reflected on her actions in shame. She remained alive, as if she were executed for her crimes India would fall into revolution and would be unable to be governed by the FPE. Thus, she made propaganda videos that the FPE asked her to, begging her people to vote to freely join the Free People of Earth. However, as part of the agreement, she would have to leave Earth in exile to govern a colony world, along with Alai and Han Tzu and other Battle Schoolers. At some point during this time, she ended her relationship with Suriyawong.[2]
After months of captivity in Blackstream, she was taken to the staging area for the Dispersal Project, located in the old Battle School. The colonists that would go with her were overwhelmingly Indian, seeking to follow their "goddess". They told her that the planet, the first non-Formic colonized planet, had been named Ganges, after the river in India, but some other Indian ethnicities sought representation so they agreed to name the first village Andhra.[2]
As she mingled with her colonists, she met Nichelle Firth who was hostile to her. She read her file and due to the sparse information assumed it was fake. She noticed that she bristled at any mention of Bean, the Hegemony, and the Wars on Earth, but that when she mentioned Achilles' name, she softened up and spoke kindly to her child, whispering the name "Achilles Flandres" over and over, which offended Virlomi. Worried, she cross-checked the baby's genes with Achilles and found no match, which assuaged Virlomi's fears to a degree. She cleared them for Stasis during the voyage. Shortly before the ship to Ganges left, Hyrum Graff came to see off those who would stay awake for the voyage, impressing on them that they must follow the captain's orders. She saw Nichelle Firth confront Graff to a degree, and realized that she had chosen this colony because she saw Virlomi as another victim of the Hegemony. Virlomi then entered stasis for the voyage to Ganges.[2]
After arriving at Ganges in 46 AX, she began to live in an adobe hut with a thatched roof, despite there being better building materials, simply to show that she was one of the commoners. She was continuously re-elected to 2 year terms as governor. In 62 AX, she asked Randall Firth to meet her at her house. After some back and forth, she told him about the colony ship coming from Shakespeare in a month, and that it could take him back to Earth if he pleased. After indignation from Randall, she revealed that she knew his supposed true father was Achilles. After insulting him, Randall struck her, and Virlomi sentenced him to be exiled back to Earth.[2]
A month later when the ship arrived, she met with Ender Wiggin and his sister Valentine as they left the shuttle, informing them of the problems with Randi and Randall Firth, though the discussion was tense due to Virlomi's past. She told them that Randall had started a movement called the Natives of Ganges, who regard The Hive Queen as their scripture. She planned to send Randall back to Earth, but Ender warned her that it could undo everything Peter achieved as Hegemon.[2]
Personality[]
Virlomi was shown to be caring for the Indian people. She lost her sanity to a degree after she began to think of herself as a goddess, but regained it after the wars had ended.