Bess Kusinis was a teenage scion of the Kusinis Family. Old Family member Arturro Calabas arranged to transport a number of Old Family scions from Tarsonis as a result of Sons of Korhal and alien attacks. The heirs were taken to Tyrador VIII, including Bess Kusinis and her twin brother, Rockham. They partied and frolicked until they received news from Tarsonis that it had fallen to the zerg. Calabas sent a final message, ordering the security contingent to take the heirs to "The Baker's Dozen", a series of mining worlds he owned, specifically Shi, the fourth planet.