During an expedition on Dathomir his father was killed by a Bounty Hunter, leaving ten-year old Haden alone to barely survive for years on the planet until he was captured by mercenaries and sold as a slave to the Empire. He was soon discovered as Force–sensitive and sent off to Korriban as part of the Empire's war preparation to find and ship all Force–sensitive slaves to the new academy. Against all odds, Haden proved to be a powerful acolyte and was taken by Darth Zash as an apprentice.