Aishen grew up in the colonies of Taris with his twin sister, a prodigy swoop racer. Their father was a swoop mechanic, and their mother left when Aishen was young.

His sister Tamlyn's first race was met with disaster - a colossal crash which she and their father were caught up in, her body thrown clear of the track by the explosion. In desperation, Aishen tapped into the Force for the first time and brought his sister back from the brink of death, attracting the attention of Othar Atelis, a former Jedi Knight who had survived the Purge.

Knowing that Aishen's untutored, potent grasp of the Force would attract attention from the Imperial Inquisitorius, Othar approached the Rhede twins while they were in traction, offering to adopt them since now they were bereft of family, and to train them in the ways of the Force, if they so chose.