Around the time of "Jak 3"

The redheaded woman didn't care how she was going to get from Spargus to Haven City. A mist the same shade as her hair had descended upon her every time she thought of her cold father, a green jealousy and bitterness in her heart for the twin sister whom she never knew, who didn't know her and who led the privileged life that she should have shared.

In short, Roah Praxis was seething with such rage, such fury, that she was surprised the entire radius within sixty miles of her had not combusted with the fire of her rage as she stormed up the large corridor of the city, just opposite the Arena in which the city's famed games were held. She herself had attended a few in her childhood, her father – or her foster father – having taken part in a few of them.

This was before he was killed in a 'tragic vehicular accident' in the Wasteland, where all it took was a pair of pliers for the brakes to fail. In fairness to the displaced heiress, it was after she was told who she really was. She wouldn't have tried anything that extreme before. Maybe a little poison in his drink would have sufficed, enough to make him ill for a few months, but not the brake-breaking.

The twenty-four year old shook her head. She could not reminisce on her adoptive father's death now, but after the incident with the marketplace when she was nineteen, neither could she take a vehicle and drive herself there. She stopped, sitting on a bench, wondering how she was going to get there.

"You okay there?"

Roah looked up, immediately seeing the typical robes of Spargan royalty. As well as having many military adornments on his shoulders, he also wore his life on his face. She estimated that he couldn't be any more than thirty-five or forty years old.

Standing up and emphasising her chest with a slight subtlety, she smiled. "I'm...I'm okay. I just..." She sighed dramatically, injecting as much feeling as she could muster in it. "I need a ride and I can't get it,"

The older man looked concerned. "Why not? Can you not drive yet?"

"No," she lied, dropping her shoulders and her head. "And my parents won't take me..."

The man turned to face her. "Where do you want to go?"

She raised her head, turning her large green eyes on him. "Haven,"

"Haven?" the man echoed incredulously, eyebrows raising. "It's a warzone out there, miss. Is there family you wish to reach?"

More than you know. "Y-yes...yes there is." She sniffed, making her body shake. "I'm s-scared for them. I'm scared they're going to be killed...and...and they're the only family I have, aside from my parents..."

The Archduke licked his lips, unsure of what to do. On one hand, he had important business to attend to. On the other, he couldn't leave this intoxicating young woman to become anxious over the family she had in Haven. Taking a deep breath and knowing that Sig would be very angry later, he opened his mouth and made his decision.

"What if I take you there?"

Her head snapped open, face covered in disbelief. "You would...you'd do that? Do you not have important business to attend to?"

He gave a very un-royal shrug. "It can wait. Come with me." He offered her a hand, helping her up to her feet. Despite herself, a blush coloured her cheeks as she followed the older man to his vehicle, strapping herself in.

Whilst the man was seemingly relaxed, Roah spent the entire drive to Haven in a state of anxiety and urgency, especially when they were met with Marauders. The driver constantly told her not to worry, but she was still finally relieved upon seeing the high, blackened walls of Haven.

"Thankyou ever so much!" she gushed, unbuckling her seatbelt and opening the door.

"It's perfectly all right," the older man said gently, smiling. "I hope you reach your family safely,"

"Oh, me too," she pretended to agree, climbing out quickly, a smirk on her face. I'll be the one to end their lives, not this war. She was just making her way towards the gates when –

"Wait!"

She turned.

"I...I didn't catch your name," he said hesitantly, his dark eyes soft.

Without emotion, she smiled. "Roah," she replied. "Yours?"

He cleared his throat. "Zainen," he said. "Archduke Zainen. If...you ever need a ride back to Spargus...give me a call. I'll be right there." His eyes crinkled when he smiled, and Roah's hard heart inexplicably softened. She'd always had a weakness for men whose eyes crinkled when they smiled.

She swallowed, nodding, a lump in her throat. "Will do. Thankyou, Archduke Zainen,"

"Oh," the Archduke laughed. "Just Zainen. Just you."

Roah nodded, turning towards the gates, the anger and bitterness flaring up in her again.

"Ashelin Praxis," she hissed, "your end is coming..."