James Ferguson (Earth-1546)

Growing up, James lacked a tragic backstory to say the least. He was born with powers that he chose to oppress. He had great parents, good grades, and wasn’t bullied in school. James had always been the quiet type. However, nobody even dreamed of describing him as talkative. Even people close to James didn’t hear the lad talk much. This made his words worth more. To James, how much he talked didn’t matter. He cared more about the quality of his words than the quantity, proving to be wise at a very young age. In Sophmore year, James met the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen, he’d truly become captivated by her beauty. One cold October day, the silent lad found enough courage to talk to her, and approached her on the sidewalk. Lips frozen and stuttering the whole way through, he did talk to her, and found out her name was Sydney. Over the course of the next few years, him and Sydney became good friends, she could always find a listener in James and he could always find a good time with her. As Senior year rolled through, they both confessed feelings for each other and became a couple. Senior year, at that point, was easily the best year of his life, but that changed rather quickly. On a summer day, James proposed to Sydney, and they both had never been happier. They both went to University, James studying math, and Sydney studying Fitness and training. Both became well respected in their fields, and became financially stable enough to start a family. They had a beautiful and strong son named David, and three years later, a beautiful and charming daughter whom they named Alice.

Sadly, being a fitness trainer required you to be in the physical shape to do it, and Sydney got caught in a car collision. Losing both her legs to amputation, she lost her job, and with that, the healthy and thriving family lost half their income. James, the brave and amazing father, kept promising his family he’d make it work. He doubled his clients, worked overtime, even worked hard from home, but his efforts were always futile. Every month, he’d come just a little short to pay his bills, and the amount he owed kept stacking up. Soon he started having to ask for loans in order to pay his utilities, and interest stacked. James continued to work, harder and harder, always to end up further in debt. Day by day, the question “When will Daddy stop working and play with me?”, became asked less and less, as the kids knew the answer would always be the same. One day, a man with great promises, walked into his office. The man who went by Mark, proposed that he’d employ James, and he’d pay double what James made as an accountant; this would easily take James out of his debt. The first time, James refused, as he did the second time. As the months passed, James found that he was spiraling farther and farther into debt, and was now at risk of losing his house. In a moment of a fool’s desperation, he accepted Mark’s offer. James was a wise man, but for his family, he’d be willing to make the gamble. He’d run the mile for his family His training with Mark began simple, simple missions, and simple training in order to harness and weaponize his fire abilities. Soon though, his training became more and more demanding

More away missions, more questionable things which made James rethink about the morale of Mark’s mission on multiple occasions. Mark soon found himself questioning James’ loyalty to him, and getting angry that James was paying the amount of attention that he was to his family. Over the next year, James greatly improved, finding himself becoming one of the best of Mark’s men. Mark was never pleased, however, the greedy man always wanted more. Soon enough, Mark was asking James to cut his family time to the bare minimum, and to only see his kids on rare occasions. James would never give up his family, though, and continued to see them a healthy amount. His family relations infuriated Mark and made him blind to James’ use and progress. In a fit of rage, unknown to James, Mark sent James away on a long term away mission, James accepted, knowing that this would secure his relationship with Mark. While James was gone, Mark began to socialize with James’ family, even tried to make advantages on his wife to no avail. When friendly attempts to get rid of James’ family became futile, he kidnapped them. One by one, he killed them slowly, starting with Sydney.

When James came home, he was greeted with the smell of death, but it was nothing like before. His heart racing, he ran into the house, only to find that his nightmare was living in front of him. There, right in front of him, the bloody and old bodies of his beautiful and perfect family were in front of him. That wasn’t even the worst part, behind them was Mark sitting in a chair and reading, actually reading. He looked up at James, and slowly walked over to him, the blood of James’ family on his clothes and face, he raised a bloody hand and crested James’ face. While doing this, he made a cold threat that James would never forget, “Double cross me, and you’ll end up with a fate double the agony of your family." James even considered crossing Mark. He wanted to die and he didn’t care how painful it was. Despite that, burying the bodies of his family filled him with the rage and pain of thousands. He decided to live because it’s what his family would want. For twenty years he worked alongside Mark, hating every waking moment of it. Sometimes he wondered if it was all worth it. Through the killing, through the pain, James pulled through and always came up on top. James proved to be what Mark though was a loyal and cunning servant, but deep down, they all knew. They all knew that James would never love the life that Mark provided, and they all knew that he was there because he was chained.

It was much to James' horror and surprise that he discovered Mark’s plans for the girl named Elizabeth. James had no idea that Mark was capable of such actions, and he had no clue that Mark even had these plans until he was told. James pitied the girl, and one day went to meet her and comfort her. He only planned on one interaction, he didn’t want to get attached because he knew what would become of her. The more she talked, the more the scared little girl reminded him of his daughter. James couldn’t leave her to be so alone and afraid, so he visited her whenever Mark wasn’t looking and when James had free time. Over time the two grew close and developed a strong bond, he gave her gifts for her birthday and tried to make sure she wasn’t alone ever since her brother had disappeared according to her, though James waited for the day when they would both be free. Eventually, when Conner and Lilith rescued Elizabeth, James felt satisfied for the first time in a long time. Eventually, James himself was freed too, while it took a vine to the chest to do some, James wouldn’t have had it another way, he was finally free to do what he desired. Despite not having a choice other than death, James still felt immeasurable guilt for his actions, and stuck around to do anything he can.

He chose to stick around at the Safehouse. However, as soon as he was able to get back on his feet, he was attacked by the Grandmaster. He was able to fight him off with the help of Thor. He decided he wanted to pay back the grandmaster for Mark's sword. It was time for him to get his life together and think about the things he did. He decided he would help around the Safehouse and make sure Liz was protected from Mark so she could have a somewhat normal life. In Battleworld, James decided to help Conner out in defeating Doom. He tried his best, blowing a wall in Doom's fortress. He then helped in killing Doctor Doom. Now he is involved with the Primordial. He is preparing for the attack and trying to get answers from a symbiote, though his real goal is get redemption for what he has done with Mark.