With the loss of a job he needed for college tuition, Jason turned to a local thug for money, accepting a job as a courier. It was on that job that he encountered the Firestorm Matrix, searching for a new host after Raymond's death. In the aftermath, Jason struggled to cope with his new identity and powers – a struggle that led to the death of the man who had hired him.
Jason's financial struggles forced him into accepting a dangerous job as a courier, which led him to encounter the Firestorm Matrix after Raymond's death. This encounter caused him significant personal challenges as he adapted to his new identity and powers, ultimately leading to the tragic end of the man who hired him.