Jackson Burnett

== Jackson Burnett ==
Jackson "Jack" Burnett was an American professional mixed martial artist and welder who was the father of legendary Marine commando Brian Burnett. Born in Spokane, Washington, his father died in an accident while serving in the Air Force. Burnett grew independent, and began to fight professionally in his teenage years, often as a sport or in bets. Into his twenties, he grew to regional prominence, however, his short temper caused him to lose many sponsorships. When he was twenty-nine, he suffered a major defeat, and with the birth of his first son, he officially retired.
Becoming a local welder in State College, Pennsylvania, Burnett kept the occupation until the Great Collapse in 2018.
== Early Life ==
Jack Burnett's childhood was marked by trauma when his father, a member of the air force, died during a mission when Jack was just eight years old. At five, his father made him fight his neighbor's child. With his father deceased and his mother struggling to make ends meet, Jack grew up in poverty in Spokane, Washington, often feeling isolated and angry about his circumstances. He was the oldest of his brother and sister.
As a teenager, Jack discovered mixed martial arts and quickly found that he had a natural talent for it. He began to fight for money in High School, hoping to provide for his struggling mother and younger siblings. Before long, though, he was competing professionally.
Jack was a fierce fighter and quickly made a name for himself in the MMA community, known for his explosive punches and quick kicks. He was known to be a bit reckless in the ring, often getting caught up in the heat of the moment and letting his temper get the best of him. But his raw talent and fighting spirit more than made up for his lack of control. Burnett soon met his to-be wife, an Andalusian Spanish immigrant who he dated and married quickly so she could stay in the United States.
== Family Dynamics ==
Despite his success in the ring, Burnett's personal life was tumultuous. He struggled to control his anger outside of the ring, often getting into fights in bars or on the street. His first son was born, and this added to his stress and poor behavior. His reckless behavior and explosive temper eventually led him to kill a less experienced opponent by accident. After, he found difficulty finding respectable challengers, and after taking on a heavier and more famous fighter, he suffered a major defeat. Burnett realized that he needed to step back from the world of MMA before he hurt himself or someone else. He lived briefly in Boise, Idaho.
Shifting his focus to providing for his family, Jack turned to welding, using his strength and precision to create unique works of metal art. He took his family and business to State College, Pennsylvania. His daughter, Maria, was born soon after. Burnett worked long-hours as a welder, purchasing a home in Selinsgrove, PA. Though he hoped to be better than his former self, he lacked a clear understanding of what it meant to be a father. The lack of a role model in his early life, combined with his fear to be like his own father, led him to often be detached from his children's life. He left it to his wife to do most of the childcare. As his son grew older, this dynamic created a rift. Despite his attempts, Jack Burnett, who was somewhat of a functioning alcoholic, till maintained an ill temper. He was known to get in physical fights with Brian.
On the contrary, Burnett was extremely protective of his daughter. He made no efforts to encourage her to build a social life outside of school, and was highly disapproving of her spending time alone with men her age. He believed they would taint her early teenage years. Because of this, Brian would often help sneak Maria out to kickbacks, parties, and other events that she normally wouldn't be allowed to. When his son was fourteen, he ran away from home to live with his best friend, Kyle Wald. Jack Burnett was displeased, but hoped no matter which direction he took, that he would learn many useful skills along the way. They saw one another frequently, sometimes on good terms, where Burnett continued to teach his son more fighting techniques, among others. 
However, Burnett grew increasingly distrustful of his son as he became associated with criminals, and began to smoke and possibly sell cannabis. At fourteen, Jack Burnett's young daughter begged him for a smart phone, but Burnett was vehemently opposed to this. He only allowed her to use their family computer while under his or her mother's supervision. In eighth grade, Brian gave Maria his cheap, older smart phone, much to her appreciation and enjoyment. Not long after, Jack Burnett found out, and condemned Brian for letting her have the phone. After what Burnett saw in his son as a continued spiral downward, the two had a major fight. Burnett told his son to join the military and barred him from his life. 
== Events After the Great Collapse ==
As the Jinanvirus ravaged the world, Brian Burnett and his significant other, Emily Allen, left their apartment and moved into the basement of the Wald residence. After coming to check on his younger sister, Jack Burnett shooed his son away, believing that he was up to no good. However, shortly after, Maria packed a bag and left the household, meeting with her older brother as they had other motives of survival as the Jinanvirus progressed. This would be the last time Jack Burnett would see them for years, and it would be the last time they would see their mother.
Later in the year, Burnett and his wife contracted the Jinanvirus. Though he recovered quickly, she did not. He intercepted a radio broadcast from the North from a Seaboard outpost advertising vaccinations and treatments. Burnett, intending to be gone for only the day, left to investigate. However, he realized that they were only providing doses in exchange for certain goods, including enlistment into their force and bulk-deals with county leaders. Burnett attempted to steal from them, but got into a fight before being apprehended.
Burnett spent some time in a local jail before being transferred to a facility to the north. Eventually he was settled into a Greene County, NY, prison. When Seaboard controlled Pennsylvania, he requested a favor from a guard, who was able to confirm that his wife had died. This devastated Burnett, and he went into an extreme depression. In this state, Burnett went through an emotional transformation, and read many texts, including most major foundational religious texts. Despite not adhering strongly to any of the followings, he did take value in the readings. He began to be a more active worker-inmate at the correctional facility, gaining respect from all types in the prison. Burnett was set to finally receive a proper trial, which he believed would lead to his immediate discharge due to his lack of serious criminal actions.
In 2021, through a broadcast, Burnett caught wind of an Appalachian-aligned invasion to retake Harrisburg. In their ranks was none other than Sergeant Burnett, described as a young, fierce, and determined soldier who became wanted by Seaboard. Jack Burnett was well aware that this was his son, and knowing he was alive gave him a newfound sense of vigor. However, as this came to light, Burnett's trial was delayed indefinitely due to his relation to his son.
In early 2024, Olivera Debravka, a former journalist and informant who leaked various Seaboard documents and files, was transferred to the prison. Not unheard of in the prison, certain inmates, after being screened, were in mixed-gender cell blocks. Jack Burnett, understanding the value Debravka presented, used his connections to get a shared cell with Debravka. Initially, she was highly opposed, but Burnett proved himself well disciplined and friendly, and helped protect her on multiple occasions. Eventually, after gaining her trust, Debravka divulged to Burnett that there may be a potential plan from the Appalachian Republic to spring her from the prison. She promised that if he aided her escape, she'd make sure he got out too. He agreed.
== Reunification with Children ==
In the autumn of 2024, Burnett was found with Debravka by the SAACC extraction team, which included his son Brian, and his daughter Maria, who were both surprised not only to find him there but to see he was still alive. Due to the rocky relationship between Burnett and his children, he received little compassion, however, Burnett quickly hoped to prove himself valuable. He stayed with his son and Abel Clark, helping ward off the Second Subject as well as an unidentified sentinel. In the process, Burnett's wrist was broken, but the team was able to escape.