James was a fat, balding middle-aged programmer, estranged from his family, too smart for his own good and too lazy to truly accomplish anything.  Then he heard of Freedom Universe, an actual universe accidently discovered by Olympus Technologies that one could transfer their consciousness to.  You could become any race you wanted with access to highly advanced technology and psionic powers.  So now he is Be'larien Sil'nathiel, a very powerful member of a very powerful race. And he's never regretted anything more in his life.