Wildfire
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Description
Wayward superhero "Wildfire" has been patrolling the streets of Westside for several years now. Once a lowly gangbanger, Riley Overbeck's life was changed after a confrontation with the legendary Defender set her on the path of redemption.
With notable heroic roles in the Qularr Invasion and Mechanon's Steel Crusade, Wildfire has come into her own as a superpowered crimefighter. Today, she continues to patrol her home turf in Westside, using her powers to help innocents caught in the crossfire of the warring gangs.
History
Early Life
Riley Jay Overbeck had a troubled childhood. Born with the innate ability to control fire, Riley's powers manifested immediately during childbirth, resulting in the death of her mother. Her father, devastated by the loss of his beloved, was a cold and callous man who rarely acknowledged his daughter. At sixteen, Riley was kicked out of her home and forced to live on the streets, turning to crime to sustain herself.
Life in the harsh neighborhoods of Westside was difficult, but Riley managed. Using her powers and wit, she made a living with one of the local gangs, robbing and intimidating the innocent to get her way. The future looked bleak, but hope was not lost for this wayward soul.
A Change of Heart
During a raid on Harmon Labs, Riley's fellow gangbangers selfishly abandoned her, leaving her face to face with the legendary Defender, who was responding to the attack. Scared, but unwilling to back down, she tackled him head-on, and the two fought briefly. Much to her surprise, Riley gained the upper hand, knocking out Defender and leaving him helpless. Before she could do anything, the roof of the building collapsed on the two, burying them under rubble. After struggling to get free, Riley began her escape, but stopped after realizing what she had done. With a sudden change of heart, Riley pulled Defender out of the rubble and dragged him to safety, sparing his life.
From Zero to Hero
In the aftermath of her battle with Defender, Riley willingly turned herself into the authorities. Horrified by her actions, she was prepared to accept whatever punishment was waiting for her. To her surprise, Riley faced no jail time, instead being sentenced to mandatory community service under the watch of none other than Defender himself. Impressed by her selfless act in saving his life, the leader of the Champions negotiated a lighter sentence with the courts, giving Riley a chance to redeem herself by training to use her powers to fight crime instead of commit it.
For months, Riley trained under Defender's watch, learning to better control her powers and being taught the values of justice and sacrifice. Along the way, she would begin to gain notoriety as a superhero, stopping a few crimes and saving lives during her training. Ultimately, her time with Defender payed off. With a newly acquired taste for heroism, Riley embraced her new life, taking on the persona of "Wildfire", a fast talking, flamethrowing paragon of peace.
