Pele Arakawa blamed Southern Cross International for the deaths of her parents and her little sister who was a mutant. Her sister couldn't control her pyrokinetic powers and even though Southern Cross offered assistance, the little girl spontaneously combusted and set fire to the family house.

Pele embarked upon a mission of vengeance which wouldn't have gone very far except for the timely arrival and shepherding of Professor Quake. She agreed to join his own crusade against the organisation and has used the support of Gauntlet to launch her own little crusade against law enforcement in general which she believes is an extension of the worldwide governmental corruption.

Pele would hate to admit it, but she is enjoying her life as a renegade. She feels truly alive when she is dishing out vengeance to whoever happens to be in her sights, although she becomes quite listless when out of combat. Gauntlet is her only family now, but Pele doesn't consider herself being particularly close to any of them, mostly because she is a 'baseline' human, lacking the superpowers of the others.

"We can ask questions after they're dead."

Pele is a fiery woman with an unparalleled determination and thirst for vengeance. She uses a pistol and her boxing skills, but is equally expert at surveillance and stealth missions.

Pele also possesses a 'sixth sense' which she has come to rely on in her new life of high crime, especially when dealing with dangerous superheroes.

Pele is an attractive Hawaiian woman. She wears her dark brown hair in tight braids and often wears surf attire and accessories. She has a tattoo on her left shoulder, but is otherwise unremarkable (especially when on assignment).