Outrunner

Sammy Brown was a retro enthusiast who immersed himself in 1980s pop culture and anything nostalgic from that time. Whether it was music, hairstyles, or overall aesthetics, he embraced it all as a fun, nostalgic passion. He even went so far as to model himself after that era, including styling his hair in classic curls. His life changed forever when he visited a local vintage market that auctioned old memorabilia and other period-specific items. Sammy was there searching for anything related to the 1980s when he stumbled upon a cassette labeled "Tempo of Time." Curious, as he had never seen or heard of it before but could tell it was from the era he loved, he bought it without hesitation.

When he returned home, eager to listen to his find, he placed the cassette into his 1980s Sony Walkman, pressed play, and started tuning into the music. It was strange, clearly 80s-inspired, of course, but almost dreamlike. The music drew him in, and before long, Sammy was compelled to dance to the beat as if the music had taken control of him. Unbeknownst to him, neon-like energies began to surge and course from the Walkman into his body. With his eyes closed, lost in the rhythm, he danced and smiled, fully immersed in the retro jams and beats. The music put him into a trance-like state, an endless reverie of euphoria that felt like a dream come to life.

When the music stopped and the cassette finished playing, Sammy felt a surge of complete euphoria. He wanted to replay it immediately, but to his disappointment, the cassette no longer worked. It had been destroyed in the process. Confused and bummed out, he reluctantly moved on. The next day, however, Sammy noticed something strange. He felt energized as if the ecstatic feeling from the music had never left him. He realized he could think faster, read through a magazine in seconds, and even found himself walking faster than usual. Bewildered by the sudden changes, things escalated when he was chased by a group of bullies at Paragon High School who mocked his retro antics. Sammy ran away, closing his eyes in fear, but this time he ran fast, really fast.

When Sammy finally stopped, he opened his eyes and was stunned to find himself surrounded by Japanese neon signs and a bustling crowd in Tokyo. He was shocked and baffled to realize he had gone from being chased at school to standing in the streets of Tokyo in just five seconds. Frozen in disbelief for a brief moment, he began to take in the sights and enjoy the surreal experience of being in Japan. Then, as he tried to run again, something even stranger happened. He noticed the world around him streaking by like hyperspace, with blackness and stars flying past him in a tunnel of light. Moments later, he found himself in Oslo, Norway.

From there, Sammy traveled to Egypt, South Korea, and other parts of the world. He quickly deduced that he had gained super speed, leaving behind a bright neon light streak wherever he ran. To his surprise, when he returned to Paragon High School, only 15 minutes had passed, and he was merely late for class. Determined to understand what had happened, Sammy began investigating the cause of his newfound powers. He recalled the streak he left behind and saw news reports across the globe about a mysterious "neon streak" sighted in various locations, described as very synthwave in appearance. Finally, he pieced it together. The Tempo of Time cassette he had bought at the auction must have surged him with an unknown power while he was tuning in. How and why it happened, he couldn’t say, but one thing was clear. He loved it.

Without wasting a moment, Sammy embraced his newfound abilities and became Outrunner, the fast-moving speedster who leaves a neon streak lighting up the night as he races across the world for everyone to see.