Synapse
Synapse is an in-game character in the City of Heroes MMO and a member of the Freedom Phalanx. He is also the best friend of Dr. Raymond Keyes, otherwise known as Positron.
Character History
Steve Berry was once an ordinary accountant working for Crey Industries.
During a regular in-house audit, he noticed huge financial discrepancies involving a project called "Disaster Relief Suit". Since his best friend, Ray Keyes, was one of the project heads, he decided to give the project a closer look. Unfortunately, his snooping caught the attention of the project's other head, Dr. Rudy Bein. Bein abducted Steve and decided to use him for his side-project. Steve was tortured with electricity for days for him to disclose how much he knows of the "Disaster Relief Suit". Steve eventually managed to free himself and tried to get away. He was discovered by Ray, and Ray used the new "suit" to blast himself and take Steve to safety.
Ray personally oversaw Steve's recovery, not wanting to take him to a hospital for fear that Crey attorneys would silence them both. When Steve awoke, however, he discovered he possessed super-powers. Everything moved super-slow for him, and he also discovered he was a conduit for electricity. Much like Ray, Steve decided to use this to his advantage and became a superhero.
"Synapse" and "Positron" soon became members of the Freedom Phalanx, Paragon City's premiere superhero team.
Powers and Abilities
Synapse's primary ability is Electrical Blast. He can unleash torrents of electricity at his enemies.
His secondary ability is Electricity Manipulation. He can manipulate electricity to detain opponents.
He can also use this power to run at super-speeds. There has been some debate as to how cast he could run, especially compared to fellow speedster Ryder Lightning, who has similar but not identical abilities. The point was moot, however, when it was discovered Ryder was slowly losing his abilities and he only retains a fraction of his original potential.
Related Information
(See his Paragon Wiki entry for more information.)
Synapse was seen in the Top Cow incarnation of the "City of Heroes" comic series. He also appeared briefly in "Guardians of the Dawn Spotlight" #22 as part of the "Time and Changes" storyline.