1. David’s Journal/Diary

2. Age 8, Chicago, First Union Bank After our previous place was destroyed by an epic, Dad and I made our way here to Chicago. We really needed some money, so we went to the bank to get a loan. While dad was talking to the mortgage man, I sat down and observed the bank. Then an epic came in. Nobody paid attention to him, until he pointed at a passing woman, vaporizing her into dust. He began telling us his name was Deathpoint, and his plan to rule the city. He pointed at random people one by one as he spoke, until another epic walked in. That was Steelheart. At once, people had hope, we all thought he was the hero here to save us. But he isn’t. Deathpoint pointed at him, but it didn’t harm him at all. Steelheart shoved him to the wall, and told him that HE is the ruler of chicago now, and he will serve him, or die. Then the side doors burst open, and a team of armed men came in and opened fire. The government hadn’t given up yet back then, they still tried to kill epics with guns. Steelheart stood there, as countless bullets bounced off his skin. As Steelheart started concentrating energy in his hands, preparing to launch it at the soldiers, I saw the Deathpoint crawl up behind him, slowly reaching for his neck. Maybe he could’ve killed Steelheart, but we would never know, for my dad picked up a dropped handgun and shot him. Deathpoint fell to the floor, and Steelheart turned around sharply to look at him. He then looked at dad and the gun in his hand. Steelheart raised his hand to his cheek. There was blood on his face. First I thought it was Deathpoint’s blood, but when he wiped it off, it continued to bleed. The bullet scratched him before it hit Deathpoint. Somehow, my dad was able to harm him, while all other bullets just bounced off him. Furious, Steelheart killed everyone in the bank, one by one, to hide his secret. People ran, but didn’t get far before Steelheart killed them. In the chaos, I hid in the vault, and survived. I’ve seen Steelheart bleed.

3. Age 18, Newcago, Upperlevel. I went to the upperlevels, because that’s where I anticipate The Reckoners will be. The Reckoners is a shadowy group, who track, research, and assassinate Evil epics, which is about all of them. After that day in the bank, I’ve dedicated my life to fighting epics. Every epic has a weakness, something that makes him no different from an ordinary human being. Though I haven’t fought any epics yet, I have researched about many epics over the 10 years, and I have made many conclusions about their weaknesses. The Reckoners are the only ones who still fought back, and I want to join them, for they will be very useful in my plan to get revenge on Steelheart. I anticipate the Reckoners to be here to kill an epic called Fortuity, who had precognition powers. He could foretell the weather, for instance, or guess the numbers in a dice roll. He could also sense danger, meaning he could dodge a bullet before you even pulled the trigger. I saw fortuity walking down the street, and a beautiful woman walked past him. After a few seconds of conversation, the woman walked fortuity down the street. The woman was part of the Reckoners, and this was all part of their plan for assassination. Unfortunately, something went wrong. A minor epic chased up to Fortuity, and told him he was needed in a conference. If Fortuity were to go back, he wouldn’t walk into their trap, and the reckoners will retreat, vanish, and find a new target. I could spend years searching for another chance like this one. So I stepped out and helped them. In the end, fortuity was killed, and I was brought with them.

4. Age 18, Newcago, Dikto Place I went to my house with Cody and Megan, and we hid behind a rock. Around 15 meters away from us is my house, and the dark camouflaged us while we observed. We were there to get my equipment – My notebooks, my smoke grenade, and other goodies I got back in the factory. My notebooks contain 10 years of research, notes, and thinking, and if I were given a choice of losing my arm or my notebooks, I would choose the arm. I quickly identified an illusion, a garbage bin sitting near the door. It shimmers once in a while. There has to be an illusionist epic around. Searching through my memory, I concluded the epic is Refractionary. Refractionary is a class C illusionist, with a second ability of invisibility. There is probably an enforcement squad hiding in the illusion, while she hides somewhere else, invisible. I walked in casually through the door, while Cody and Megan stay there, covering me with their rifles. I pick up my backpack, put my belongings in, and prepare myself. The door burst open, and an enforcement squad steps in. Cody takes his shot and one officer falls. The two others scramble, and Cody takes another shot. Another one down. I know Refractionary’s weakness: Smoke. I pull the pin from the smoke grenade, and wait. Nothing happens. Suddenly, it hit me. Refreactionary must be outside, and she must be on to Cody and Megan right now. A lightbulb lights in my head. I grab a fallen mobile and dial Refractionary’s number. Almost immediately after I press the dial button, a gunshot is heard outside. I run out and see Cody and Megan, Megan with a handgun, and Refractionary dead on the ground. We retreat safely with my bag of notes and gear.

5. Age 18, Newcago, Reckoners base Today I had a pretty serious discussion with Megan then with the rest, on a topic I never really thought about before, during this 10 years. What will happen to Newcago after we kill Steelheart? What if Newcago will be worse without him? Prof tells me it most likely will be, at least for a while. The infrastructure of the city will collapse, food will get scarce, and unless someone powerful takes Steelheart’s place and secures Enforcement, there will be looting. In all these years of planning, preparing to kill the one I hated, I never considered what will happen to Newcago. Megan then said Newcago is pretty good compared to other places, and we should just focus on the epics who aren’t good administrators, places where life is worse. To this, Prof said two things. “Our job is to cut out the infected flesh. Only then can the body start to heal – but it’s going to hurt a lot at first” “Everyone talks about how great Newcago is. But it’s not great, Megan. It’s good by comparison only! Yes, there are worse places, but so long as this hellhole is considered the ideal, we’ll never get anywhere. We cannot let them convince us this is normal!”

6. Age 18, Newcago, Stadium We’re there in the stadium, trying to bait Steelheart in. We’re still not 100% sure what Steelheart’s weakness is, but we have a couple of guesses, plus we’re running out of time, so we have to try. All of our crew prefer dying over failing. We sit there, rifles scoped in, waiting for Steelheart to arrive. His troops come marching in first. There is still no sight of Steelheart after a long time, and we start to worry. What if Steelheart found out it was just the Reckoners messing with him? What if he never comes? Prof yells into the speaker again, calling him a coward, trying to get him out. Steelheart finally arrives, and we start battling him. We take down Nightcrawler first, then we try out all of our ideas. We tried crossfire, we threw smoke at the soldiers, and got them to randomly shoot throught the smoke. A few shots hit him, but didn’t harm him, so we moved on to the next one. One by one, we tried. We failed. At last, I tried shooting him with the exact same gun my father harmed him with 10 years ago, but it still didn’t work. My father’s voice rung in my head. “Where there are villains, there will be heroes.” Then I knew the reason my father was able to hurt him was because he believed in him. My father did not fear Steelheart. And with that piece of information, I had a plan. I put a detonator in my gun. Steelheart walked up to me and took my gun. He squeezed the trigger, the bullet hit the detonator, and the dynamite below him detonated. Steelheart was killed by the only person in the world who has no fear for him. Himself.