Chapter 4: The Awakening of the Secret Seven

The Quantum Layer hummed with anticipation, its holographic constellations casting shifting patterns across the Secret Seven's faces. Joshua stood before them, a lacquered *ìbejì* box in hand—a twin motif carved into its lid.

"Time to stop playing Avengers," Barakat joked, flipping her braids. "Let's see these diamonds."

Joshua opened the box. Seven gems pulsed inside, their light painting the room in kaleidoscopic hues.

"Cosmic Diamonds," he said. "Not jewelry. Not weapons. *Partners*."

Chisom received hers first—a blue gem that frosted her fingertips. "Feels… calm. Like lake water."

Favor's red stone flared like a struck match. "*E be like fire!*" She grinned, shadowboxing the air.

Barakat's gold diamond spun midair before embedding in her suit's collar. "Finally. Accessories with *purpose*."

Michael nearly dropped his green gem. "It's… singing?"

"Harmonics," Wisdom whispered, her lavender stone blooming holographic flowers. "It's alive."

Teniola glared at her silver diamond. "If this thing starts preaching, I'm tossing it into the trash."

Faruq adjusted his glasses, watching the gems sync with their suits. "Resonance frequencies match their biometrics. Your family designed this?"

" something like that. It's not really,certain" Joshua said. "Diamonds amplify what's already there. Strength. Reflexes. *You*."

Joshua led them deeper into the Quantum Layer. A curtain of light dissolved, revealing Lucis—a spaceship shaped like a nsibidi symbol, its hull iridescent as a kingfisher's wing.

"Omo, see spaceship!" Michael whooped.

"Not just a ship," Faruq said, tapping his wristband. "Her AI's been helping me recalibrate the Quantum Layer. Say hello, Kira."

Lights pulsed warmly as a voice echoed—feminine, melodic, with a faint Naija lilt. "*Ẹ kú àbọ̀, Secret Seven. Mo ní Kira.*"

Barakat snorted. "Your AI speaks Yoruba?"

"She speaks you," Joshua said. "Learns as we learn. Kira, show them. What is wrong Michael " "just remembering that this is how terminator started". Joshua chuckles "nothing like that"

Holograms flared—star maps, wormhole equations, a defense system diagrammed like *àdìrẹ* cloth.

"Lucis can outrun light," Faruq explained. "But her real power? *Wormholes.* Punch coordinates, and—"

"nice," Teniola finished. "What's the catch?"

"No catch," Joshua said. "Just trust."

The training room shifted into a Lagos slum—rusting danfo buses, corrugated roofs.

"Simulation's set to Surulere, 1999," Kira announced. "Hostiles inbound."

"Why 1999?" Chisom ducked a flying bottle.

"Because *I* wasn't born yet," Joshua smirked, disarming a holographic thug with a *dambe* punch.

Favor backflipped over a vendor's cart, her diamond flaring. "Less talking! More yabbing!"

Faruq tossed Barakat a grapple gun. "Aim for the Chevron sign."

"This isn't *Spider-Man*," she protested, hooking the holographic billboard.

"No," Teniola said, zipping past on jet boots. "It's better."

"Michael! Shield left!" Joshua barked.

"I'm trying!" Michael's green diamond pulsed as his forcefield deflected debris.

Wisdom's lavender vines pinned a drone. "Joshua, now!"

Phoenix fire erupted from his blade, incinerating the target.

"Oya*, again!" Teniola yelled.

After training

"Guys am thinking of telling everyone in class about us" Joshua started "isn't the ìdea of to be Secret as in Secret Seven?" Faruq asked "i know but it will be a lot easier for us to work if we have covers, and we could use the help in things like surveillance"

Joshua replied,"i don't mind we could use the help, besides we have brain wipes right?" Wisdom added

"What... no.. we don't" Joshua answered sounding flustered "suuuurrrreee" Wisdom said while winking.

During breat time Joshua asked everyone to meet in front of the door leading to the layer

"Be ready to be amazed guys" Joshua said while opening the door so Joshua gathered the class in the Quantum Layer. Twenty-six students gaped at Lucis.

"So… you're superheroes?" elisa, the quiet artist, asked.

"Not just us," Chisom said. "All of you. We'll need lookouts. Medics. People who can keep secrets."

Tola snorted. "My auntie works for NEPA. She says superheroes just cause more blackouts."

"which kin lie be that," Joshua said. "na us they steal una money for light abi?"

"But that aside" Faruq said while projecting holograms of Lagos's skyline. "Voidspawn attacked Badagry last month. We stopped them. You didn't notice because we *hid* it."

The class buzzed. Bisi raised her hand. "My cousin saw glowing eyes in Lekki. Was that…?"

"Me," Joshua admitted. His Eyes flared gold-blue. "Sorry if I scared her."

Laughter rippled. Approval followed.

And he also introduced EYE to all of them

That night, Joshua was talking to EYE

"you have funny classmates" EYE said while hovering around

"i know but i think i can build another family with then" Joshua said. "when you turn to vin diesel "Is all about family"." EYE laughed

"shut up jor" Joshua replied as he threw a pen at him.