THE VAULT
8:31PM…
The wind, cool and gentle, swept across the peak of Zuma Rock. The sky, a vast canvas of deep indigo, was dusted with a thousand stars. At the very top of the rock, a single prayer mat was spread out. G knelt on it, having just finished the final rak'ah of the Isha prayer. Behind him, the boys—Ahmad, Umar, Nasir, and Sadiq—followed suit, their voices a soft murmur in the night as they concluded their own prayers.
After a few moments of quiet reflection, G turned around to face them. The boys' faces were illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. The familiar, unspoken fury that had burned in them for days was replaced by calm.
"So, gentlemen," G said, his voice soft but clear. "Here we are. I am proud to see you boys have not lost your resolve in any of this, after everything you have been through."
"It's hard to lose it when you're fighting for something real, G. For our country, for our families. We are not just fighting for ourselves anymore." Ahmad said.
Umar chuckled, "For real, G. All this time, we thought we were just some boys with powers, playing soldier in a field. Now, we have a whole army waiting for us to lead them to a fight."
"It's a strange feeling," Nasir mused, his gaze fixed on the northern horizon. "To think we went from being a few friends training in an abandoned building to being a symbol of hope for others. But it reminds me of what my mother said... we've all been through a lot to get here, and we can't afford to be weak now."
Sadiq nodded, a small smile on his face. "This war... it's a testament to how far we've come. You took us in, G, and you taught us to be more than what we were. You made us a team; you made us brothers."
G's smile was genuine, a rare sight that warmed the cold night air. "Indeed. I remember watching you boys, back in the day. Sadiq, always with his nose in a book. Umar, the big, strong one, always rushing to iron his uniform. Nasir, the quiet, focused one, always looking out for his family. And you, Ahmad... always trying to control the fire, inside and out. It's a miracle we made it this far without you setting the whole field ablaze."
Ahmad laughed. "I still have a problem with that, G. But now, I know that fire can save as much as it can destroy."
"Fire is a dangerous ally; you must learn to control it, if not, it'll burn everything in its path." G stated.
"Yes sir." Ahmad said.
"What do we do after all this is over?" Umar asked, the question hanging in the air. "We can't just go back to school and pretend nothing happened."
"No," Nasir said firmly. "We keep fighting. Not with our fists, but with our minds. We build something better. A safe place for Nucrons, a sanctuary where people can be understood and their powers can be a force for good. We can be a part of that."
"A foundation," Sadiq added, his eyes gleaming with a new idea. "We call it the 'Youth Ascendant.' A non-profit that helps Nucrons harness their powers for a better Nigeria, a better Africa."
"Relax Wole Soyinka, I think I remember Reed saying there's a way e play this here it can all go away, and we go back to our lives." Ahmad interjected.
"But maybe we can look into that later on." he added.
G listened, his heart swelling with pride. They had not only grown stronger; they had matured, their vision expanding beyond their own immediate concerns.
"These are all good dreams," G said, placing a hand on Ahmad's shoulder.
"But for now, there is still a long road ahead. We have to be ready for anything and everything. The battle against Kane is not just a fight against one man; it's a fight for the very soul of our nation. We have to be united, strong, and unwavering in our faith."
"So what about Reed?" Umar asked.
"The only thing I trust about Reed right now is that he wants to stop Kane just as much as we do. And I hate to say it, but we need him. So let's have some faith." G answered
He looked at each of them, his gaze lingering. "You all have a role to play. A purpose to fulfill. But most importantly, you have each other. Never forget where you came from, and never forget that as long as you have each other, you can never lose. For our families. For our friends. For our future. We fight for freedom."
They stood on the rock, a silent promise made beneath the vast, starlit sky. The boys, once just friends, were now a force, a promise, and a prayer. They were ready for the fight of their lives.