Lagos 2080

Chapter 6: Makoko Uprising

The tension in Makoko was thick, like the humid air before a storm. Word had spread fast — whispers of rebellion, of people rising against the Tech-Lords who controlled their lives from shiny towers high above. Ayo could feel the energy buzzing in every corner of the undercity. People were ready for change. They were tired of being ignored, of struggling in the shadows while the elite grew richer off their backs.

But to start an uprising, they needed leverage. And Ayo knew exactly what that meant: a heist.

In an old, hidden warehouse, Ayo and his small band of allies gathered around a flickering hologram of the Tech-Lords' headquarters. Ejiro, the hacker with storm-gray eyes and a mind like quicksilver, tapped on her tablet, pulling up schematics and guard routes. Every line on the hologram felt like a challenge, a barrier they had to break through to change their fate.

"So, this is where they keep it," Ejiro said, pointing to a small room deep inside the building, protected by layers of security. "The servers in here hold data on the Tech-Lords' dealings — proof of how they're controlling everything from water to power down here. If we can get in and grab it, we'll have the power to turn the city against them."

Ayo nodded, but a knot tightened in his stomach. He knew the risks. The Tech-Lords' headquarters was built like a fortress, with every inch protected by drones, guards, and motion sensors. Getting in wouldn't be easy. Getting out alive? Even harder.

"What's the plan?" asked Kazeem, the streetwise hustler who'd joined them. He was a friend of Ayo's since childhood, a fast talker with a network of informants across the undercity.

Ayo took a deep breath, his eyes flicking over his crew — Ejiro, Kazeem, Tunde, the elder Ifa priest with a cybernetic eye, and their latest recruit, Rina, a skilled pickpocket who moved like a ghost.

"We go in tonight," Ayo said. "We'll split up. Ejiro and I will head to the server room. Kazeem, you keep the guards busy at the main entrance. Tunde and Rina, you're our eyes and ears. Watch for anything that could get in our way."

Ejiro grinned, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "Sounds like a party."

That night, the streets of Makoko were eerily quiet. Ayo's heart pounded as they approached the looming building, its dark glass walls reflecting the neon lights from the upper city. It felt surreal, standing at the base of the fortress that symbolized everything they were fighting against.

Kazeem led the way, slipping into the shadows near the main entrance. A few minutes later, the sound of shouts and alarms rang out as Kazeem created a diversion, drawing guards away from the doors. Ayo and Ejiro took their chance, sprinting silently through a side entrance that Ejiro had hacked earlier.

Inside, the air was cold and sterile, a sharp contrast to the heat and noise of Makoko. Every step felt like a countdown, each second bringing them closer to the prize — or disaster.

As they approached the server room, Ayo's skin prickled with unease. Something wasn't right. They were moving too easily through the building. No guards, no drones — nothing blocking their way. He exchanged a worried glance with Ejiro, who looked just as unsettled.

"Stay alert," he whispered. "This feels... wrong."

Ejiro nodded, tightening her grip on her device.

They reached the server room door. Ayo quickly plugged in a small device Ejiro had rigged, a hack to override the security lock. The door hissed open, revealing rows of humming servers, blue lights blinking in the dim room.

"Alright, let's get this done," Ejiro said, pulling out her tablet and connecting it to the main server.

As the data began to download, Ayo's mind wandered to the stakes. With this information, they could expose the Tech-Lords' corruption, rally the people of Makoko, and maybe — just maybe — force change. But his thoughts were shattered by a sudden alarm blaring through the room.

"Did you trip something?" Ayo asked, his voice barely hiding his panic.

"No! I checked everything; there was no extra security on this door!" Ejiro snapped, frantically typing on her device. "They must have... they must have set a trap."

Ayo's blood ran cold. They'd walked straight into it.

Suddenly, red lights filled the hallway outside, and they could hear the metallic whir of drones approaching. Ejiro grabbed the tablet, the data still downloading. "We're not done yet, just a few more seconds!"

But they didn't have a few seconds. The drones burst into the room, their red lights glaring like hungry eyes. Ayo acted on instinct, pulling Ejiro behind a server as the drones opened fire, bullets ricocheting off metal.

"We have to leave, now!" Ayo yelled, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"Not without the data!" Ejiro shouted back, clutching the tablet.

As if answering her call, the Sky-Mech that Ayo had reactivated back in Makoko buzzed to life, appearing in the doorway. It was his secret weapon, the only advantage they had left. Ayo focused, calling on the strange bond he felt with the Mech. It moved with his thoughts, launching itself at the drones and smashing them with brutal precision.

"Now we run!" he shouted, grabbing Ejiro's hand as they dashed out of the room, the Sky-Mech covering their retreat.

They tore through the building, dodging guards and weaving around corners, barely ahead of the security forces. Kazeem, Tunde, and Rina joined them in the chaos, the whole crew making a desperate dash for the exit.

But as they neared the door, a figure stepped into their path. It was a Tech-Lord, dressed in sleek armor, his face hidden behind a cold, metallic mask.

"Did you really think you'd get away?" His voice was calm, taunting, like he was toying with them.

Ayo clenched his fists, his heart pounding. But before he could react, the Sky-Mech surged forward, putting itself between Ayo and the Tech-Lord, its red eyes glaring defiantly.

The Tech-Lord laughed. "Oh, so you figured it out. You're using one of our prototypes. Clever... but not clever enough."

With a flick of his wrist, he sent a signal that seemed to disrupt the Mech. It faltered, its movements slowing as if it was fighting something within. Ayo felt the connection weakening, slipping away.

"No!" he shouted, desperate, as the Tech-Lord closed in.

But then, from behind, Ejiro yelled, "Now, Ayo! Use the power! Remember what the Orishas said!"

In that instant, something clicked. Ayo didn't know how, but he focused, reaching out with his mind, calling on the strange force within him — the whispers he'd heard from the Orishas. His body tingled, and he felt a surge of energy flow through him, into the Mech.

The Sky-Mech roared back to life, its eyes burning brighter than ever. It broke free of the Tech-Lord's hold, lunging forward in a blur of metal. The Tech-Lord staggered back, caught off guard as the Mech struck him, knocking him to the ground.

"Go!" Ayo shouted to his team, not looking back as they finally burst through the doors and into the night.

Breathless and bruised, they regrouped in the hidden alleys of Makoko, away from the prying eyes of the Tech-Lords. Ejiro clutched the tablet, the precious data finally secure.

Ayo looked at his team, a sense of hope stirring in his chest despite everything. They had survived. And now, they had the power to expose the truth.

But as he glanced at the Sky-Mech, standing silently beside him, he knew this was only the beginning. The Tech-Lords wouldn't give up. They'd hunt them down, try to crush the uprising before it even began.

Ayo clenched his fists. For the first time, he wasn't afraid. This was their fight. And they were ready to take it all the way.