Maddie Robinson is an agent with the Illuminati.
Yes, that Illuminati, although it is definitely not as any reader of conspiracy theories or secret societies might have imagined, at least not in the 'universe' that Robinson inhabits (I say that just in case you-know-who is listening).
This version of the long rumored and never revealed organization is "the world's most covert organization rumored to control, well, everything". No surprise there. Not so with this tidbit: "The Illuminati are kids, like Maddie! Together, they must protect humanity from anyone who threatens its peace, and basically keeping the planet spinning on its axis".
"The Illuminati were created millennia ago, to bring light to a world of darkness. We spread knowledge and peace - and we stop those who spread ignorance, death, and destruction. Our super secret super spies keep the world safe, doing what governments are unable to do. All while hiding in plain sight." That is what the current head of the organization, Zander Lyon - super famous and mega-mega rich tech genius - tells her and the others new recruits assembled to be offered a new life.
"If you stay, you will no longer be ordinary. You will be undercover agents. Your old lives will be mere cover stories. You will be on call, traveling wherever the world needs you, for an organization that officially does not exist. Keeping a secret such as this will be difficult. But keep it you must." That is what Robinson will be told. She quicky realizes that was being asked to give up her old life - late nights doing homework on someone else's couch, having to take seemingly endless bus rides to school, eating boring sandwiches alone at lunch, and having no close friends. "The Illuminati were offering her a chance to learn, to have adventures, and, maybe, to even change the world."
She said yes.
We learn first off, and I mean that literally, that she is a genius. And an incredible inventor. Which is why the Illuminati was interested in her. The opening paragraph we have in that initial recorded adventure states: "Maddie Robinson hoped she would win the Eastern Regional Engineering and Robotics Competition. She always did, in some way, but she never won first place. Or second. Or third. She always won a prize the judges seemed to have made up on the spot just for her: the Special Achievement Award. Or the Medal of Impressive Intent. Or the Holy Crud, Congrats on Building Something That Even Looks Like an Invention trophy."
This young White girl of unspecified age but likely around 13, is a fairly tall, very lanky person with her long blonde hair usually in a braided ponytail with bangs often falling in front of her eyes. She was living in a one-bedroom apartment with her older counsin Jessica and her husband, sleeping on the couch and trying hard to not get in the way. Her parents, both of whom were scientists, had disappeared two years before on a research expedition to the Arctic.
Robinson's incredible ability for inventing devices is, as indicated, the reason for the offer to have her join the group. A couple of others who she will meet and become close friends with are:
Caleb - a short brown skin boy with hazel eyes and unruly curly hair with an amazing ability to solve puzzles.
Lexi - a tall white girl "with half her head shaved and the remaining hair dyed bright blue" who loves to kick butt. Any physical activity that is challenging is something she relishes.
Rolly - a white boy from France who is a whiz at mimicry, able to do voices that make he sound like he belongs wherever he wants to be.
Sefu - a dark-haired, olive-skinned boy from Cairo who is pretty good with electronics.
There will be others that come and go from the group but these are main ones we follow, if you do not include (and I and they do not) Killian who is a jerk-face and none of them like him no matter how smart he is.