Crew

Everyone at the community college was talking about the latest kidnapping as if it was a TV show. Panashe realised how much he had messed up when someone mentioned that the witness should have helped. The news board at the school showed how the police were proud that they had a witness and managed to save a policeman from being killed.

Panashe was lucky because the police didn't review any names but all the trash talk from his peers made him get frustrated. His anger was now directed at anyone who mentioned the witness. He wanted to say something but he couldn't. After classes he walked without talking to anyone. He rejected some offers to go to the arcade and people just mocked him of being afraid to lose.

He held the card from Munashe and realised he had missed a crucial point. Come wearing a mask. 'What do I need a mask for?' he asked himself as he walked towards the city centre. Mbare was considered the best market place by the UAG because of a certain place called Mupedzanhamo (Ender of all problems). The amount of foreigners in Mbare at any point exceeded their population.

The market and all its buyers had managed to make this once small place the biggest place in southern Africa. Manufacturers and dealers favoured this place because of the bargains and cheap raw materials. This activity had also managed to draw the attention of criminals and other worldly creatures to this part of the world.

Panashe was amazed by the billboards and the millions of stalls in this marketplace. The police could be seen patrolling around and a few organization airships hovered above the market place advertising what ever their retailers were selling. One message kept reoccurring which read keep you wallets safe we need your money. Panashe walked to stall that was selling several mechanical masks and wooden ones.

"How much for the masks?" he asked the seller who was wearing a wooden African designed mask who just shrugged his shoulders and made a holographic menu appear that showed all the masks and their prices.

The man just waited for Panashe to find what he could afford. Panashe on the other kept scrolling and through the menu and he made some weird faces. He couldn't decide on which one to take.

"Hey brat how much you got? Maybe I can give you some broken stuff from the back."

"I got seventy dollars. What can it get me?"

"You brats are the reason we are go broke. You come here with your worthless money and try to buy quality stuff with sick money."

Panashe stood there his mouth shut and his hands in his pockets. "Okay sorry man. I will check somewhere else."

"Hey wait right there. I will give you something mechanical that works. Give me the money now."

Panashe handed over all the notes from his pocket and the man bent over as his arms ran through boxes of junk trying to find something. He finally jolted up and gave Panashe a mask that covered the eyes and had another part that traced the jawline. Panashe placed the mask on his face and he could feel the machine adjust itself to fit his face.

After everything was set the mask produced a few mechanical sounds and his whole face was covered. "Now you see brat. That's a very good mask and if I ever see you again you should top me up. You hear me."

Panashe nodded and thanked the man before jumping from the second stage to the floor. He rushed out the market. People were offering him shoes and clothes for cheap prices but he ignored them knowing his mission was done.

In the outskirts of Mbare several men clad in black went into an abandoned warehouse their leader looked angry. "Nhamo tell me you managed to deal with the policeman and the witness."

"It was a complete failure. Some detective appeared out of nowhere punched me out the window. How is the progress with the scientist?" Nhamo asked he placed his rod on the table.

"His knowledge on quantum physics is something to be marvelled at but his astronomy is awful. We need someone who knows astronomy well enough if I am to send us to my home world. "

"Don't worry my niece will find us exactly what you seek Mr Fear. I can't wait for the day this machine will be complete. Interstellar traveller. This will make me the most richest man on this planet."

"We need the astronomer fast and few other components to make this work fine. If the calculations ever go wrong we are doomed to die as our atoms race through this magnificent galaxy."

"Fine give me the list of the components."

Panashe arrived at the address indicated on the card and it was a diner in the city's most busiest location. It was close to the college Panashe attended. Ruva's diner the sign post hung above the door its neon red lights and a flower illuminating the front of the diner in a nice red aura.

Panashe walked into the diner and was met by a group of young people all making noise like a classroom. He was shocked by the designs of masks he saw. Some were beautiful others were threatening and some were just meh. In total there were twelve of them.

"Oi a new member joins this group of misfits. Hahaha." someone screamed out and they all busted out laughing. Panashe was starting to feel out of place. Everyone's focus returned towards the table that had some playing cards scattered above. Panashe decided to sit on a table alone as he thought about why he was invited here. It just seemed like a youth group to him and he wasn't in the mood for games.

"Okay. Okay children settle down. Settle down." a female voice interrupted the game of cards and everyone settled down.

"Okay seems like there are ten of you now. Okay new kid stand up." Panashe stood up as the lady had commanded him to.

"This little cub is Panashe. He has little experience in street brawls and has good reputation in systems design and electronics at the Mbare college. Panashe welcome to Dzimba dzemabwe (house of stones) foundation."

"Wait how did you know about me?"

"Information is one of our trades. Please sit down."

Panashe dropped himself on the chair and waited for the lady to continue.

"My name is Ruvarashe and I will be your commander of operations. Some of you have been training with me for three months and for the new members you will receive VCBs(video communication bracelets) which will contain a training manual and what is expected from you. Today we will be doing a little bit of roof culture to see how fit you are."

"Yes." one of the other candidates seemed happy about the roof culture.

"Excuse me, what is roof culture?" Panashe asked as he raised his hand.

"Parkour baby. Running through obstacles like they are nothing." the happy fellow responded as he stared at Panashe.

The little group headed to the rooftop of the building that housed the diner. Everyone seemed comfortable with the heights but Panashe just hesitated a little. "Nope I can't do this." Panashe said as he looked the drop.

"Don't worry dear. We all thought we couldn't until she opened that door." this time it was a female candidate who hugged him from behind. "Okay kids don't let the dog catch you. Run." Ruvarashe said as she approached the door that had been pointed to earlier. The barking that was coming from within the little maintenance room made everyone ready.

Panashe was dragged by the female candidate to make the first jump and after that the door was opened. The dog charged for them and Panashe thought it wouldn't jump. Panashe's jaw nearly dropped as the dog jumped over and that's when he started running. The dog looked hungry and they way it drooled made them all fear it.

Panashe was amazed at how he kept running. The adrenaline was being pumped into his vessels making him more fast but the jumps made him slow. "Dude you gotta roll when you land. What you are doing is dangerous!" the male who was enjoying the run called out to Panashe therefore distracting him.

Panashe ran into a pipe and knocked himself out. He blacked out immediately leaving the rest to finish the run without him.