Clueless

Tapiwa, Xolani and Munashe were running out breath as they continued avoiding the objects that were tossed towards them by the creature. "This creature is probably on drugs. I tell you nothing can keep this up for this long." Tapiwa was complaining as he searched for the next roof to jump to. His eyes darted from left to right as he tried to come up with a path to reach the monster.

"Hey Tapiwa watch out!" Xolani screamed out as he also tried to find the closest path to the creature. Tapiwa avoided the trash can that had been thrown at him. Munashe was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey Xolani distract it!" Tapiwa called out but no answer came. "Xolani! Xolani ! Crap I am on my own."

No one was in sight except for him. The monster now only targeted him. 'Crap crap crap. I am the target now.'

The objects started raining down on Tapiwa and the more he ran, he realized he was running out of stamina. His breathing became heavy and he decided to go for the creature before he was too tired to flee or fight.

He jumped from roof to roof as he closed the distance between him and the creature. The creature saw him and raised its limb. The limb came crushing down making Tapiwa lose balance. By the time he stood upright another limb was in the air and came down for him. Something grabbed his t-shirt and pulled him away from the spot.

"What the hell are you doing?" Panashe asked angrily. He had used his gear to pull Tapiwa away. "You didn't read any of the files on your VCB did you?" he asked again this time pulling Tapiwa behind a house. As soon as no one was in sight the creature remained still and quiet. Tapiwa was confused but remained quiet since everything was as clear as mud to him by now. He thought all that was need was to fight but alas, anomalies were smart beings too.

The two mechanical half limbs that were used by Panashe hovered in the air as they released a faint hissing sound. Tapiwa flicked the ring on his cap before standing up and peeping on the creature. The streetlight illuminated this ugly looking worm and its blood red eyes as they rotated in their sockets. 'What's it waiting for then?' Tapiwa asked himself before he was pulled back into hiding by Panashe.

"It's still searching. Probably knows that it is cornered so it won't move until it sees us." Panashe suggested as he retrieved the bombs in his pocket from the first hunt. "I am going to distract it with this and you electrocute it thunder god."

Panashe disappeared into the house and several seconds later the creature roared trying to intimidate Panashe who threw the ticking bombs. The small explosives didn't have that much of an impact but they managed to stun the creature enough giving Panashe the headstart he needed. Before the creature charged for Panashe another scream took its attention. "Discharge!" Tapiwa screamed as he laid his hands on the creatures skin. The blue streaks of electricity could be seen traveling up the creature as it wailed in agony.

The light show ended quickly but the creature had its front body elevated by the limbs. It was paralysed but still aware of the danger it was in. "Do it again!" Panashe cried out but Tapiwa could barely stand straight. The backlash from overusing the fusion cells made him weak and wobbly.

"Get him out of the way!" Xolani shouted as he prepared to launch a small cabinet. Panashe sent on of his mechanical limbs which sent Tapiwa flying out of the way.

Using his gear Xolani launched the small cabinet and it went crashing into the creatures right limb which bent in an unusual manner and the creature collapsed to the ground. Xolani ran to the creature and started crushing its fingers. "This will make sure it won't move again in a while."

Munashe came out from a house as he clapped his hands. "You guys are naturals. But this is only an adolescent one." He was impressed but didn't want to show it. He immediately signaled the airship which came to them and they struggled helping each other to place the creature into the container. After several minutes of pushing the creature was contained and secured for transport.

The flight back wasn't a pleasurable one as Tapiwa had finally regained his ability to talk and complained all the way about how the others had abandoned him. "I was helping Panashe." Xolani added a few time because he was the one who had managed to remove Panashe from in between the car and the wall. Munashe kept shrugging his shoulders.

When the airship proceeded back into the underground market a truck was already waiting to load the container. Mr Reed was very happy to see the Munashe and his team and escorted them back to his warehouse. Even the workers were happy.

"This is the best thing to happen to me in a while." Mr Reed kept saying until they were in the small room. "Okay Munashe. Now the real problem has to be solved." Mr Reed went from all jolly to a serious face within seconds.

"What's your plan young Munashe? "

Munashe looked at the young males and one after the other they nodded. It was the dopamine of accomplishing such a mission made them confident but they didn't know what they were truly getting themselves into.

"Do it Mr Reed. Dzimba Dzemabwe foundation is back online." Munashe smirked and Reed smiled too as he took out his phone and dialed a contact.

"Mr Reed, what do you want from house Humba." a voice of a confident man resonated in the room.

"Dzimba Dzemabwe is back online sir and they just accomplished a job."

"What the what? Who is leading them? Since when?" all the confidence was replaced with panic and fear.

"House Shumba (house Lion) sir. It seems like Munashe has recruited a young squad of very capable fighters and they managed to complete a job the digital witches recruits failed in."

"Damn it Reed. Why were you late with this information. "

"They just arrived sir. I am also shocked at such quick completion of a hunt."

"It's okay Reed. Keep them occupied and I will try to disband that nonsensical notion of trying to resurrect a dead foundation."

The connection ended and Mr Reed started laughing and so did Munashe.

"Well you all heard him. Train well and be careful about your safety. Now excuse me I have to start making money for your pays."

Panashe looked confused for a while before asking, "What about Nhamo or Jess?"

"Sorry boy that information hasn't been found out yet. It takes time to gather all the information. On Monday I will send everything to Munashe here okay." Reed explained as he left the room. Panashe just nodded but he wasn't satisfied. "Don't worry dude we will find them." Tapiwa flicked his ring again and walked out of the small room.

"Panashe. Nhamo was using an anomalous object and he is most probably working for an intelligent anomaly. They won't make any mistakes in their plans. If we hadn't ran into him at the hospital we would be at zero right now." Munashe wrapped his arm on Panashe's shoulder before dragging him out of the office. "Okay I am going to drop you all off at your homes since the city's curfew is already in effect."

"What time is it?" Xolani asked but everyone pointed at his VCB. '0146' the VCB showed.

Panashe woke up in the small apartment on the couch with his gear on the table. He sat up straight and stared at it. 'Don't worry Jess. I am coming after you.' He showered and prepared some food for himself before he could find something to do.

The buzz from the door alarmed him and he reacted by shouting. "Who is it?"

"It's me."

"You who?"

"Come on Panashe it's Allen. I came here to invite you to the arcade. Jess' phone wasn't connecting so I thought I should just come myself."

"I will be out in a sec." Panashe went out to meet his classmate and they went out.

At the arcade, everyone was occupied by their games and all the stations were full. "Wow. It's packed today." Panashe was shocked because the arcade had never been this full for a long time. "A new game came out yesterday I think." Allen said as they sat at a free table. They sat there and talked about their random lives why laughing at people who were rage quitting.

"So where is Jess? I haven't seen here with you in a while now."

"Can you keep a secret?" Panashe asked his friend who nodded vigorously.

"She is working undercover trying to find some guy named Nhamo."

Allen looked shocked but quickly calmed himself and smiled. "Sleep over at your place then."

"Nope dude what if she comes back."

"You are hopeless man. I can't believe you are the guy who has won several street brawls and is scared of some young woman." Allen mocked until a beautiful young lady approached them.

"Ah Melli. How nice of you to come here." Allen jolted upwards.

"Save it Allen. My aunt needs your help let's go."

"Wow this is very wrong. Panashe sorry man."

"It's okay dude. Duty calls. Just make sure you make it up to me." Panashe said as he stared at the lady.

"Yeah let's go Allen."

The duo left without any introductions and Panashe enjoyed watching a few gamers lose their bets at the arcade.

"Maybe I should get a girlfriend." he said to himself as he left the arcade.

"Melli what's going on?" Allen asked as he followed Mellisa to an alley.

"It's house Humba. They said the digital witches are slacking and how Dzimba Dzemabwe just surfaced yesterday."

"So what? We already have captured several anomalies for them. Just one failure isn't the end of the world you know."

"I came here because you weren't picking up your phone genius. We are to assemble tonight and hunt a predator anomaly."

"What? Where is it?"

"They will give us the location later. They want it alive."

"For what. Those creatures should be killed off. Keeping such a thing within the city will cause problems."

"Right now our leader said we do as told so suck it up."

Allen cursed at himself and became depressed. "What about my request then captain Melli?"

"No. We don't need new members. We will recruit your friend when our leader asks for new requests."

"That was him back there."

"No Allen. I have to deal with my uncle and the UAEC. Now we have to compete against an organisation that just surfaced out of nowhere. They should just perish for their sins."

Mellisa was sobbing by the time she finished her small rant. Allen hugged her because he was one of the few people who knew the rumor about Mellisa's parents. They were caught up in the fire five years ago when the Dzimba Dzemabwe foundation had a civil war in which house Humba was left as the winner.