Beast Tamer

Ch 2 Departure to Parts Unknown

Mwezi had managed to pack everything she thought she’d need and still grab more supplies for her adventure. She had no idea where she was going but between her always in the wild with her father and her memaw’s hate for technology she knew how to survive if need be. Everything was packed perfectly in her rucksack like an expert game of Tetris.

She was leaving later that night and only just told her pastor the day before in the hopes they wouldn’t try and throw anything too crazy for her. But if there’s a loving church environment there’s a way. She was dressed in a khaki button up short sleeve shirt that was tucking into matching shorts that had a dark brown belt. She made sure to get high end outdoor boots and started trekking around her property as soon as she got them. Nothing like trying to break in new hiking boots while on a job. Rookie mistake. Her copper locs were secured high on her head with a leather strap. Lasted longer than any scrunchie known to man, never got magically tangled in her hair and somehow she never lost it. So basically, every natural haired girl's blessing.

She didn’t want to pay for parking so one of her church members offered to pick her up from her home she inherited from her grandmother and another would drop her off at the airport. She offered to pay gas but they said ‘put it to tithe!’, so she would. It didn’t take long for them to reach the church and surprisingly everything was ready to go when she got there, which means they were late to pick her up. “Ah lookuh hea! Our vera own scientist! Mwezi hunny. On behalf of all of us, your extended family. We wish you the best on your future endeavors and lots of love.” The pastor said before everyone bowed their heads and he prayed.

Mwezi hadn’t seen Melvin all night and part of her was sad she wouldn’t get to see her friend before she left but she understood he was probably hurt. She decided to help them start cleaning up but the pastor's wife came over. “Mwezi baby ya rides here. We’ll take care a it. Go on, git. God be great baby. Make ya parents and Mewmaw proud nah.” She said and gave a teary eyed Mwezi a hug. “Thank you so much guys. This was really great and I needed it more than I realized. I’m gunna miss ya’ll.” Mwezi thanked the congregation and went out front to meet her ride.

“Melvin!” she said with an excited smile as he lifted himself off of the car he was leaning on. She ran over to him and placed her bag down before giving him a heartfelt hug. “I thought I wouldn’t get to say goodbye to you.” She murmured into the crook of his neck. “I’d never miss out on a chance to see my favorite girl. I kinda wanted us time so I offered to take ya to the airport.” He said and she could have sworn he was blushing. “Alright them sure. Let’s go!” Mwezi said excitedly. She went to grab her bag but Melvin got to it first and placed it in the bad seat since it was too bulky for the trunk. She slid into the passenger seat after he opened the door for her and situated herself and we went around to get it on the driver’s side.

He has a playlist already queued on his Spotify and it was a compilation of all the songs they grew up listening to and loved. They sang many of them, some good and others horribly. “So Mewzi. I know you’re going away and stuff and will be gone for some time but I was thinking. I figured I’d take a page outta ya book and try to expand my horizons and focus on me. I actually have a friend who works for Google and said if I got my official certifications he could get me an interview.” He informed her. “HOLY s**t MELVIN THAT’S AWESOME!” she squealed and could only cling to his arm since she couldn’t give him a proper hug. “I’m sooooo happy for you. I demand updates at all times. I’ll make sure to have a pre interview prep-speech and I want a post interview call. And hopefully once you get it I’ll be able to come visit and you can take me to dinner.” She said with a smile and giggle. Melvin grabbed her hand with his free one and laced their fingers, his eyes lingering on them a bit before focusing back on the road. “I will. I will take this time for me, keep you in the loop of course and maybe. Just maybe.” ‘When you come back to me I can convince you to be mine before you go again’ he thought the last part to himself. “Maybe what?” Mwezi asks, her head tilted in confusion. He shook his head, “Nothing. If it happens it happens, otherwise I want you to know I value what we have and our friendship and will love you anyway I can.” He said, throwing her a smirk as he pulled into the airports drop off parking.

Mwezi looked at him teary eyed and smiled. ‘He hopes we could still be a thing doesn’t he?’ she asked herself. He opened the door for her and she slid out the car as he collected her bag from the back seat. “Mel-” he placed his index finger over her lips and looked into her eyes with a seriousness. “We’ll miss you too Mwezi. Go, be the great, smart and amazing God fearing woman I know you to be.” ‘And come back to me. Please…’he kissed her forehead and held her pack up so she could slip her arms in. He gave her an easy way out, not having to reply and she took it. “Remember. Live updates!” she said, waving to him as she entered the private departures wing.

The airport was a major international airport but it also had a smaller private field attached to it that Gundua Corporation used. Once she made it through security and customs she was led to a small boarding area where the rest of the team had assembled. They were leaving so late at night so when they made the 17 hour flight they would arrive in the morning and hopefully not be as jet lagged. Mwezi knew herself better and had started to adjust her sleeping habits once she got the trip information and she had the world clock on her phone so she’d know when to sleep on the plane.

“Ah Mwezi! It’s a pleasure to finally meet you!” Dr. Gundua greeted cheerfully. “It’s an honor to meet you Dr. Gundua, HUGE fan of your work.” Mwezi praised the woman in pure fangirl mode. “Yes I saw your final paper, read it myself. Your college was most accommodating in helping us find you, they must really love you.” She said with a smile. Mwezi beamed with pride in herself and internally screamed as she realized her dream was actually coming true.  “Alright everyone, listen up. This is Mwezi Akua and she will be our resident Geologist and Gemologist.” Dr. Gundua accounted. “Ah bring a whole new meaning to two birds one stone!” a man joked and everyone burst out laughing. “Mwezi, this is Irdum, he will be our local guide. He knows the land, language and the people. He’s also our resident class clown.” She said jokingly to Mwezi and everyone laughed as he feigned offence. “And here I thought you loved me Doc!” he jokes.

Dr. Gundua finishes introducing Mwezi to everyone else on the team including security and they get ready to board the plane once it’s ready to go. “May I ask Dr. Gundua, why such heavy security?” Mwezi questioned. “The land is a middle ground, no man’s land of sort. No defined ruling government or person owns it so there tends to be shady dealings or bad people causing havoc in the villages that surround the area. We just want to be careful.” She informed Mwezi. “Ah better safe than sorry.” Mwezi nodded in agreement.

“Alright everyone please get seated and buckle up. Once you’re comfy, take a look at the menu so you can decide on the meals you like a head of time.” Dr. Gundua started going over basic things before the flight attendant went over safety protocols and they took off. “Hey Mwezi, wanna sit with me?” Irdum asked with a smile and she nodded. “Sure!” she said cheerfully not noticing the look of longing he gave her. Mwezi had settled in and buckled herself before passing a menu over to Irdum. “So how long have you been going on trips like this?” she asked as she looked over her dinner options. “Ah a few years. They’re a great way to travel all over. I get to experience new people, languages place and cultures. It’s amazing.” He replied as they gave the air staff their orders. “That sounds amazing. You must get to see some beautiful sights” she replied with a smile thinking about all the cool places she'd get to go. “Yes but not as beautiful as the one I’m witnessing now.” He said with a smirk. Mwezi was in her own space so it took about ten seconds too long before what he said click. Her face grew warm and her head snapped to him with a raised brow. “Resident flirt too?” she said jokingly but her laugh was slightly uncomfortable. “Nonsense dear I just speak the truth!” he said and a glint of something passed his eyes but she couldn’t figure out what it was. Before she could retort the captain came over the speaker and made his pre-flight announcement.

Before long the team was off into parts unknown. Mwezi had let Dr. Gundua know to wake her when her alarm went off since she had pre-trained herself for the new time zone and the doctor was so impressed she decided to implement the schedule with the whole team to help. After they had woken up from their first nap shift everyone was able to stretch their legs and use the restroom. “Hey sleeping beauty.” Irdum said as he came back to hit seat and Mwezi finally decided to get up. “Haha.” She said with a laugh and stuck her tongue out at him. He chuckled at her as she left to go to the restroom.

Mwezi returned to the team playing twenty questions to help get to know one another better. “Okay I’ll go first.” Dr. Gundua said. “What got you into your role today, like what inspired you to do what you’re here to do?” she asked and then went around the cabin. Some people it seemed like fun, others had parents in the line or work and just went with the flow. “Mwezi what about you?” she asked and everyone turned to Mwezi with interested gazes. “Ah well my stories kinda sad it’s okay.” She said waving her hands dismissively. “Nonsense Mwezi we’re all family here. As a team it’s important to understand one another to work together better.” Dr gundua replied with a sweet smile. ‘Ugh guess families don’t do boundaries’ she thought to herself. “Well I grew up in the south and my family had land that we think used to belong to Native Americans before they were forced from their homes inhumanly. The land used to be long to the family that owned my great, great, grandparents and somehow we ended up securing it for ourselves. Anyway, there were always precious and semi-precious stones and gems all over the property and I fell in love with them as a little girl. Geology came because I figured it was a stepping stone to get to Gemology. Ba dum tsst.” She said making a joke and nearly everyone laughed. “But anyhow, even being who and what I am my family never dissuaded me from doing what I loved and when I lost them…When I lost them I promised to make sure I achieved my childhood dreams. So here I am, all thanks to you Doc.” Mwezi said with a sad smile and started playing with her non-existent nails. She liked to keep them done but playing with rocks and dirt didn’t often allow for longevity of expensive manicures.

Dr. Gundua nodded with a soft smile of apology before Irdum clapped. “Alright my turn!” he sang. “Oh! Anyone got a special somebody waiting for them at home? Kids, loved ones?” he asked. Some said yes, others said no, there were even a few ‘it’s complicated. Mwezi was in the latter. Irdum gave her a look and a smile before turning back to the group as the next question was asked.

Many questions later, dinner one had been served and everyone hooked into the plane's Wi-Fi to catch up on work or their social media or entertainment. Mwezi booted up Netflix and queued this new show she found out about called ‘Castelvania’. Netflix though she'd like it after her ‘Witcher’ binge. She plugged in her phone to charge and popped in her earbuds and hit play.

About halfway through season one her timer went off for everyone to get some shut eyes and she screams internally. The humans hadn’t listened and frolicked about for a year like idiots and Dracula made good on his promise. ‘Stupid humans’ Mwezi thought with a shake of her head. ‘It was getting so good too’ she cried silently to herself as she put away her buds to charge and grabbed her eye mask. “Night Irdum.” She muttered, kicking her seat back and pulling up her fuzzy green blanket. “Night Mwezi.” He replied, adjusting himself and the cabin grew silent besides the sound of the plane cutting through the air and occasional turbulence.