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building was large and well kept. I was familiar with the place as it was host to several tennis matches. There were approximately twelve tennis courts in all. The stadium court was directly behind the building, with the other courts spread out to the north. The running track surrounded a football field to the south. The building itself held the locker rooms, sporting equipment, a fitness center, and lounge.
    We entered the building up a short flight of stairs flanked by flowering peach trees, a few of the over three thousand dotting the campus. Floor - to - ceiling windows surrounded glass and steel doors that I leaned my weight against, propelling them open. The two-story building had been retrofitted and the white stucco walls and wood beams were nicely preserved. The roof had once been fitted with red clay tiles but now housed a rooftop garden. Inside, the high ceilings served as a backdrop to beams made of long planks of dark wood. With some care, the wood had stood the test of time. Stone floors led us to a large counter manned by a short woman with dark skin. Behind her were rows of shelves bursting with various sporting gear.
    "Hello, Wallis," Ajax greeted her. I admired the way her hair was braided intricately all around her head.
    "Hello, Ajax," she answered, "What will it be?"
    "Tennis. But not with the Virtuals." If we were to play with virtual partners, we would need more protection. Virtuals hit the ball back with speed and accuracy, and they never missed. If the ball hit you, it hurt. I was relieved I wouldn ' t have to wear the virtual gear my first day there.
    Wallis motioned me over. "Hello, Kaia. It ' s a great pleasure to meet you. I ' m Wallis Banks and I ' m the Athletics Director here. It ' s my job to make sure you have all of the gear you need." She weighed me and took my measurements, entering them into the monitor on the counter. When the calculations were complete, she found a tennis outfit tailored to my specifications. She brought nothing back for either of the boys, and I assumed they already had their assigned clothing. "You ' re playing tennis?" She looked at Balor in disbelief.
    "Well, I don ' t want to show off," he laughed off her incredulity. "I ' ll stick to the weight room."
    Wallis turned her attention back toward me.
    "Your coach is waiting for you. Go get changed and be sure to check in with him immediately." I bowed to her and we headed up stairs. I stopped at the entrance to the girls ' locker room and looked at Balor.
    "Thank you," I bowed to him slightly and he bowed back.
    "I ' ll see you later, okay?"
    "I hope so," I answered. I gave a slight nod to Ajax and then headed inside.
    The locker room was warm and inviting. The walls were lined with wooden lockers, each equipped with outlets for energy suits to be plugged into. Throughout the middle of the room were rows of benches, used as a place to change or sit, pull off clothing or even just relax. The floors were the same stone as in the lobby. Opposite the entrance I could see a glass partition leading to the showers and bathrooms.
    "Hello, I ' m Tory Keevah." A girl stepped in front of me the moment I entered, as if she ' d been waiting for me. She dipped her head as she introduced herself. Only about 1.6 meters tall, she was a little thing, with a halo of long blonde hair falling in curls down her back. She kept it away from her delicate face with a headband, making her large eyes appear even larger. They were a beautiful light brown color fringed with long dark lashes. Her pale skin contrasted prettily with the shade of her eyes, and there was just a hint of pink about her cheeks. Despite her small stature, she appeared quite sure of herself. Tory stood perfectly straight and looked me square in the eyes, unfazed by how I seemed to tower over her. Intelligent eyes and a quiet manner enhanced the sense of calm radiating from her being. In quiet tones, she managed to speak purposefully while leading me to the back of the locker