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He hit the other drone with a back kick, a little harder this time.
A red light flashed on its screen and the platform jerked up again.
And once again, he had to regain his balance slightly. This was a perfect exercise for him. All the feedback made the kicks he was already good at even more fun, and then a touch of balance control - something he struggled with - right when the endorphins hit from the kicks.
“This is incredibly well done,” he told Oberon. “You did watch my fights.”
“Thank you,” Oberon said.
Tiago gave the right drone a lightning-fast roundhouse, his favorite kick.
The light on it flashed green and he soared halfway to the ceiling, this time remembering to lower his stance slightly so as to counteract the movement of the platform.
“When I signed up, they said all activities here would be with my intended match,” he said. “How were you able to get this approved?”
“You and Alexis are exceptional people,” Oberon said. “Exceptional people require exceptions.”
Tiago laughed and shook his head, letting a roundhouse fly to the left drone.
“What’s the real reason?” he asked, when the machine began playing music to celebrate the fact that he had reached the ceiling.
“You and Alexis were showing signs of stress,” Oberon said. “I explained to the staff that you would both feel more at peace when you had worked out in the manner to which your bodies and minds were accustomed.”
“You aren’t wrong,” Tiago said.
“Are you feeling better?” Oberon asked.
“I will be after I try the rest of this stuff,” Tiago said with a smile. “I kind of feel like I shouldn’t admit to anything before that.”
“Are you making a joke?” Oberon asked. “How delightful. Very few people make a joke for me.”
“I’ll try to remember to joke with you more,” Tiago promised.
“When you are finished with your workout, would you like to see Alexis’s?” Oberon offered suddenly.
“Uh, sure,” he said. “If you think she’d be okay with it.”
“Her work is meant to be seen,” Oberon said. “And she feels more at peace in your presence.”
“She does?” Tiago asked, stunned.
“Her resting heart rate is lower, her sleep is deeper, and she is seventeen percent more likely to be laughing at any given waking moment when you are near,” Oberon said.
“I’ll be damned,” Tiago said. “You’re an excellent wingman.”
The lights pulsed a little brighter again, and this time Tiago was certain it wasn’t a coincidence.
An hour later, Tiago was feeling like himself again as he walked down a dim corridor toward the theater where Alexis was dancing.
His muscles ached in a satisfying way, and he felt warm and relaxed.
Oberon had been exactly right, at least as far as Tiago was concerned. A good workout made him feel more at peace and ready to tackle whatever was coming next.
Some of it might be out of his control, but he was determined to handle what was in his control with compassion and dignity.
He reached an impressive set of carved-wood double doors. They opened slowly and soundlessly for him, and he slipped inside.
He found himself standing at the back of a beautiful theater. Velvet-cushioned floating seats were situated in half circles approaching the stage. Rings of balconies and private boxes wrapped around the theater going up all the way to the soaring ceiling.
