Free Cragbridge Hall, Volume 2: The Avatar Battle by Chad Morris Page B

of these worlds took months—some took years—but it was well worth the work. We will all use this one today.” She pressed a button on a console in the front of the room. A small arm emerged, and Mrs. Trinhouse placed the orb within its three mechanical fingers. It then retracted into the machine.
    Abby couldn’t believe it. Was that what her sphere contained? A virtual world? Her mind filled with possibilities and questions. What information was in that sphere? How would it answer her question? And how might it help stop Muns in the future?
    “It’s your turn,” Mrs. Trinhouse said. “Go ahead and hook up.”
    Abby left her desk, entered an open booth, and put on the equipment. She hoped she was better at this than she was at the avatars. Once she had her sensors and visor on, she hooked up to a suspension system.
    “Are you all ready?” Mrs. Trinhouse asked.
    A few mumbles of “yes” were her reply. That was not enough for Mrs. Trinhouse.
    “I said , are you READY? ”
    This time the class began to respond.
    “We’re getting there,” Mrs. Trinhouse said. “As you know, you can use math for all sorts of things: measurements, equations, planning, and so forth. But it is essential in creation . I’m going to show you one of my worlds and as you watch, think about how measurements and math equations may be necessary to put it together. What calculations would you have to make? What designing? What engineering? Here you go.” As she started the program, a whole new world blossomed before Abby—buildings, mountains, a deep green sky, a large ocean, a red and an orange moon at different points in the sky. It had all the depth and detail of somewhere real.
    “I am going to give you a few minutes to explore before I give you your first assignment. Oh, by the way, brace yourselves.” All of a sudden, Abby was in the air high above the buildings. Somehow she was hovering. “The pads that cover your virtual suit take in air and push it back out at such a rate that you can float,” Mrs. Trinhouse said. “Or fly. Though right now these suits only exist in a computer program, in theory they would work in real life if anyone would spend the money to build them. Just tilt your arms and legs to move. The pads on your underarms and along the sides and back of your legs will guide you.”
    Abby practiced. She could move from one side to another. And if she tilted her whole body forward, she could dive down and come closer to the city.
    “Can you imagine the math and engineering necessary to make these suits?” Mrs. Trinhouse asked. “That is extremely advanced. In this class, we will start out simpler . . . but first, go and explore.”
    Abby moved over the ocean, gradually going faster as she became more comfortable. Drawing closer to the city below, she saw a variety of buildings and parks. The closer she came, the more perspective she gained. The skyscrapers looked taller than any she had ever seen and some of the buildings were completely unique. One looked like a giant spiral, another like a woman balancing on one leg—some sort of dancing pose. Another looked like a lion’s head. Absolutely incredible.
    Abby glided through the city. The park had lakes contained in giant saucers stacked on one another. Each had a drain and children could travel from one to the next. A giant slide wrapped around trees and shrubs. One tree had an entire house in its branches, a net dangling beneath it for safety. As she flew between buildings, Abby noticed the streets below were thin, leaving no room for cars. Strange. But the place seemed so clean. Perhaps that was why.
    “Be sure to see the system underground as well,” Mrs. Trinhouse instructed. Abby saw an entryway with stairs leading downward. She glided over, careful not to hit a wall. That would still be painful, even in a virtual world. Line after line of subway cars waited on tracks. Each was a single car large enough to fit one family. Using the controls visible