Chapter 5: Music and Lyrix
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    Gogo was having another flying dream.  These had been going on every
night for the past two weeks - always the same thing, racing over clouds
under a bright blue sky, with some vaguely familiar form alongside, purple
and egg-shaped, with yellow fins.  The dream always ended the same way:
Gogo would seem to plummet towards the earth, back to Triangle Island, and
wake up just at the point of impact.  This night's dream was no different.
She woke up, however, in an unfamiliar place - this wasn't as dark.
    Remembering that she had traveled to Daryl's Tomb, Gogo awoke to find
herself within Daryl's coffin.  How had she gotten there?  Evidently she
had been exhausted from the long walk, and this was the most convenient
place to rest.
    Gogo recalled last night's plans: to the Veldt, then north, just like
the note said.  First things first, though.  Get out of this sepulchral
mausoleum, and find a way across the northwest sea to the Veldt.  That was
when the footsteps started.  Someone was approcahing!
    A man walked up the stairs to the dais.  He was tall and swarthy,
wearing dark armor and a black mask, similar to Gogo's, leaving only the
eyes uncovered, with a large white scar noticeable through one eye.  A
skull-shaped pendant hung on a necklace of carved... ivory?  She had seen
him by lifting her head slightly, just enough to make out distinct
figures.  Unfortunately, he saw her as well.  Just one thing to do: play
dead.
    "Hm.  This coffin is occupied.  Let's see - 'Daryl Sleeps Here'.  This
must be Daryl.  Nice to see death preserved so; he - er, she - um, Daryl
looks almost alive..."
    "That's because I am." Gogo sat up with a start, hoping to shock, or
at least surprise, him.
    "Curses.  Death is such a wonderful thing.  I'm sure you would have
preferred it to this sad alternative."
    "I beg your pardon?  I am Gogo, master of the simulacrum..."  Gogo
gave the old routine again.
    "A pleasure, I'm sure.  Rather a pity, however, that this place of
death contains one who is unfortunately living, chained to the material
world."
    "You aren't?"
    "I am as well. My name is Lyrix, a Guard to my Chapter.  My brothers
and I hold death in utmost solemn reverence - the passage out a world is a
momentous occasion in all of our souls' lives."  His deep bass voice
suited the speech perfectly.
    "I think I understand. Now, could you please stand aside? I have a
mission."
    "As do I. I am running from the other guards of my Chapter - they are
in pursuit of my body, for I, according to them, have committed a serious
crime."
    There was a long pause.
    "How did you come here?" Gogo asked finally.
    "I was on a ship, as a stowaway, then leapt overboard when it was
attacked."
    "Would you object terribly if you came with me?  To the Veldt?"
    "The Veldt?  Why would anyone want to go there?"
    "That's part of my mission."
    "Give me one good reason to come with you."
    "Fair enough.  I couldn't help but notice your swords."
    "What do my swords have to do with anything?"
    "Watch.  Hand me one of them - you have a matched pair, I take it?"
    "I carry many. Take this one - leave my sight with it, and I have
several more to put you in abject pain with.  To kill you would be
merciful."
    "Fine. Now, arm yourself with its twin."
    Lyrix did so.
    "All right. Now what?"
    "Do something with it - your fanciest acrobatic move with a sword."
Judging by the befuddled look on Lyrix's face, this demonstration would go
well.  Shaking his confusion off, he began to swing his sword at the
ground.  It hit the packed stone with a noisy clang, after which Lyrix, in
a surprising act of agility for a man his size, flipped neatly over the
hilt and swung his short sword in a circular arc in front of him.  "I
could have done something much more elaborate, but I did not want to
extend this meeting any further.  I have a job as well."
    "Don't worry." Gogo swung the sword just as Lyrix had, flipping over
it and swinging the blade in an identical arc.  "I do too, and I'm taking
the time out to show you my talents.  Surely you have time for me." She
handed the sword back to Lyrix.
    "Impressive," said Lyrix, his face as emotionless as stone.  "You may
be of some use after all.  Shall we strike a deal?  We shall go to the
Veldt, and complete your mission, on the condition that you aid me in
escaping from these guards.  Do we have an agreement?"
    "We have an agreement," echoed Gogo in the same bass voice.  "Let's
go."
    "How?  The Veldt is abroad, over the ocean.  How will we get there?"
    "I was rather hoping you would have an idea..."

    Just then, a sound of footfalls.  Shouting voices: "Lyrix!  Come on
out!  We know you're in there - accept your fate and come with us!"  The
two shrouded figures glanced at one another.
    "The way I see it," began Gogo, "there are two alternatives.  Either
we fight, or they kill us."
    "They wouldn't kill us.  They would skewer you and leave you here to
writhe in pain, then bring me back to our Headquarters to do inflict even
more painful torture on me.  Death would -"
    "Yes, I know.  You keep saying that.  Still, they're coming closer.
One choice left --"