After rushing back in half the time it took to get to the Vermite King's lair, Aiken begins to stir. His wounds are numb where the possessed vermites bit him, and he's chilled to the bone.

Jack brings them directly to Qing's cabin, and demands that the witchdoctor help. Qing has them bring Aiken inside to his ritual circle, and Jack explains what happened, and how Aiken keeps babbling that the King is coming after him. Qing begins his ritual, and finds out that Aiken has been poisoned with magic – so in that sense, he was right about the Vermite King coming for him.

Qing summons up three spirits; Thith'vess, Baj'vess and Ing'vess. These sword-wielding Naga spirits are overlaid unto Aiken, Jack and Midge (although Midge is too terrified to do anything). Together, they attack the squirmy, worm-like representations of the spell afflicting Aiken.

Just when they seem to have succeeded, the vermite statue manifests over Aiken's body and claims it will eat them all.