For the entirety of the next day, Serge said nothing to his traveling companions. His only response to the wondering worriers was a grunt and a head turned away. He wondered if Kid and Harle were right, if it really was a bad idea to get others involved in his mission. What did FATE have to do with any of it? FATE was destroyed years ago at his own hands. It was impossible for such a force to revive in such a short amount of time, he thought. And above all, what would Leena say about all this "reckless endangerment that will no doubt put a damper on our plans?" Nevertheless, he continued on the voyage to Guldove. When he arrived, he was met with terrible news. Janice and Marcy had fallen ill and had to be taken to Doc's hut to be examined.

Doc was pacing the floor of his office at midnight when Serge stormed through the door. He was furious, with a hint of distress and regret in his eyes. His assistant tried to calm the angry lad down, but no such thing would happen. He was too determined to find out what had happened to his friends.

The lanky, blonde, carefree man looked at the raging Serge with an unusual glare of warning. "You know, impatience isn't going to get you anywhere or make the girls any better. You might as well take a load off. We won't know anything until tomorrow. Besides, it's really late and you look plain bushed."

"Well of course I am! I've spent all this time waiting outside on Fargo's orders! I'm bored, I'm tired, and I won't rest until I see my friends, dead or alive! What does it take to get just a bit of courtesy around here! Besides, I want to tell them I'm sorry..."

"Sorry? For what?"

"...Nothing, alright? Will you please just let me see them so I can be off? Alone, preferably?"

"Fine. You've got five minutes, dude. Don't be wasting them."

Serge threw back the curtain to find Marcy on the large bed and Janice on a cot beside her. Their breathing came and went in short little gasps, and there were vials of medicine scattered throughout. Their heads felt hot, and as Serge lifted his hand from each, an eye-shaped pattern appeared momentarily only to disappear seconds later. He slunk to the floor, hands clasping his face, guilt spreading about his soul. As soon as his head hit the carpeted floor, he was met with the ramblings of the two dream specters.

"What did I tell you, mate? What did I tell you? Now look what you've done!"

"I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! Let them live! I promise I won't go to see Steena!"

"Ah, but it iz too late, monsieur Serge. Ze snowball iz rolling down ze mountain, and it will only gather mass."

"I...I can't stop it... Tell me, is there any possible way they will survive?"

"Oh, so now you care. Just face it. You can't undo this Serge, nor can any medicine. They might live, and they might not. But now you know to listen to us, eh, mate?"

"No! I won't! ...How could you do this, Kid? It's not like you to just let innocent souls perish! Has our separation really caused such chaos?"

"Zat and more. Why do you care If zey live or die, mon ami? Are not all humans destined to meet with FATE and ultimately death?"

"But FATE is gone! And even if it still existed, I would not let it harm my friends! What business is it of yours, anyway? Your ordeals involve only me!"

"True, but FATE only wishes to assure that this is a family affair, and as such none other can be involved. Sorry Serge, but now you will just have to deal with the consequences of your actions..."

Doc shook Serge to his awakening the next morning. The wind blew at the curtains, sunlight filling the room. He glanced at the two illuminated beds, which were both empty and garnished with bouquets of fresh wildflowers. Janice and Marcy were gone.

"Dude, I'm sorry," Doc whispered to Serge as his assistant began to clean the room further.

"So am I. Hey, why didn't you come to wake me up? I thought you said only five minutes."

"Well, you looked so focused in your sleep that I had to let you rest. Besides, Janice and Marcy were gasping your name as you remained. It seems their last wishes were to know you were there..."

"...And to avenge them," Serge muttered as he left the hut behind. Fargo stood upon the dock right outside, staring at the ocean. His usual gruff expression was replaced with one of pure sorrow. His child and dear friend, both daughters in his eyes, had perished. Through it all, he knew not why they were gone. Serge could not bear to bring himself to talk to the grieving father, for he knew that it was all of his accidental doing. He hadn't the time to walk away though, for Fargo had sensed the boy and was now approaching fast.

The pirate's voice came out at a low grumble. "...My daughters. Why? What could they have done that would make the gods want them as well? Even though the lass Janice was not originally mine, I saw her as a gift from Zelbess. She was so loving. And Marcy... she filled my lonely days with nothing but love and happiness... Why, boy? What do the seas have against tired ol' me? Haven't I done enough for them? Oh Zelbess, my love. I've failed ye again..."

"It was time for the girls to go, that's all. Just another one of FATE's misdeeds. Don't blame yourself. Just move on. Besides, you've got another son and a daughter-in-law. Focus on them. When death stares you in the eye, look at the life you still have. Don't worry. They'll get their justice, I give you my word. Just promise to leave Guldove and do not make contact with me after the funeral. I can't have you getting caught up in this more than you already are."

"Whoa, boy! What does that-"

But Serge had already turned and walked back up the dock, leaving Fargo in his lament and befuddling him all the more. He sat on the dock and continued pondering the fates of his beloved children, living and dead.