Still in costume, Peter calls Harry Osborn up for some advice. For some unexplained reason, Harry is suspiciously standing on an unidentified rooftop somewhere in the city when he picks up Peter's call. Peter explains to Harry that he stumbled onto a big news story earlier and took some pictures of it; however, as Dexter Bennett has him blacklisted at every paper in New York City, he cannot sell those photographs anywhere. Peter wonders if Harry knows someone who could pretend he/she took the pictures and sell them to a newspaper agency, and Peter would give them a cut of the profit. Harry jokingly replies that he didn't think Peter, who is known to be straight-laced, would think of something so devious. Harry suggests instead that Peter use Bennett's enemies to his advantage and play them off of each other. A light bulb flashes in Peter's head and he realizes what he can do.

A short time later, at the offices of the Front Line newspaper, we find Ben Urich and Joe "Robbie" Robertson hard at work on the next edition. Peter Parker walks in and shows them the pictures he took earlier. It turns out that the building that partially collapsed on Spider-Man was housing an illegal sweatshop and Peter got pictures of it. Overhearing their conversation, reporter Sally Floyd joins them and reveals that she's discovered who actually owns the sweatshop – none other than mayoral candidate Randall Crowne!

Randall Crowne is livid. His good name has been tarnished, his stocks are plummeting, and he's gone down in points in the mayoral race. He asks his guest, none other than Norman Osborn, if the can help him in any way, seeing as Norman is now almost above the law. Norman replies that he'd need some quid pro quo first, prompting Crowne to indicate that Norman already has access to his "secret resources", so he's not sure what more he could give him. Norman asks Crowne to use his connections within the current administration to grant him a "special" hunting permit so that he can bring the Thunderbolts in. Crowne agrees to the deal.

Miles away, at Thunderbolts Mountain in Colorado, the Thunderbolts themselves, comprised of Venom (a.k.a. Mac Gargan, ex-Scorpion), Radioactive Man, Bullseye and Songbird, are in the middle of a drill when they receive a call from Norman Osborn informing them that they are heading to New York City. Songbird doesn't know why they have to go there but Venom has a pretty good idea.

Meanwhile at the DB offices, ace reporter Betty Brant is called into Dexter Bennett's office to be handed a new assignment. She is to dig up dirt about Martin Li, founder of the F.E.A.S.T. homeless shelter – and also known as Mr. Negative, a major player in the underworld. Betty cannot believe he is serious about this. Bennett argues that no one is as squeaky clean as Martin Li's been portrayed. As well, there have been reports that all the terminally ill in his shelters have miraculously getting healed and Bennett doesn’t believe that for a second. He thinks it's a load of crud and he entrusts Betty with finding out Li's dark side.

When Betty Brant presents herself at the homeless shelter, she gets an earful from Aunt May, who is very disappointed that Betty is doing a story on Martin Li for the DB, which she considers to be pure filth, because of the horrible pictures they ran of mayoral candidate Bill Hollister. Li interjects and tells May that he doesn't mind at all, as he has nothing to hide. Martin and Betty start walking. Betty asks Martin if he has physicians on staff and if they prescribe any kinds of drugs to the homeless. Martin replies that only over the counter items are provided; items such as aspirin, bandages, antiseptic ointments, etc. Betty then questions Martin about rumours of the so-called miracles that have apparently taken place within the walls of the F.E.A.S.T. centre. Martin answers that perhaps God helps those who help themselves. Just then, the two of them walk by Eddie Brock, whom Betty recognizes as being Venom. Stunned, Betty asks Martin what Eddie is doing there, as she thought he had died of cancer. She cannot believe he is still alive. Martin explains that Eddie is at the centre because he asked for help and he's still alive because instead of dying of cancer, he chose to fight it. Eddie speaks up and tells Betty that Venom was what made him sick but he got rid of it, and he filled that emptiness with faith. Martin goes on explaining that he met Eddie at church, praying for forgiveness, and he offered him a job at the centre, a chance to use his remaining days helping those who were even less fortunate. Martin also enlisted the aid of his friend, Matt Murdock, to get Eddie exonerated by proving to the court that Eddie wasn't in control of himself when he was bonded to the alien symbiote. With that said, Martin puts a hand on Eddie's shoulder and tells Betty that Eddie is a new man. Unbeknownst to Eddie or Martin Li, something strange seems to occur when Martin touches Eddie's shoulder; seemingly changing something in Eddie's body.

Peter Parker returns home after his first day with the Front Line. As he goes to unlock the door to his apartment, his spider-sense suddenly kicks in, warning him of danger. On cue, half dozen men, armed to the teeth, appear out of nowhere. Peter defends himself quite admirably but realizes he must purposely get captured in order to find out what is going on. The men subdue Peter and drag him into his apartment where he comes face-to-face with Norman Osborn and the Thunderbolts.

To be continued.