ACT 1: The story opens up with Peter Parker having a flashback of when he was young and powerless, sitting on his bed in his bedroom and crying. In walks Uncle Ben who sits down next to him and asks him what's wrong. Peter explains that he's just realized that him and Aunt May are a lot older than all the other kid's parents and that they will undoubtedly die before everybody else's parents. Uncle Ben explains how Aunt May's mother and grandmother both lived to be 99 years old and 102 years old respectively and that his own father lived to be 89 years old. He goes on explaining that just like them, he and Aunt May will surely live a long time. He finishes by saying that he made a promise to his little brother, Richard, and his wife, Mary, Peter's parents, that he would look after Peter if anything ever happened to them and that he won't let them down, no matter what. As he tells Peter that, a shadow of the burglar that ends up killing him is shown in the panel. Of course, Uncle Ben ends up dying a few years later.

ACT 2: Back in the present, Peter recalls the death of Gwen Stacy at the hands of the Green Goblin atop the Brooklyn Bridge, the death of his parents, Harry Osborn, Captain Stacy, Jean DeWolffe, Bennett Brant, Frederick Fowell, and even poor old Ben Reilly. He realizes that he's been to more funerals than anyone he’s ever known and he wonders if it all comes down to probability, if him becoming Spider-Man send that ripple through all their lives. He knows he's buried too many people since he's put on the mask and he knows that he won't let Aunt May be the next to go down, not while the animals who snatched her swears that she's still alive, not while there’s still a chance.

ACT 3: Somewhere near Times Square, Peter meets with Aunt May’s abductor. At first, Peter doesn't recognize him at all which insults him. Irritated, he introduces himself to Peter; he is Mac Gargan, a.k.a. the Scorpion. In a matter of seconds, Peter grabs hold of Gargan and slams him into a nearby diner's window, which shatters slightly. He tells him to reveal where Aunt May is or else he'll break his neck. Gargan replies that Aunt May is alive, as long as he is smart enough to do as he's told. He adds that if Peter threatens him again or even looks at him the wrong way, she is dead. Peter slowly puts Gargan down and the two make their way to a nearby café to have a more civilized conversation.

ACT 4: After sitting down, Peter asks Gargan why Marvel Girl said that Aunt May was dead to which Gargan replies that he has no clue. Peter retorts that if he, Gargan, is lying, that God help him, he will kill him. Gargan reminds Peter of what could happen if he continues to threaten him so Peter calms down and asks him how long it's been since he's known about his secret identity. Gargan replies that he’s known for almost a year now. Confused as to why Gargan did not try to do anything with the information and how he came up with five million dollars to give to the Daily Bugle, Peter asks him to explain what is going on. Gargan replies that the mastermind behind this masterpiece is none other than Norman Osborn.

ACT 5: Peter is shocked that Norman told Gargan who he was, to which Gargan replies that Norman told him more than that. He goes on explaining that Norman told him that if Peter/Spider-Man ever took him down, if he ever had him arrested or publicly exposed, that this little game they've been playing would go up a notch or two. Gargan continues his explanations by saying that what is going on is only one of Osborn's hundreds of plans and counter plans and that Osborn has had this one planned since the minute he found out who Peter really was. Peter cannot make sense of all this and asks Gargan to explain why Norman looked so scared when he spoke to him back at Ryker's. Gargan explains that kidnapping Aunt May was just the tip of the iceberg in this whole evil plan and then he asks Peter if he ever wondered why he always fights the same villains over and over again. Peter is more perplexed than ever and asks Gargan to enlighten him. Gargan explains that May was just the insurance policy for something that's been going on in the background for years now. He goes on explaining that ever since the first superheroes appeared in the late forties, the ruling class became under threat. So to keep the superhero community in check, they created the super-villains and assigned these super-villains to specific superheroes. Peter refuses to accept that the government would create their own super-villains to keep an eye on the superheroes. Gargan replies that the companies that put the governments into office are the ones responsible for the creation of new super-villains, not the government itself. Peter asks Gargan what all this has to do with Norman Osborn. Gargan replies that Osborn was their (i.e. the companies) favorite super-villain contractor until he went nuts and turned himself into the Green Goblin. Peter's eyes open wide as he starts to understand exactly what is going one. Gargan continues explaining that the government found out about the super-villains program and shut them all down but there were some very famous names in the original cabal. He adds that the reason for the companies to want Norman Osborn dead is that he knows where all the bodies are buried and the fact that he is in jail is the very definition of a loose cannon. He then tells Peter that as long as Norman is locked up in jail, he is a sitting duck for them and any would-be-assassins the companies want to send along to ice him. Peter tells Gargan that if indeed this is true, then why hasn't anybody tried to kill him, since he's been in jail for the past two to three months. Gargan replies that Osborn has a contingency plan to send emails and parcels to newspapers outfits, regarding the whole super-villain program, if something happens to him while he's in jail. He adds that this is the reason why break-ins have been happening at Oscorp recently; the companies behind the super-villain program can’t pull the trigger until every base is covered. Peter asks if the companies are almost done and Gargan replies that they are and that word on the street is that Doctor Octopus has been brainwashed to kill Osborn this coming weekend. On those words, Gargan tells Peter that this is where his secret identity comes into play.

ACT 6: Gargan explains to Peter that he must help Osborn escape from prison the next night at midnight. Peter obviously refuses to do it so Gargan replies that if he doesn't do it, then Aunt May will die. Peter retorts that he only needs to make one phone call to S.H.I.E.L.D. and he, Gargan, will be locked away in a jail for the rest of his life. Gargan replies that at least he will be comforted by the thought that Peter's phone call was what ultimately caused the death of his aunt. Peter asks Gargan why they chose him to break Osborn out of prison. Gargan replies that since Peter was the one who put Osborn behind bars in the first place, it seemed fitting that he be the one that sets him free. Gargan adds that Peter only has himself to blame. On that note, he prepares to leave and tells Peter that he has to make his way home to pick up his new Scorpion outfit that Osborn arranged for him to get. He adds that the companies might not be making super-villains anymore but Osborn is still committed and he's been revamping all of Peter's major enemies for months (namely Electro and the Vulture). He explains that Osborn even went as far as putting the Owl into a player to replace the missing Kingpin and has given him, Gargan, a new suit and new powers to go with it. Peter replies that he doesn't care about Gargan's newfound suit and powers and that he won't be breaking the law for Osborn. Gargan retorts that Peter will, because he's buried enough friends over the years. The next panel shows Spider-Man holding the limp body of the deceased Gwen Stacy.

ACT 7: A short time later, Peter returns to his apartment and finds one of his students, Humberto, sitting on the front steps leading into his building. Humberto tells Peter that he has been waiting two hours to see him so as to get help with a chemistry assignment. Peter, who forgot that he had told Humberto to come over, asks him if they can meet the next day or something but Humberto reminds Peter that the assignment is due the next day. Having told Humberto he would help him and feeling his great sense of responsibility boiling up in his heart, Peter sits down next to Humberto and helps him out. Meanwhile at the home of Mac Gargan, Gargan is about to put his new costume on when he hears a voice behind him, taunting him. As he turns around, he comes face to face with the separated Venom symbiote. To be continued.