Spider-man sat perched on the rooftop of a building in New York City relaxing as best as he could. Crime in the city had spiked as wars between mob bosses like the Kingpin and Silvermane ramped up to an all-time high. The problem was that he could not find the lairs of either crime boss. All he knew was that the Rhino, Scorpion, Mysterio, Doc Oc, and even Carnage were working with the Kingpin while Sandman, Shocker, Hammerhead, Electro and Vulture were working with Silvermane. Shaking his head and sighing, Spider-man leapt off the building and shot out a web line, swinging over the city. A five on five super villain battle, not to mention thousands of gang members, thugs, combat robots and hired mercenaries were fighting openly in the streets, put even more innocent lives at risk. As he pondered this, he saw something swing behind a building over his shoulder. "Oh great." he said, "The only one who can sneak up on and/or follow me without triggering my spider-sense is Venom. I so do NOT have the time for this."

Quickly, he swung to the top of the Daily Bugle, his day job as Peter Parker, and waited on top of the enormous B. After several seconds it seemed like he was mistaking till suddenly, something hit him in the back and knocked him clean off the building. The big inky black symbiote swung down after him calling, "Parker! We need to talk. NOW!"

Swinging up onto a water tower, Spider-man sat on it tensed for action. "The only time you ever want to 'talk' to me is when you're trying to ruin my life or kill me, Brock. Why would this be any different?"

The creature's head pealed back to reveal the face of the man Eddie Brock. He answered with a hint of a strain from controlling the creature that engulfed him in the suite, "You've heard about the disappearances. I want to know your leads, Parker."

It took Parker a moment to realize what the other was saying. "I only have this, Brock: Cops, Mercenaries hired by the gangsters, heavy-hitting gang members and a few the weird creatures in the sewers have gone missing. No innocents have been hurt as far as I have heard. Why does this interest you anyway as long as I'm not involved and no one innocent is getting hurt?"

Brock pulled a camera from behind his back and said, "I'm trying to start forgiving you and moving on, Parker. While doing that, I thought I would take a leaf from your book and snap some photos to see if I can get Jonah to give me my old job back. If not, there are plenty of other news papers who will give me a job"

Spider-man was nonplussed at the idea that a near-psychotic monster was capable of forgiveness. Not wanting to push his luck however, Spider-man said, "Well okay. Good luck with that. If I get anything else I'll try to find you. I'll put in a good word to Jonah too."

Brock's Venom suite face game back over his head. "I…" and he struggled with an inner demon that seemed to be fighting even the words he spoke, "…would appreciate that, Parker. I'll be seeing you around."

He leapt off to pursue some other lead, leaving Spider-man shaking his head. "I must be losing my mind. That or he is finally developing one. Oh well. Back to work for me."

He went into the vent and changed his clothes before hopping entering through a closet near the elevator. Checking his watched, he grimaced. Only fifteen minutes early. That's not the best way to start the day. With quick strides, he made his way to Robby's office. The man said, "Go to Jonah, he wants to see some of you pictures and also has another assignment for you."

Peter nodded and went in. The tallish man stood at the window, smoking a cigar. As soon as the door shut behind Peter, Jay Jonah Jamison swung around, snapping irritably, "Parker, where have you been? I've been waiting for you for almost an hour now. Show me those pictures. There the only thing you're good for around here."

Despite himself, Peter couldn't help but grin. He hand a folder over to his boss, who fired him nearly three days a week and wondered why he was late the day after the fact. As Jonah flipped through the selection of photos, he muttered under his breath, "Is this the best you can do? Geez, Parker! What do I pay you fo.." and he stopped, gaping at one of them. It was a perfect photo of Spider-man firing a sticky spray of webbing at a heavily armed mercenary while kicking another square in the chest. It showed two injured cops and another punching out a third mercenary. Jonah looked at Peter saying, "Please tell me you have more like this, Parker."

Peter pulled four other photos from behind his back and handed them over. Jonah looked at them, his face continuing to display wonder and outright glee. With a triumphant laugh, he slapped the photos down and said, "Parker you really outdid yourself this time. It looks like the Kingpin's goons were fighting the cops when Spider-man came and showed them whose boss."

Peter was a little surprised as Jonah rarely ever complimented Spider-man or even admitted him to be a good guy. "That's what it looked like to me too, Jonah. Thanks. Um…Robby said you may have another assignment for me."

Jonah nodded and said, "Yeah. I need you to start tracking down leads on these missing people. It's pretty strange that only people who go regularly armed and dangerous are going missing don't you think?"

Peter nodded and his heart sank. He knew that he would be bound to run into Venom at some point in time if he pursued this lead. He also knew that whoever it was had to be stopped. Cops and SWAT where going missing. They needed protected too half the time. "I'm already on it, Jonah."

An hour later, he was swinging through the streets. It was getting late and he needed at least four or five hours of sleep or else he would probably not last the night doing anything. Besides, Mary Jane was waiting for him. He smiled inside his costume, thinking of his beloved wife. A pang of guilt spiked in his heart at putting her through all of this as a super hero. With a sigh, he promised for the one thousand and first time that he would make it up to her. Suddenly, he found that Venom was swinging beside him. Starting out of his thoughts, he said, "Woah! Where on earth did you pop from, Brock."

He saw the fangs bared in a sinister grin saying, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare. I was wondering if you think that it would be a good idea for us to team up? I mean this thing has taken down whole groups of mercenaries and those weird lizard things in the sewers. That's something even I would break a sweat doing."

Spider-man couldn't help but grin and ask, "Why Brock, are you asking me for help? That is uncharacteristically human of you. Sure I would love to help."

Venom snarled and said, "I am not asking for your help, I am offering mine. You know how to find the legit stories and I figure if I tag along with you then I'll be able to find a worthwhile one and we can share the credit. Reasonably of course, but we will discuss that later."

Spider-man thought about if for a bit and then nodded, "Alright but I need to get some sleep. I don't have the luxury of a suit that keeps me going even while I'm asleep."

Venom grinned again and said, "Well whose fault is that now?" Spider-man didn't answer the question. He simply said, "I'll see you tomorrow. We can meet at the Bugle and begin from there."

From over his shoulder, he heard Venom say, "Sweet dreams Parker." A shudder ran Spider-man's spine.

The next morning, the two wall-crawlers were swinging their way above the traffic of the city. Neither said much and neither had any idea where to start. For a brief break from all the swinging, they sat on top of a smaller building. After a few moments, Spidey said, "Hey Brock, I was thinking, I know dangerous stuff right? What if we were to try the sewers? I mean, we can get those out of the way and then cover the city by sectors."

Venom nodded and said, "I was thinking the same thing. I guess both great and not so great minds think alike after all, Parker. Lets go."

They found a sewer great, moved it and hopped in. It was dark. Venom could see fine in the dark but Spider-man was not so fortunate. He pulled a small but powerful flashlight from his utility belt and clicked it on. They made their way through tunnel by tunnel. From dozens of past experiences, they both knew the entire sewer network pretty well. Hours went by without even the sight of a lizard man, which was completely out of the ordinary. The sewers were usually infested with them, requiring armed guards to go down even with simple repair men. But this time, it was almost empty. After awhile, they came to a water main. The last time Spider-man had been in there, there were lizard men coming out of every single tunnel, pipe and crack. Now, not a single one was visible. A clang sounded from above and one lone creature skittered down the wall towards another pipe. Thinking fast, Venom shot a long stream of web fluid, sticking the creature to the wall. With leaps, the duo leapt up to talk to the creature. Venom spoke first, "Alright, Tiny. Where are all of your friends? Why is this forsaken sewer so empty? Why are so many people disappearing?"

Terrified, the lizard was only too willing to talk. "Something is stalking both above and below the ground in New York City. A creature that can disappear and reappear at will. It has hunted and killed most of my brethren, forcing the rest into hiding. I can show you where our proudest warriors have gone and not returned from. But I will go no further."

Venom cut the webbing and the lizard man led them down dozens of pipes, tunnels and waterways. Nearly an hour and a half later, the creature pointed down a tunnel and said, "Twelve of our best went down that tunnel and have not returned. I can't go any further."

Venom looked at Spider-man and said, "Well Parker, ladies first." Spidey did a mock curtsy and said, "Why thank you Brock, you're too kind."

They began to run down the tunnel until it hooked up with a water line. To the left was a grate blocking the way so they jumped to the ceiling and began to crawl. Before long, they came to a collapsed section of wall. They entered the gap and found themselves in a room. In that room were dozens of skulls still attached to spinal columns and skins on the walls. Most were obviously human. Spider-man moved his mask and hurled and even Venom gasped and said, "What the…"

A roar came from somewhere in the tunnels. It sounded like nothing either had ever heard before. It was the sound of a monster from another world. It was the sound of a demon who comes a-calling in the nightmares of the mightiest men. It was the sound of a predator who knew his pray was close.