Natasha and Parker both stopped. They stood there in silence, staring at the Black scientist. The anxiety in their eyes was gone, replaced by a probing look that was somehow frightening.
The Black scientist's expression changed. He felt like an insect pinned inside a specimen case.
But suddenly, Natasha acted as though nothing had happened and said, "You're right. This could indeed be a trap. We need to be careful. Parker, is there anything near the spacecraft hatch that could be used as a trap?"
"If they haven't stationed people there to ambush us, then the security bulkheads might make useful traps. Most space station bulkheads can't be locked from the inside, but they can be locked from outside. If the Black Hand lures us into a room and locks us in from the outside, it'll be hard for us to get out."
Natasha glanced at the toolbox Parker had never let out of his hand and asked, "Then are you confident you can open the lock from inside?"
"No." Parker shook his head. "The bulkheads in rooms near spacecraft entrances and exits have very high security clearance to prevent intrusions. Their control systems are highly responsive and can be operated entirely through software. Once we're locked in, we'll have almost no time to react. I can't dismantle the lock from inside either. I was about to ask whether you had any way to break through it by force."
After thinking for a moment, Natasha said, "I examined the door material earlier. It isn't any alloy I know of. I've never seen anything like it. Even the metal-dissolving solution formulated by S.H.I.E.L.D. probably wouldn't work on it."
"Then we really do need to be careful," Parker said. "How about this? We stay in the corridor and refuse to enter any