Danny's face twitched slightly. "So that means we can only take the stairs?"
"Yes. We can't split up, or we'll be picked off one by one." Coulson said gravely. "Taking the stairs lets us make full use of our manpower and is safer. Searching floor by floor will also ensure no fish slip through the net."
With things laid out like that, no one had any further objections.
Matt, who had the sharpest hearing, took the lead while the others followed closely behind.
The Hand had clearly put a great deal of thought into this underground passage. Though it descended almost vertically and did not even have many floors, plenty of energy-saving lights had been installed, making the lighting fairly good.
The group moved carefully through the vast cavern. After walking for an unknown length of time, Matt suddenly raised a hand in warning, and everyone stopped.
"What is it?" Luke asked. "An ambush?"
Matt nodded with a grave expression. "There are a lot of people around the corner, and they're all armed."
"I'll draw their fire. You look for an opening to strike back."
"Wait, Luke." Frank stopped him. "I have a better idea."
"Uh... it's not like you're invulnerable to bullets and blades, right?" Danny looked at him skeptically. "A bulletproof vest might not be enough here."
Frank rolled his eyes, set the briefcase he had been carrying on the ground, unzipped it, and took out several grenades.
"Gollum! Isn't that a little too enthusiastic?"
The Stick Monk shot him a disdainful glance. "Mercy toward the enemy is cruelty toward yourself. The more Hand members die, the fewer of our people will. Don't you understand even that?"
"No, you've misunderstood." Danny waved his hand, trying to save face. "I was worried this might block the passage."
"It won't."