The Anywhere Door opened in the snowy night.
The beeping of a heart monitor came from beyond it.
Yang Ming had barely taken half a step through when JARVIS spoke through the Communicator.
"Doctor Yang, four high-energy targets have been detected beneath the Clinic. Their energy readings are rising and are projected to reach dangerous levels in fifteen seconds."
Steve raised his shield.
"They're already inside?"
"No."
Yang Ming stopped beside the door, spreading his Observation Haki along the ground.
There were no footsteps beneath the basement.
Only vibrations from deep within the concrete.
And four reactors growing hotter.
"They aren't coming in," Yang Ming said. "They're coming up from below."
He grabbed Steve by the collar and shoved him toward the wall.
"Everyone, spread out!"
As his shout rang out, the Clinic's floor split down the middle.
Four hulking figures burst through the ground.
Chunks of concrete flew in every direction, medicine shelves toppled, and IV bottles shattered across the floor.
Four Hydra death squad soldiers stood in the center of the basement.
They wore silver-gray heavy exoskeletons, with Chitauri armor covering their shoulders and chests. A blue reactor was embedded in each soldier's back, its casing already glowing from the red energy scorching it.
They were nothing like the hastily assembled junk at the Docks.
These four suits had no exposed wiring, no cumbersome power packs, and no obvious seams at the joints.
The soldier in front raised his head.
No sound of breathing came from beneath his mask.
Matt turned his head.
"Their heartbeats aren't changing."
"That's not it." Yang Ming stared at them. "Their pain nerves have been severed."
Peter jumped down from the stairs, crushing a shard of glass as he landed.
"This is seriously unhygienic."
The lead soldier raised his arm.
His mechanical fist