Chapter 4:
Namor sped forward to meet the approaching vehicle. Cap and Bucky, meanwhile, moved to the small side tunnel and climbed inside.
They moved into darkness, choosing not to use the lights of their suits yet, advancing carefully by feel alone. Behind them, they heard the sound of electric cannon blasts and screeching metal. Namor was engaging the enemy. Cap pushed down an urge to turn back—Namor could take care of himself and their course of action had been chosen.
They soon came to a fork in the tunnel. Over the suit radio, Cap said "Take the right. Go no more than 50 yards, then come back and report. I'll search the left the same distance."
"Right, Cap." Bucky advanced into the right tunnel. He half-walked, half-swam along until the tunnel curved slightly and he saw a light source ahead. Moving to this, he saw it came from a hole in the roof of the tunnel.
Grabbing the edge of the hole, he hoisted himself up. He broke the surface of the water—the upper tunnel he entered was water-free and had breathable air. It traveled in the same direction as the water tunnel directly below it.
The light came from another hole in the side of the tunnel. Peeking through this carefully, Bucky gasped at what he saw.
The Human Torch and Toro were both there, wrapped in chain and standing chin-high in vats of some sort of thick, clear fluid. Three men—one in a Gestapo uniform and armed with a holstered Luger, the other two in lab coats—were standing near the vats and talking in quiet German as they watched their prisoners.
Bucky glanced around to take in the whole room. It was about 20 yards by 20 yards square, full of lab equipment and chemicals. He saw one door, guarded by two SS privates armed with submachine guns and grenades.
The Gestapo guy was now shaking his head at something one of the scientists had just said. He pointed decisively at the Torch, and said something just loud enough for Bucky to hear.
The young freedom fighter's German was far from perfect, but he understood enough. The Gestapo guy had just decided that the Torch and Toro were too dangerous to be kept alive. They were to be executed immediately.
