Chapter 3:

Through Moon and Shadow:

Inside the TARDIS

The TARDIS had managed to dematerialize in time as the Doctor managed to flee the skirmish before getting hit or the Time Machine getting destroyed. They were now far away from New York; orbiting around Earth and catching a glimpse of Mars and its glimmering colonies, the asteroid belt and their stations, and the planet of Azeroth, the maelstrom dotting the Neptune-sized planet with the continents of Kalimdor, Tyria, Westeros, Arda, Tamriel, Hyrule, the Eastern Kingdoms, and many more according to scholars in Dalaran.

The 11th Doctor opened the doors of his glossy blue time machine and viewed space and all of its wonders as he sat down on the edge. It all felt incredibly surreal to him as a UNSC Cargo Frigate zoomed past the TARDIS, the ripples of its hyperdrive able to be felt all the way from the machine. This was his home. The Doctor could live for all he wanted to and never fully catalog this galaxy and the others in the Great Dark Beyond. That is why he ran away, or so he thought. He escaped Gallifrey all those years ago with his granddaughter; to get away from the drag of a considerable, "normal" life teaching children. He disregarded that thought, having children bound to a school, learning things that wouldn't be connected to anything that they wanted to do in life.

That is why he ran away. Only to escape. The Doctor continued on to gaze at the stars, planets and ships all traversing the large empty realm called space, or the Great Dark Beyond to people in Azeroth. Amelia Pond, the first person he'd ever met in this "life" walked up to him and sat parallel to him, gazing at the Great Dark.

"I've always dreamed of being an explorer since I was little. A normal life with Rory was all that I asked for, but I got what I wanted right here, right now."

Amy said, gazing at the Maelstrom of Azeroth.

"What do you know about Coruscant?"

The Doctor asked inquisitively, as if he had a spontaneous thought.

"I'm sorry, but what,"

Amy responded, confused.

"I haven't been to the Inner Rim in ages! Do you think what happened on Mustafar and Naboo would have a profound effect on Rory and I?"

"That's where we're heading, to Coruscant! Oh it's just like New York, but as an entire planet! We'll get to see droids, synth- "

"So is that why we're heading there Doctor?"

Clara interrupted, coming with Rory and Marius.

"Yes, in fact, I know someone over there on the planet that may be of some gratuitous assistance to our current predicament."

The Doctor replied, hurrying over to the console.

He'd press some random buttons on the centurial device; confusing to a human but incredibly precise to a Time Lord or an extraterrestrial of heightened knowledge. And then they were off, hurdling faster than the speed of light into the Inner Rim, past Azeroth, Earth, and the Solar System of the Middle Rim of the Milky Way. Some shaking disturbed the guests of the TARDIS, and as if no time had passed, they were orbiting the planet of Coruscant; an entire city on one large planet.

The entire Galactic Empire had been thrown into chaos two years ago at the dawn of the Rebellion. The planet of Alderaan was nearly destroyed by something called the "Death Star", luckily, the Time Lords had masked the planet away, much like they did with Gallifrey, leaving only an asteroid field to dissuade the Empire. Coruscant was one of these planets that was a beacon of the rebellion; the Galactic Empire having moved the capital to a different planet a year ago.

"Ah! Coruscant, look at it 1 Trillion beings all packed into one city. How amazing is that?"

"Doctor. I'd suggest we'd work quickly. There's been communication interruptions in Overwatch Watchpoints and MI6 safehouses as well."

Moneypenny said, looking at news updates on her smartwatch.

"Oh, come on, can't you enjoy a time off with us? Besides it's Marius and Cosette's anniversary; I asked a Sin'Dorei mage and an Asuran engineer who lives on the planet to help prepare a cake-"

"We need to act fast."

The Doctor sighed in response.

"Very well then. And you may encounter some droids in their apartment. I guarantee you Moneypenny. This will not take one bit or you can take one of my bowties."

The Doctor responded, pointing directly at a box directly below the console.

"Be warned everyone, we are dematerializing at this moment."


The Black Citadel,

The Ruins of Ascalon,

Pliskin arrived just outside of Hero's Canton to some friendly greetings of Ash and Iron Legion grunts. He stared directly at the spherical structure ahead of him, the Imperator's Core. He walked through the scent of steel and sulfur as he entered the core. Engineers and Warriors were busy inside, either tinkering with machines or fixing up M4 Sherman tanks downstairs. Pliskin walked upstairs, catching a glimpse of one Tyock Quickshot, a brilliant engineer yet a formidable warrior brush past him briefly; the charr only waving to him as he walked near the dark grey gates leading up to the core. The guards at the command core hastily delivered Rytlock's message to him; essentially telling him to wait near the door until he was commanded to be brought in.

It took ages for him to wait for clearance to get in and converse with the imperators. He had to first get questioned for any demonic activity then he had to pass an eye exam after showing his S.H.I.E.L.D/Overwatch I.D. much to Rytlock's annoyance. Furthermore, he needed to wait for another 30 minutes in able to enter the actual core.

"What do you mean I'm stripped of my rank? I never deserted the Citadel!"

"Rytlock, you had left and pursued that sword instead of resigning your commission before pursuing it."

"Smodur, do you think I was able to sign an official document, appoint a successor, leave my warband, and then pursue a sword that had disappeared through a portal that only lasted around five seconds according to soldiers who were there?"

Rytlock yelled, throwing documents across the command table.

"What more do you want? "War Hero Tribune Rytlock Brimstone helps slay Jungle Dragon!" War Hero Tribune Rytlock Brimstone helps teach cubs about- "What else do you want from me?"

"Rytlock. We can't have a charr like you that has considerable influence over the warbands become an example to the legions that it is okay to desert."

Pliskin overheard the conversation involving the charr. "Desertation?" "Stripped?" What could that mean? Pliskin thought. If it had anything to do with the Magumma Offensive, he'd be quick to defend Rytlock over his actions.

A Black Citadel guard walked towards Pliskin and gestured him to enter the core. Even more arguments erupted after he'd entered the core, Rytlock even plunging his sword into the table.

"Good, you're here. Now tell this fool for a charr that I did not desert Blood Legion during the rise of th-"

"DESERTATION is the action of illegal leaving the armed forces Rytlock how many times do we need to remind you!"

Smodur yelled, throwing more papers down on the table.

"Now look, Rytlock did his job during the Magumma Offensive very well, he rescued my team in the jungle after our plane had crashed, helped gather information at Rata Novus, and things that I can't even mention. Isn't that enough for someone to attain the title of Tribune?"

Pliskin responded, trying to persuade Smodur and Bangar with Rytlock in approval.

"The kid said it all. I don't want this escalating to a full on Litany of Combat."

"If you dare invoke the Litany of Combat the-"

"Alright! I had enough of this! I demand to settle this honorably, with or without a fair trial. Bangar Ruinbringer, I challenge you to a duel!"

Rytlock exclaimed, drawing his sword from the table and pointing it at the charr with an arrogant look.

"You can't challenge me to a duel. According to Section 17 of the Articles of Dueling in Tyria, no common man can challenge anyone of rank to a duel. And with that, your rank as Tribune of Blood Legion has been stripped as of today. Congratulations."

"Escort this traitorous charr to the prison level. And Pliskin, be thankful that I didn't order for your head to be chopped off and paraded around the Citadel."

Bangar said as Rytlock reluctantly was handcuffed and followed down into the lower sanctums of the core.

Pliskin could only make out a few words from Rytlock as he was dragged back downstairs only for him to see him say,

'Meet, down."

He had a clever idea in his head, and he wasn't going to through away it as he covertly snuck down the core. He'd use the ID Tyock lent him six months earlier and entered the prisons with one simple scan of the ID. He'd peer through the steam and mist generated by the generators below the prisons. Pliskin decided that he couldn't directly speak to Rytlock at that moment, instead resorting to hiding in an inconspicuous soapbox until the hour was necessary.


Coruscant,

Level 4321

"Hello, Zane'as and Snipk, I trust that the two of you have had a reasonable time here on Coruscant."

The Doctor asked, sharking their hands.

"Well, for one, my apprentice and I are doing extremely well here. Second, do you know how hard it is to obtain arcane infused crystals from Azeroth here? The price for transporting is skyrocketing, I must admit."

The mage responded, nodding at the Asura.

Everyone inside the TARDIS,walked out and viewed the early morning sunrise over the planet, the Jedi Temple faintly visible over the horizon. The city exactly reminded all of them about how New York City was; grand, exquisite, and majestic. The group followed the duo upstairs to their living room, Level 4322 according to the city's principles. It was moderately decorated, the main couch and love seat in a modernistic style, white and black with a persion rug, imported from Earth. There was a balcony to the left, facing the main city, the opera hall, and the former Senate Hall, now converted to a training facility.

Rory Williams walked out to the balcony with his wife, Amy. They locked their hands together and viewed the sunrise together while The Doctor and everyone else sat down and began to discuss.

"Amy, have you ever considered settling down, away from all of this? Anywhere I suppose I guess."

Her spouse asked her, glancing to the sun.

"I don't suppose so Rory, how about you?"

She responded.

"What about just leaving all of these problems behind? Living a normal life with River and the others, vacationing to New York and Paris every other weekend with the Doctor?"

"Rory, is it just because of what happened? Is it just because you want a normal life?"

Amy gently replied.

"I guess, but I want to settle down, this Sombra business isn't that exciting for me. And if we do actually have a child, a real one,"

Rory asked.

"Do we still send it to school?"

"Do you have to bring that up right now Rory? Of course we are; but not to junior or secondary, no, no, no. We're going to have that child choose his or her own path."

She'd laugh, gently gripping Rory's hand.

They'd walk back inside the parlor, the Doctor and the others deep in conversation.

"And so, how are you able to provide this information?"

The Doctor asked.

"I have a contact, one just downstairs in this complex and another one in Silvermoon. I'd assume that you'd prefer my friend in the apartments below. I'll ring him up now."

He'd get up from his chair and walk over to the phone, unaware of a misplaced shadow nearby. The blood elf was incredibly rushed when he was at the phone. He walked briskly to the foyer and took his seat again; picking up a glass of wine from a nearby counter.

"Wine anyone?"

Zane'as offered; instead receiving nods for a no.

"Very well then, now about that Sombra business, we have been studying this electronic magnetic pulse device that can directly shut down a specific A.I. for a few seconds; however, my apprentice has been studying to increase the potency of the device. I highly disagree with his methods; he's been using them on droids and anything he can get his hands on."

"But you do agree he is an extremely talented engineer yes?"

Cosette responded.

"I do; what makes you think I do not?"

"Well, I think that you can encourage him a bit more on what he is doing; if Snipk doesn't receive any encouragement from his master, then what should the Asura do then?"

"I suppose you're right; but let us move on from my personal life, are you not here for the device? I'll summon it to you Doctor."

The blood elf said, casting an arcane spell to bring the EMP downstairs.

It took the sin'dorei mage quite some mana in able to bring it down from the third level of his apartment. The contraption was incredibly huge; contained in a steel, rectangular box with two buttons, one red and one green, presumably for activating and deactivating the machine. The mage cast another spell, binding and transmuting the box into a portable one. It produced a silent noise as it was being shrunk, the contents inside of it, all there wires and switches shrinking its size yet growing longer simultaneously.

"Here we are, the EMP device is now the smallest I can possibly mold it to. Of course, I could go to much more minuscule definitions, but you know, you don't want anything at the sub atomic-"

The mage was shot in the back of his head with a dart. Everyone that was present in the room turned to their backs, towards the balcony and saw a sniper from a neighboring window.

"He's knocked out, but not dead yet. It's only a temporary solution I suppose…"

The Doctor investigated, removing the dart from the mage's head.

"What are you waitin' for? The assassin is getting away!"

Moneypenny yelled, pointing to the window where the shadowed figure was making its escape on an airspeeder.

"Alright, Amy, Rory with me into that airspeeder! Moneypenny, get on that speeder to the left of the airspeeder, we'll split up! Cosette and Marius, tend to Zane'as.

The Doctor ordered, jumping into the maroon colored airspeeder.

He'd activate the ship, proceeding to chase after the shadowed figure in the black speeder; Moneypenny flying below him.

"Hold on!"

The Doctor directed the airspeeder directly down into the planet's midday commune, millions of airspeeders and speeders breaking in their track.

"Doctor! I swear, do not do that agai-!"

Rory yelled as the ship performed another nosedive deeper into the planet in pursuit of the specter.

Moneypenny trailed them from above, keeping careful pace of the two speeders from Level 4010.

"Doctor,"

She'd radio in from her speeder.

"It's making another nosedive so it could land on that terrace!"

The Doctor complied, pulling the airspeeder into another long nosedive that seemed to last an eternity. The traffic was wholly disrupted; cars, speeders, and airspeeders were either thrown off track or were involved mid-aird air collision high above ground level.

He'd land the ship, jumping out of it and chasing the figure along with Amy and Rory.

"You what I am about to say, run!"

The three of them began to chase the shadow on foot, its cloak appearing to fall off the figure, thin pale white legs becoming visible to the three. The crowd moved away as the shadow desperately tried to find cover or blend in with the citizens.

"I've always wanted to try this thing…"

Rory muttered to himself, pulling out a small electronic magnet that would create a small forcefield, courtesy of the UNSC.

He'd throw the magnet in a wide angle, ahead of the figure, landing exactly on the figure's path. It generated a blue force field directly trapping it. The Doctor used his sonic screwdriver, the tip glowing green to deactivate and bind the shadow like figure.

"Now who are you,"

The Doctor asked, attempting to uncloak the figure.

"You!"

He'd exclaim, coming to realization.

"Gabriel Reyes. I thought we had you in custody. Seems like you escaped for the fourth time."

"Well, that cell wasn't deep enough to bury the dead."

Reyes responded, speaking in an extremely monotone voice.

"Why the hell are you in the Inner Rim if you're on the run? You'd better be off somewhere in Tatooine, gambling on some podrace."

Amy asked, ironically pulling out a water pistol from her sachel.

"That's a good question. I've come here to finish up some business with that blood elf and his idiot apprentice."

"So why didn't you kill him? Is there something you still need from them?"

Reaper looked around at the passing crowd that was brushing past the four of them, unaware of what was going on in the middle of a busy garden terrace. He'd know what to do; he was a liar, a damm good one at best.

"Sombra."

Was all he could reply, telling only a half lie in able to get away from this mess he'd made.

"How do you know about her?"

The Doctor held up his neck.

"Doctor, are you really going to-"

"Rory, now is not the time for questions."

"Where is this, "Sombra?" We need this information, quickly now. We can throw you in another Overwatch prison ce-"

"Alright, alright,"

Reaper sarcastically replied.

"Look for a person named L. He knows everything about her. I do not. Now hold up to your bargain."

The Doctor released Reaper, the assassin disappearing into the shadows.

Across the terrace, everyone continued to walk past them as if time stood still. Everyone ignored the altercation as if some presence was directing them away from the scene.

"Doctor, why did you-"

"Not now Amy. We have a shadow to catch."

He'd respond, holding up a white piece of paper with a stylized L on it.

"What do you know about a person named, "L?"

Review and follow, The Hunt for Sombra: A Multifandom Fanfiction.