Sombra always knew Gabriel Reyes's story was a sad one. Maybe that was why she was so inclined to look out for his fiancée.

But, contrary to popular belief, she considered herself more of a vigilante than a villain.

And though she had resorted to extreme measures, she'd been acting in the public's best interest.

At least, she'd thought so.

Hm...what was her name again?

She pulled your personnel file. Perusing through her internal browser, Sombra found herself scanning old images of you and Gabriel—while Overwatch was still thriving.

"[Y/N]." Your name quietly rolled off her tongue. Studying your face, she noted the glow in your countenance.

The joy was hard to miss in your features, and she wondered if it was because you were a woman in love.

She was almost envious of you, only for the happiness you'd once exuded in these old photos.

"What are you doing?"

"Hi to you, too, Gabe," Sombra spun her chair to face her commander-in-arms.

Gabriel recognized the all-too-familiar smirk on her face. She had something up her sleeve, and normally he would let it go. But he swore he'd heard your name being spoken. And that he couldn't let go.

He closed the door behind him. Drawing his firearm, he held the conniving woman at gun point and demanded, "What do you know?"

"I know that you don't want to make an enemy of me." Her smirk disappeared to reveal her sincerity. She meant what she said. "I know that your fiancée is back from the dead. Figuratively speaking. And I know that your being here is to protect her."

Though his stoic mask revealed none, Sombra had a sense of the turmoil brewing beneath it.

"I'm on your side," She finally said after a transient silence.

"What have you done? What are you up to?"

"Nothing, just... keeping an eye on her. And your friend, Cap'n America."

Gabriel realized that she was more beneficial as an ally than an enemy. But how true to her words was she? It was often hard to gauge her intention. And Sombra was hardly famous for her altruism.

Knowing she'd kept to her own agenda in the past made him leery, but he didn't have much choice. Making an enemy of someone who knew a lot about everything seemed unwise.

Having weighed his options, he set his weapon down. "That boy-scout's hardly patriotic anymore."

He saw the relief cross her features. Maybe she really was acting in his best interest.

For now.

"...well," She drawled. "That may or may not change."

"Explain."

"Your girl made a cure." She began, a wave of her hand conjured a holographic screen suspended in mid-air.

And on it, he saw you.

Gabriel's heart squeezed painfully.

In that moment, he was grateful for the mask that hid his rueful expression.

He missed you utterly, and—though it was hard to detect—Sombra caught on when his breath hitched upon seeing the very image of you.

The motion picture of you played for a brief time, terminating with a holographic manifestation of the golden liquid you'd created.

"What kind of cure?"

"One to undo what O'Deorain did to you."

"...is that possible?"

"Hard to say. We'll see soon, won't we?"

He hated it when she was being smugly cryptic.

"What do you mean?" He asked through gritted teeth.

With another motion of her hand, she brought up another motion picture. Of Jack this time.

"Why are you showing me this? This is decades ago." He deduced, seeing Jack with his headful of blond hair and sharp blue eyes.

Sombra imitated a buzzer sound. "Wrong. This is today. Right now. Look closely."

The 76 lettering of his jacket was proof enough.

"How is that possible?"

"You're asking the wrong person." She gave a shrug. "It's not my kind of science. You might want to ask O'Deorain."

"No," He said instantaneously. "I want this kept under wraps."

"It was just a thought."

"If you're really on my side, Sombra... you won't mention the cure. You won't mention anything about [Y/N]."

"You're lucky no one's caught on. Other than yours truly, of course- -"

"I'd like to keep it that way."

Sombra sighed and stood from her chair. "Okay... but don't you think they'll find it a little odd that Jack Morrison is young again and you haven't said anything to anyone about it? You're supposed to be tracking him down to eliminate him, aren't you?"

He turned around, making his way for the door. "As far as we're concerned, Jack Morrison is dead—I personally saw to it. His name's crossed off, and it's time to move onto other targets. Do me a favor and get the message to him, will you?"

Sombra said nothing as her commander-in-arms exited the room. The impending war drew near. And these old soldiers owed her big when-- if they got through this.

As Gabriel trekked down the corridor, a certain tall woman caught his attention. Her red hair was styled in a no-nonsense cut, and she had on a flowing lab coat over a set professional clothes.

He debated turning around to avoid her, but it was too late. She'd noticed him.

"Ah, Reyes." She approached him with a wide smile on her face. "I have a request for you. Let's go to my lab, shall we?"

"What might your request be?" Concealing his hesitation, he walked in step with her.

"I'd like to take a blood sample from you if you don't mind," She explained. "I'm making adjustments to my biotic weaponry, but I seem to be missing something. Whatever we manifested in you, I'm having a difficult time recreating. Perhaps, I can glean something from your blood-work."

Sounded harmless enough. A simple blood draw wasn't going to be time-consuming or too painful. "Let's get it over with then."

"Perfect," She grinned, ushering him inside her workspace. Her laboratory was roomy but cluttered.

Paper trails, spilt reagents, critter dung.

It was a wonder how the woman managed to get anything done.

"Have a seat over there for me," She motioned to a solitary chair in the middle of the room. "I'll get the phlebotomy kit."

Moira set her supplies on a tray nearby, then stood near him. He'd removed his glove, exposing his bare right arm to her.

"Your skin's reverting back to its normal color..." She observed, her finger tracing the hard contours of his arm. "Do you feel any different from how you've been?"

"No," He peered at her from beneath his mask. And not without apprehension. "Why do you ask?"

"Mere curiosity, my friend." She tied a tourniquet around his bicep to distend his veins. "Alright, just one vial or two ought to suffice."

The needle stick was hardly a bother, and Gabriel watched closely as she filled one vial of blood. Deftly, she switched the filled vial with another—but before he realized her deed, the damage had already been done.

"I noticed your human tendencies were beginning to resurface," She began after pushing an injection of inky black serum into his bloodstream. "So I took it upon myself to restore you to normalcy. Go to sleep for a while."

His pupils constricted when adrenaline kicked in. A sense of dread washed over him. "You bitch. What did you just give me?"

"Nothing you haven't had before, dear," She quickly retreated in case he decided to make an attempt on her life.

As the substance mingling in his blood began to work, he felt a manipulation of his emotions, his memories... his mind.

And the last thing Gabriel felt before the world went black was something completely sinister.

--

A/N: Now we are getting to the meat of things. :) Hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter.

Love,
Mei