Wander over Yonder Season 3-34
Inside a Domship repair hangar, Wander watched over Dominator's shoulder curiously as Dominator was repairing a Knight Dombot named Sputnik. Wander had no way of understanding the repairs but they were certainly carried out with entertaining finesse and admirable efficiency.
"That should do it" Dominator says closing Sputnik up.
"Thank you Dominator" Sputnik says.
"Wasn't much. Just a quick tweak" Dominator says before Sputnik departs. "Phew! That's the last of 'em for now. Learn anything?"
"Nope but I do love watching you helping those in need!" he says hugging Dominator. "Ya hungry?"
"Repairing Dombots stirs up an appetite so yes" Dominator reveals.
"Good because food's almost ready!"
"Can we eat outside though?" Dominator asks. "Been indoors too long fixing up bots. I'd like some fresh air."
"Of course!" Wander agrees and his Dombots make quick work of setting up a table and chairs under the Domship's shade on the surface of Gardenia. Just as quickly, Wander distributed plates, cups, and eating utensils.
"What are these?" Dominator asks examining two sticks as Sylvia joins the two.
"Chopsticks!" Wander reveals wielding a pair.
"Chopsticks?" Dominator asks holding a stick in each hand.
"Sticks that wish they were forks" Sylvia jokes.
"Sylvia! Chopsticks are eating utensils in their own right" Wander defends while distributing noodles, beef and broccoli, and string bean chicken breast on the plates, horchata for drinking.
"Yeah well a fork doesn't fight me when I'm trying to get food in my belly" Sylvia says. "Gonna give it a go, Dee?"
"Sure, I like a challenge" Dominator says trying to operate the chopsticks with one hand.
"Wander, this isn't real beef is it?" Sylvia asks.
"Nope! Give it a taste and see if you can tell what it is" Wander challenges.
"Alright" Sylvia says and she and Dominator give the beef a taste.
"Tastes just like beef!" Sylvia says surprised. "It can't not be beef!"
"Shiitake mushrooms?" Dominator guesses.
"Bingo! Dee got it!" Wander praises.
"Wow, how'd you guess!?" Sylvia asks.
"Good question. A sixth sense maybe? I do love Wander's cooking" Dominator reminds. "That and shiitake is a funny name."
"It is isn't it?" Wander giggles alongside Dominator's chuckling.
"And the chicken's just cauliflower seasoned juuuust right, right?" Dominator guesses once more.
"You know me so well!" Wander praises with a broad smile.
Moments later, discussion was well underway.
"You were a bounty hunter?" Dominator asks Sylvia.
"Yep! It's how I met Wander, actually" Sylvia explains.
"Bounty hunting. Sounds exciting!" Dominator says. "Tracking down criminals and reeling 'em in!"
"It certainly had its thrills" Sylvia says, Wander listening patiently to the two.
"Ever think of going back?" Dominator asks.
"Sometimes" Sylvia says. "If I ever need to make a couple bucks, I'll check my local 'most wanted'."
"Tell me about a notable bounty you reeled in" Dominator asks.
"Notable huh?" Sylvia asks. "A goon named 'Goldjaw' immediatley comes to mind."
"And he had a jaw made of gold?" Dominator guesses to Sylvia's chuckle.
"Goldjaw because he had a jaw of gold" Sylvia confirms. "Guy stunk of heavy chemicals too."
During Sylvia's recollection of how she took Goldjaw down, Wander feels Dominator's shoeless foot caressing his shoe under the table. Instinctively, Wander takes his shoe off and caresses back. The ritual had begun innocently enough but as it went on, Dominator ventured higher going from Wander's foot to his shin then to his knee then his thigh before going higher.
"So I punched Goldjaw in the face!" Sylvia says punching her palm.
"Whoa!" Wander lets out, his face red.
"Wow! Exciting tale isn't it Wander?" Dominator asks Wander with a lascivious eye.
"Definitely" Wander says in a strained and high-pitched voice.
"My fist hurt like heck right after but it was worth it..." Sylvia went on.
Once lunch had concluded, Wander and Dominator had gone off to tend to a small garden the two were cultivating while Sylvia made her way towards a Domship balcony with a large view of Gardenia.
"Heya Deedee" Sylvia greets Deedee floating by.
"Greetings Sylvia" Deedee greets.
"Quick question: ever notice how close Wander and Dominator are getting?"
"Affirmative. Lord Wander and Dominator are pursuing a romantic relationship" Deedee says. "Sensors indicate they are progressing at a healthy and steady pace."
"You have romance sensors?" Sylvia asks.
"Affirmative. Lord Wander and Dominator's body temperatures and heart rates increase when together" Deedee reveals.
"Not surprising. It worries me a bit though" Sylvia says. "Like I could lose my best bud to Dominator."
"Preposterous. No reason you can't keep a friendship with someone pursuing a romance with someone else" Deedee says.
"You're right but I'm so used to having Wander nearby" Sylvia says before getting lost in thought. "Then again, a little time away never hurt anyone. We're best friends but we don't have to be attached at the hip!"
"Correct" Deedee agrees.
"Okay, okay. We'll call this time off then. What to do? What to do?" Sylvia asks herself.
-=episode title=-
THE TIME APART
-=episode title=-
Sylvia and Deedee had made their way to a docking bay in the Domship. Both began a review of Red Thunder, a ship seized from a bounty hunter that attacked Dominator some time ago.
"Deedee, it's time I made this ship my own" Sylvia declares slipping on a gas mask and wielding paint sprayers. After a session of spraying, the Red Thunder was recolored to a shiny silver coloring, lettering on it spelling out 'Sylver Lightning'. "As you can see, I'm calling her 'Sylver Lightning'! Sylver for short."
"She's beautiful" Deedee compliments. "Silver your favorite color?"
"Silver's one of 'em, yeah. Like the name?"
"Sylver: a combination of Sylvia and silver. Clever" Deedee says.
"Thanks!.. Deedee, you may not know this but I was once a bounty hunter" Sylvia reveals climbing aboard Sylver Lightning. "I've missed it some so I wanna give it another go. For old time's sake. You wanna come along?"
Deedee processes for a moment.
"We can put any bounty money towards recovering Dombot remnants" Sylvia tempts.
"Excellent idea! Yes, I wish to contribute" Deedee agrees.
With both strapped in, Sylver takes off and Sylvia pulls up a 'most wanted' list on a computer monitor.
"Let's see what sort of scum and villainy is on the menu tonight" Sylvia says reviewing the list. "The Big Bad Wolf! He looks scary. Or Leon the ChameLeon! Always hidden in plain sight. Andrew the Poisonous and Pigma the Greedy! Notorious duo!... Goldjaw!? Did he escape!?"
"Notorious counterfeiter Goldjaw has escaped Prison Planet #4473" reported a news broadcast moments later. "A hefty bounty has been placed promising a hefty sum for anyone brave enough to apprehend the villainous perp."
"Sylvia, you captured this perp before?" Deedee asks.
"Yes and it looks like I've found my target" Sylvia says in a determined voice. "Reunion time!"
Sylver Lightning immediately set off for the planetary system hosting "Prison Planet #4473". Not far from this prison planet was another planet, MW487, on which Sylvia landed her ship.
"This place brings back memories" Sylvia tells Deedee as she exits Sylver. "Wouldn't be surprised if Goldjaw were in hiding somewhere on this very planet" she says looking around suspiciously. "I'm gonna go talk to the locals. Can you stay here and watch Sylver?"
"Affirmative" Deedee agrees.
"Thanks!"
Sylvia makes her way past plain-looking buildings before entering a plain-looking bar. The inside was dimly lit, shadowy figures hunched over at many of the tables in the establishment, others seated at the counter behind which stood a barkeeper.
"What'll it be, missy?" the barkeeper asks the approaching Sylvia.
"Information. And a root beer float would be nice too" Sylvia says having a seat.
"Information? What kind?" the barkeeper says whipping up a root beer float.
"There's word that Goldjaw has broken out and I'm looking to reel him back in" Sylvia says punching her palm.
"Hmm" the barkeeper acknowledges. "Notorious counterfeiter?"
"That's the one" Sylvia confirms sipping from her float. "One of the best jewelry counterfeiters in the galaxy!"
"Hmm. I'm afraid I don't have any information. I'm but a simple barkeep."
"Ya don't say" Sylvia says.
"You're hunting him down too, huh?" a feminine yet slightly-hoarse voice is heard from beside Sylvia. Turning towards this voice, Sylvia spots a purple alien with black hair and scar on her right cheek. She was wearing a green shirt, army pants and hair band, black vest, and army boots as well as punk style bracelets and a punk style choker.
"Ripov?" Sylvia questions.
"That's the name" Ripov verifies, a green shake in her hand. "Sylvia, right? You helped take down Dominator's ship last time we met."
"Yeah. Hi! How have you been?" Sylvia asks.
"I've been better. I'm hunting Goldjaw down too!"
"So am I. We should work together. Split the take 50-50" Sylvia offers.
"Sounds like a plan" Ripov agrees. "Barkeep."
"Yes?" the barkeeper responds.
"Don't lie to Sylvia" Ripov says.
"What?" Sylvia asks.
"What?" the barkeep asks too.
Ripov then seizes the barkeep's wrists and twists them painfully behind his back.
"Ow! Ow!" the barkeep let out before he's released. "Hey, hey! Give those back!" he demands.
With sleight of hand, Ripov had removed gold rings from the barkeep's fingers and placed them atop the counter.
"I have bad news for you" Ripov says before swiftly stabbing the counter with daggers that went through the ring loops. "These are counterfeit."
"What? You can't be serious!" the barkeep exclaims.
"I'm serious" Ripov says pulling out another dagger and scratching a ring. "Real gold shouldn't scratch like this."
"I paid top dollar for these!" the barkeep says growling.
"Where'd you get them!?" Ripov demands pulling on the barkeep's collar so hard that he nearly went over the counter.
Sylvia and Ripov exit the bar shortly after.
"From the sound of things, Goldjaw's merch is already entering circulation" Ripov says looking around suspiciously.
"So much for keeping a low profile, huh?" Sylvia says.
"Let him make noise. Makes hunting him easier" Ripov assesses. "Rather, less difficult. Every day, the galaxy just sees more and more villainy spring up. Where one was taken down yesterday, two will spring up right after! Sharks, octopi, kittens. Even light bulb villains! It never ends!" Ripov seethes in a sort of monologue.
"Y-yeah, that light bulb villain sure came out of nowhere" Sylvia says clearing her throat. "Look on the bright side: it's good money!"
"Yeah, it is..."
"You want me to pilot?" Sylvia asks.
"You pilot?" Ripov asks.
"Yep! Recently got myself a new ride" Sylvia says as she lead Ripov back to The Sylver Lightning.
"Welcome back Sylvia" Deedee greets.
"Dombot!" Ripov shouts pulling out a laser rifle and Deedee reacts by drawing a gun out from atop her body.
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Sylvia is quick to object. "Relax you two! You're both with me."
Shortly after calming the two down, Sylver was up and flying.
"I've heard rumors of Dominator's bots turning on her" Ripov recalls while staring Deedee down, "but rumors are rumors."
"Well you better believe it because that's what happened" Sylvia confirms while switching on auto-pilot.
"So Deedee, if you bots did overthrow Dominator, who's your new master now?" Ripov asks.
"Lord Wander" Deedee replies.
"Lord Wander? Wander? Isn't that the little orange fella? With the green hat?" Ripov asks.
"That's right" Sylvia answers. "He's just away with a lady friend at the moment."
"Lady friend, huh?.. Listen here Deedee" Ripov says. "Dominator or not, I don't trust you. Dombots don't exactly have the cleanest history."
"Fine. Don't trust me" Deedee returns. "I don't trust you either."
"Good" Ripov says. "Ours is an alliance of convenience. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Bring no harm to Lord Wander or Dominator and our alliance shall persevere" Deedee declares.
"Jeez you two. Relax will ya!?" Sylvia says examining the barkeeper's rings using a loupe. "We gotta track whoever made these. Certainly looks like Goldjaw's work."
"Sylvia, may I scan those rings?" Deedee questions.
"Think you can help?"
"I can seek out similar alloys. Tracking is a Dombot's specialty after all" Deedee says scanning the rings.
"What spectroscopy you using?" Ripov asks.
"X-ray fluorescence" Deedee says.
"Crafty" Ripov praises.
"Signature obtained" Deedee says. "I can now detect other similar jewelry."
"Awesome! And perfect timing! We're here" Sylvia says after Sylver comes to a stop near a large jewelry shop.
All three enter the jewelry shop after Deedee hides in a large suitcase.
"Greetings ladies" a neatly-dressed elephant-like alien greets amid various displays of fine jewelry behind heavy glass.
"Hi!" Sylvia returns. "We're looking to make a big purchase" she says holding up the suitcase.
"A big purchase, you say?" the shopkeeper says intrigued. "Please call me Henry."
"We have some questions, Henry" Ripov says tossing daggers at Henry pinning him to a wall by his clothes.
"Wh-who-wha-whe-!?" Henry gasps.
"These phony rings were purchased here" she says holding the rings up to Henry's face.
"Phony? P-preposterous!" the shopkeeper objects nervously. "M-my jewelry is of the highest quality!"
"Is it?" Ripov asks. "It better be because counterfeit hardware like this will land you in some serious hot water."
"Let's find out. Deedee!" Sylvia says opening up the suitcase.
"A-a-a Dominator bot!? Who are you people!?" Henry asks frightened.
"Your worst nightmare if you don't cooperate" Sylvia says as Deedee scans the shop.
"35% matching signatures" Deedee reports shortly after.
"35%!?" Sylvia exclaims.
"That's a big number. Can't be coincidence" Ripov directs at Henry. "You better start talking. Cooperate and we promise to let you off easy."
"Alright! Alright! I confess!" Henry cries. "A guy's been selling me really convincing stuff real cheap! It was too good to pass up!"
"Who was it? Did he have a gold jaw and reek of chemicals?" Sylvia asks.
"He had a large beard and smelled terrible" Henry says.
"A beard to conceal his identity no doubt" Sylvia speculates.
"Arrange a meeting with him for us" Ripov orders.
"Grab the phone in my pocket" Henry instructs in surrender. "Hey GJ, Henry here. I wanted to buy some more merch" Henry says into a phone call shortly after, Sylvia doing him the favor of holding the phone up to his face.
"My merch that good, huh?" a gravelly voice on the other end is heard.
"Yeah, that good. Sold out quick!" Henry says trying to keep his cool.
The call is ended a little later.
"It's been a while but that sounded like Goldjaw" Sylvia reveals.
Later, with Henry handcuffed, all four fly to an agreed-upon location behind an abandoned warehouse in a shadier part of MW487. Behind the warehouse, Henry was made to wait, a briefcase cuffed to his wrist.
Concealed, watching, and waiting patiently nearby were Sylvia and Ripov.
Ripov checks her watch. "Shouldn't be long now" she says, laser rifle locked and ready. Sylvia's knuckles were also cracked and ready.
A hover vehicle labeled "GJ's Flowers" then pulls up in front of the warehouse and a bearded man in a brown coat exits. Under his arm was a suitcase which he carries behind the warehouse and there he meets Henry.
"GJ" Henry greets, "I got the money. You got the stuff?"
"Yeah, I got the stuff" GJ responds in a gravelly voice and he opens his suitcase up to show off its shiny contents. "Hot off the presses."
"Beautiful" Henry lauds. "Now here's your money" he says before opening his suitcase.
"Surprise" Deedee greets out of the suitcase and she aims a magma blast at GJ.
"AAaaah!" GJ shrieks tossing his suitcase which intercepts Deedee's blast. GJ then makes a run for it.
"He's getting away!" Deedee lets out.
"Hyaaa!" Sylvia lets out hopping out of one of the windows to the warehouse. "Oh drat!" she growls realizing GJ had already run past her, her ambush too late to intercept. "Get back here!"
GJ dives into his hover vehicle and moves to get it started.
"You should've locked your doors" comes a clever voice from behind GJ.
"What!?" GJ shouts almost snapping his neck in trying to look at the rear of his ride. He spots Ripov before he's hit with a stun blast. "AAaaagh!"
With GJ paralyzed, Ripov kicks him out of his own vehicle.
"Haha! You nailed him!" Sylvia celebrates catching up.
"Sylvia!?" a collapsed GJ growls looking up at Sylvia and Ripov.
"GJ. That you Goldjaw?" Ripov asks, her laser rifle pointed down at GJ. "What's GJ mean?"
"Good Jeweler?" GJ answers sheepishly.
"I doubt that. Let's find out" Sylvia says grabbing at GJ's beard and pulling.
"Gaaah!" GJ exclaims as the beard is pulled off revealing a jaw made of gold.
"Goldjaw. As expected!" Sylvia confirms. "Thank goodness too! Would have been sort of awkward otherwise."
"Sylvia, you again!?" Goldjaw growls angrily.
"Not just me, had partners this time. This here's Ripov" a proud Sylvia says patting Ripov's shoulder.
"He stinks of chemicals" Ripov complains.
"Typical in the counterfeiting business" Sylvia educates.
Law enforcement would be called soon and Goldjaw and Henry would be picked up shortly after.
"Curse you Sylvia!" Goldjaw condemned as he was pushed into the back of a cop car.
"Yeah, yeah, tell it to the judge" Sylvia mocked.
Sylvia, Ripov, and Deedee later depart a police station with reward money secured to their persons.
"That was fun! And we make a pretty good team" Sylvia praised.
"I have to agree. Never thought I'd ever be working with one of Dominator's bots" Ripov says patting Deedee.
"I thought the same thing before the Dombots and I chummied up" Sylvia recollects.
"There are others like Deedee here?" Ripov asks.
"Oh you bet! Lots of 'em and counting" Sylvia reveals handing her cut of the reward money to Deedee.
"Thank you Sylvia" Deedee says.
"You're handing her your cut?" Ripov asks.
"The Dombots are trying to recover and repair other fallen Dombots" Sylvia explains. "The reward money will help fund their repairs and maintenance and such."
"Wow, that's awfully nice!.. Sylvia, can you take me to Dominator?" Ripov asks. "I'd like to speak to her."
"I don't see why not" Sylvia says. "What would you like to speak to her about?"
"I want to hear and see this reformed Dominator with my very own eyes."
"Oh, you're in for a pleasant surprise then. Let's go" Sylvia instructs.
Sylvia pilots the Sylver Lightning back to the Domship.
"This vile ship once struck deathly fear and inflicted endless pain across the galaxy" Ripov began as Sylvia and Deedee escorted her through its long and tall halls. "Never thought I'd be inside it like this" she says intrigued by how walls turned to magma before parting.
"I thought the same thing when Wander and I walked into this ship voluntarily" Sylvia remembers.
"This planet seems awfully nice" Ripov compliments while the three walk beside a large window to Gardenia.
"Nice isn't it?" Sylvia agrees. "It used to be so desolate before Wander and Dominator helped breathe life into it."
Ripov keeps quiet, mixed emotions swirling in her chest before the three enter one of the visitor's rooms in the Domship. Ripov has a seat on one of many very comfortable sofas arranged around a coffee table.
"Sylvia!" Wander greets entering the room. "Where'd you head off to?"
"Just went out to get some fresh air" Sylvia fibs. "Guess who I ran into: Ripov!"
"Greetings" Ripov directs at Wander.
"Oh! A guest! Hello Ripov!" Wander voices surprised. "Folks call me Wander! Darn, had I known we'd have guests, I'd have prepared. Would you like a refreshment? Are you hungry? Please! Make yourself at home! If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Please, don't mind me" Ripov requests. "I just wish to speak to Dominator."
"Dominator? I'll get her right away! Be right back" Wander says before leaving the room.
"Nice fellow isn't he?" Sylvia admires.
"Yes. I've heard of Wander and his 'nice guy' reputation" Ripov concurs. "How'd you meet him?"
"Retrieved him from another bounty hunter back in my bounty-hunting days" Sylvia responds before Dominator appears after a wall turns to magma and opens.
Ripov immediately stands to draw a laser pistol on Dominator.
"Aaah! No!" Wander shouts while Deedee draws her weapon.
Before a laser blast is shot, Dominator blasts Ripov with her ice powers freezing her from the neck down and pinning her to a wall.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Dominator demands.
"Ripov, you nuts!?" Sylvia joins in.
"Sorry, combat reflexes! It's not every day I see Dominator in the flesh" Ripov excuses.
"So your first instinct is to start blasting?" Dominator asks annoyed.
"When dealing with a galactic menace such as yourself, a split second can make all the difference" Ripov advises.
"Wise words. That was brave, I have to respect that" Dominator says extending a magma hand to disarm Ripov. "You wished to speak to me?"
"Yes. I wanted to ask what has become of the old Dominator. The Dominator that rampaged through the galaxy would have destroyed me moments ago. Is it really you, Lord Dominator?"
"Wait just a second" Wander speaks up, "I know Dee doesn't have the nicest of histories but she has changed herself for the better! She doesn't destroy planets anymore!"
"Yeah, Dominator has really turned over a new leaf" Sylvia contributes.
"Dominator is friend and ally of us Dombots" Deedee adds.
"Dee? Is that her pet name?" Ripov questions firmly.
"Yes, it's what I call Dominator sometimes" Wander says grabbing Dominator's hand.
"It seems the gossip was true then" Ripov observes irritably. "Dominator is with the love of her life on a beautiful planet all the while some of the planets she has left in ruin remain in ruin! Easy to turn a blind eye when you have so much to distract you isn't it?"
The room is quiet temporarily.
"Ripov was your name?" Dominator asks.
"That's right. I'm here on behalf of a planet you ran your drill through and to this day, has had to deal with the repercussions" Ripov reveals, eyes narrowing.
"You here to destroy me?" Dominator asks coolly.
"At one point, I would have loved to" Ripov answers grinning vindictively.
"No!" Wander objects loudly, his arms now wrapping around Dominator. "I will not allow it! No one's destroying anyone!"
"Ripov, Wander and I and the Dombots would not have allowed it!" Sylvia adds.
"Destroying me won't bring any planet back" Dominator says arms crossing.
"I'm aware" Ripov responds. "In that case, I'm here to ask you to show the galaxy that you have truly changed for the better. Asking you to right the wrongs you imposed on Planet Lanre."
"Lanre? Doesn't ring a bell" Dominator informs.
"Of course not. You've drilled so many..."
"True... Don't planets just heal over time?" Dominator asks.
"Most do, yes. The problem is worse befell Lanre after you left it shattered" Ripov answers.
"Worse? What happened?" Dominator inquires.
"If I tell you, will you help?" Ripov asks.
"Despite your rudeness, I'll consider it" Dominator says smoothly.
Ripov is quiet for a moment as if unsure the person she was speaking to was really Dominator.
"Unfreeze me and I will tell more" Ripov offers and her ice restraint is quickly melted.
"Now lead us to this Planet Lanre" Dominator instructs. "Sylvia, could you show her to navigation? I doubt she'd try to blast you."
Ripov chuckles dismissively.
"Huh? Oh, sure" Sylvia speaks up. "Right this way."
Sylvia and Deedee lead Ripov out of the room leaving Dominator and Wander behind temporarily.
"So are we helping her?" Wander asks with rising excitement.
"I want to. You and Sylvia traveled the galaxy helping folks. It's only right I do it too" Dominator says.
"Of course!" Wander declares hopping up to hug Dominator. "It makes me so happy seeing you help!"
"And seeing you happy makes me happy" Dominator replies. "Let's go help!"
"Let's!" Wander squeals delighted and they too exit shortly after.
Author's note: we did not get enough Ripov in the show. What a fun little character, she deserved more! Thanks for reading, stay tuned for more!
