Beeza, leader of The Leisurians and mayor of Leisure Gardens, stood before a newly-constructed library armed with a large pair of scissors. Behind her observing with great anticipation were many leisurians eager to enter the structure.
"It is with great honor that I now declare this library open" Beeza announces before cutting the ribbon wrapping around the building.
Once cut, many crowding the entrance patiently filed into the library to get reading. Wander and Sylvia were among those waiting their turn to enter.
"I don't get it. Why a library when all you need is on the galaxy wide web?" Sylvia asks her star nomad friend.
"Sylvia!" Wander gasps. "Libraries are beautiful places filled with knowledge and wisdom collected across the cosmos and over the ages. One should never underestimate the value of a book!"
"I suppose you're right, buddy" Sylvia agrees preferring not to downplay something that seemed very valuable to Wander.
"Look at all the books in here!" Wander exclaims excitedly after entering.
"Shhh" the libarian shushes gently.
"Sorry" Wander whispers back. "Syl. Look at all the books here" he whispers at his friend beside him. "What are you hoping to read today?"
"Well now that I'm here, I'm hoping for a book on boxing" Sylvia answers looking about. "Lady Haymaker and the Duchess got plenty of strength but I sometimes wonder if my technique could use some work. How about you buddy?.. Buddy?"
Sylvia notices Wander had wandered off towards another part of the library but she was used to her long-time friend being the type to be easily distracted. She spots him engrossed by a book titled "Are You Ready for Parenthood?" in the educational section of the library.
"So Wander, you think you're ready for parenthood?"
Wander gasps.
"What if I'm not!?" Wander worries before sifting through the bookshelf for more books on parenting.
"Buddy, we've both taken care of a kid before" Sylvia recollects. "A really, really big kid and I'm guessing your kid's not gonna be such a handful so it should go smoothly."
"Hope you're right, Syl."
"I know I'm right" Sylvia says confidently.
"Here's a big check list of what any good parent will need for their first kid" Wander reads in the book: "A little room with baby monitor and crib. A stroller and baby formula. Diapers and baby pajamas and baby bottles."
"These all seem pretty obvious" Sylvia comments. "How many months does Dee have to go before she gives birth?"
"We're not actually sure" Wander answers. "Nefai take eight months to give birth but I'm not Nefai so Dominator's pregnancy might take less time..."
"So how long's it been?"
"Five months" Wander says.
"She doesn't look terribly pregnant for five months. Maybe the baby will be on the smaller side" Sylvia says considering Wander's small stature.
"Big or small, I want to be there for my wife and the little bundle of joy she will one day gift me" Wander says dreamily.
"I'm looking forward to the baby too... We're gonna have a little Wander or a little Dominator running about. It's going to be so adorable!"
"I know!"
"Shhh" the librarian disciplines once more.
"Sorry" Wander whispers.
-=episode title=-
THE READYING
-=episode title=-
With child-raising books checked out, Wander and Sylvia set off to buy some of the things listed within and proceed towards a grocery store.
"This one is tastier but not as nutritious as this other one" Wander says tasting two baby formulas for comparison. He would do the same with several little jars of baby food. "Variety is the spice of life so I'll buy them all!"
"All?" Sylvia questions. "Dominator could breastfeed too, I don't think we'll need so much!"
"Better to have and not need than need and not have" Wander advises.
The two next head to a baby clothing store.
"Buddy, you look ridiculous!" Sylvia alerts after Wander tried on baby pajamas.
"I shall leave no stone unturned!" Wander almost bellows. "My baby will only get the BEST quality everything even if that means I have to test it myself" he adds hopping into a crib and simulating a nap.
"He's just a devoted father, folks" Sylvia says to the funny looks aimed their way. "Buddy, don't even think about it!" she almost blurts out after Wander stared at different brands of diapers curiously.
"I wasn't going to, Syl" Wander assures with a chuckle. "I'm sure all these are perfectly good brands. I'll still go by best-reviewed though" he says reading up on online reviews.
Next stop, a baby stroller store.
"Look at all these choices!" Wander exclaims inside the stroller store. "These have cup holders and these other ones have an undercarriage. This one here has suspension for a smoother ride and this other one has a lovely star and moon pattern."
"Ooh, look at this one! It's got a baby bottle warmer" Sylvia points out. "...Buddy, what are you doing?"
"I'm trying these out before buying" Wander answers after hopping into a stroller. "...Push me around."
"Wander, you are too much sometimes" Sylvia chuckles moments later pushing an inquisitive-looking Wander in the stroller around the store.
"If I were a baby, would I like this stroller?" Wander asks himself deep in thought. "Ride is smooth. Good elbow room. Good cover for protection from harsh light and weather."
"Pretty good stroller, huh?" Sylvia asks. "It's really easy to push around too."
"This is a very good stroller!" Wander agrees. "Alright, I think this one will-wait!" Wander then lets out abruptly.
"What?" Sylvia asks.
"Look!" Wander says pointing towards a very high-end-looking baby stroller mounted atop an elaborate display.
Wander dismounts the current stroller and he with Sylvia approach the new one.
"It looks like an armored hover tank" Sylvia remarks as Wander eyes the tag attached.
"BabyCo introduces The Ultimate Stroller!" Wander reads. "State-of-the-art levitation tech to ensure the smoothest of rides. Noise-canceling enclosure for uninterrupted nap times. Armor plating for maximum baby security in a galaxy rife with villainy. The Ultimate Stroller is second to none in ensuring your baby's safety and optimal raising. BabyCo: only parents who hate their children would settle for less than BabyCo."
"It doesn't actually say that does it?" Sylvia asks reading. "Wow! Heck of a tagline!"
"I want this stroller" Wander declares without a hint of hesitation.
"I can see why" Sylvia says, "but it's gonna set you back a pretty penny."
Wander digs into his hat to pull out a coin pouch. Emptying the contents, he begins counting.
"...Not enough" he concludes disappointed.
"Don't worry buddy. I can chip in" Sylvia says wielding a bundle of bills.
"Thank you Sylvia, but..."
"But what?" Sylvia questions.
"I want to buy this myself" Wander declares. "I'm gonna be a dad soon and I wanna be able to provide for my family by my own two hands."
"Buddy, you're serious about this" Sylvia says taking in the serious look on Wander's face.
"I'm serious" Wander reiterates writing the price of the stroller down on a notepad.
"So what's the plan? Gonna get yourself a part time gig?" Sylvia half-jokes.
"I was thinking exactly that" Wander answers as Sylver Lightning took both back to the Domship.
"Dee! We're home!" Wander calls out entering an office of sorts deep inside the Domship.
"Welcome back you two" Dominator greets Wander with a kiss while seated at a drafting table.
"How's work coming along?" Wander asks reviewing Dominator's highly-technical work.
"Slow and steady but progress is being made" Dominator says.
"Whatcha working on?" Sylvia speaks up.
"A new class of Dombot" Dominator answers. "Dombots can usually repair themselves but sometimes, they need a bit of help. That's what this new repair class is for. Anyways, how was your outing?"
Wander answers "we checked out a bunch of books and bought lots of baby products. Speaking of which..."
With an unsurprised chuckle, Dominator lifts her shirt up just enough to reveal her pregnant belly. Like a careful magnet, Wander latched on gently.
"You didn't miss this more than me, did you?" Dominator asks.
"I missed you both equally" Wander says with cheek to and arms wrapped around Dominator's pregnancy.
"So how's pregnancy treating ya, Dee?" Sylvia asks. "How ya feelin'?"
"Very relaxed" Dominator says. "...And I feel like having pickles in yogurt."
"Pickles and yogurt!?" Sylvia repeats surprised.
"I'll get it!" Wander volunteers. He kisses Dominator's belly and then swiftly runs out of the room to then return with three yogurts and a large jar of pickles.
"One for you and one for you and one for me" Wander says distributing the yogurts.
"Whoa, you guys seriously eating that?" she asks spotting Wander and Dominator dropping pickle slices into their yogurts.
"Tastes like triple pickle pie" Wander responds. "You know I love me some triple pickle pie!"
"Mom warned me about odd cravings" Dominator tells Sylvia. "This is the best way to get rid of 'em."
"Wanna try it Syl~?" Wander tempts.
"Noo thanks buddy" Sylvia rejects. "Plain yogurt's good enough for me."
After yogurts and with the sky growing dark, Wander and Dominator retire to bed.
"You wanna read to our kid?" Dominator responds to Wander's suggestion.
"That's right" Wander says pulling a book out of his hat. "Studies say reading to your kid even before birth feeds the noggin'!" he says tapping his temple.
"Okay, cool. What book are you reading?"
"The Little Lemnarian that Could" was Wander's reply.
The book was not a terribly long book but halfway into reading, Wander noticed Dominator fast asleep.
"You must've been working hard, Dee. Working hard to fix up and maintain our Dombots" Wander thought to himself. "Knowing that, I gotta work hard too."
After finishing the book, Wander kisses his wife and her belly good night.
Outside of the Domship, the town of Leisure Gardens too was calling it a day, many of its lights going dark. In the skies above, Buster was curling up to get his necessary sleep as all living things do and the star Gardenia orbited had some time ago sunk below the horizon.
The next morning, Wander could think of no better sight to wake up to than the sight of his pregnant wife. If not for the busy day ahead, he'd lay blissfully beside her and refuse to leave her side.
After breakfast with Sylvia and Dominator, Wander set off with Sylvia accompanying. Though this previously-nomadic duo now had the Domship and the whole planet of Gardenia to call home, they still liked to make time to roam the galaxy looking to lend a hand wherever they could.
"So what's the plan, buddy?" Sylvia asks piloting Sylver Lightning. "Where we toiling away today?"
"You want in too?"
"Yeah" Sylvia confirms. "Maintaining Sylver isn't free."
"Oh. Okay. Well got a list of jobs looking to get done right here" Wander says pulling out a small stack of jobs.
First job tackled was helping to find a missing cat ultimately found stuck up a tree.
"C'mere kitty kitty kitty" Wander cooed approaching a cat cowering up on a tree branch. "I just wanna get ya down where it's safer-aAAAAaaah!"
"Cool it, cat!" Sylvia shouts rushing to restrain the angry kitty.
Minutes later, a scratched up Wander and Sylvia show up to the cat owner's residence with cat secured.
"Here you go little miss. Your missing kitty" Wander reports.
"Kitty!" the little girl answering the front door exclaims before hugging her pet.
"Thank you kind sir" the accompanying mother says before handing over a couple of coin rolls.
"Never hurts to help" Wander responds dropping the coin rolls into his hat. He and Sylvia then walk off shortly after only to see the same cat run past them.
"Kitty!" the little girl lets out in dismay.
"Not to worry. We'll get your kitty" Wander assures.
"We'll get a leash and nail trimming for it too" Sylvia adds.
Next job taken on was helping to dig out a village flooded by a recent mud slide.
"Man, this is some mud!" Sylvia exclaims stabbing layers of mud under her feet with a shovel. "Hhaaaah!" she shouts, muscles bulging as she tosses the mud over her shoulder and out of the way.
Wander attempts the same only to have his feet sink into the mud as he lifts a shovelful up. He sinks further in tossing it over his shoulder. "Syl, a little help" Wander emits gently.
"Buddy!" Sylvia gasps pulling Wander out with her tail.
"Thanks Syl" Wander says.
"Maybe try something smaller" Sylvia suggests handing over a smaller shovel.
Shoveling mud out of the way resumed, at one point Sylvia sinking into softer mud requiring Wander's help. Some time later, Wander and Sylvia get paid while covered in mud stains.
"Never hurts to help" Wander says dropping his pay into his hat but not before shaking some mud out of it.
After showers, the third job had Wander and Sylvia delivering fast food orders.
"Two number 5s, one with extra dip. Three 12s, two 15s, a side order of dumplings. Another side order of dumplings and egg rolls" the restaurant worker handed over to Sylvia and Wander.
"This is a heck of an order" Sylvia says.
"It's not done" the restaurant worker says. "Three sub sandwiches, two soups, a number 11 and a number 19 and three 8s. And five drinks."
"Is that all?" Sylvia asks from behind stacks of boxed orders.
"And napkins... Now go!"
Outside the restaurant, Wander stuffs the orders into his hat.
For their fourth job, the two would reunite with a familiar face.
"Congratulations!" Neckbeard, an overweight purple alien with large beard, wizard's hat, and wizard's cape announces to his audience of two: Wander and Sylvia. "For one day, probably the luckiest day of your life, you two are proud employees of Neckbeard's Five-Star Magic Business! The best magic business this side of the galaxy!"
"Looking forward to the first task, boss!" Wander announces with a military salute.
"Likewise but do we have to wear these uncomfortable shirts!?" Sylvia demands tugging at the employee shirt she was wearing.
"Yes. You do" Neckbeard reinforces leaning annoyingly close towards Sylvia. "Outward appearance is very important in this magic business!" he lectures pacing about.
"Explain your repulsive exterior then you unwashed nerd" Sylvia grumbles under her breath.
"What was that!?" Neckbeard snaps.
"Nothing" Sylvia defends.
"Good... We are on Planet Manec and we are here on a search" Neckbeard tells his two hires who look around to take in what looked like typical forest.
"Looks like typical greenery to me" Sylvia shrugs.
"That's because you're not gifted like me" Neckbeard condemns. "Anyways. Usually, with my awesome powers, I would have been able to do this on my own like that" Neckbeard boasts snapping his fingers. "But alas, I have hired you two to assist me because this planet is magical and yet, ironically enough, believe it or not, it drains me of my magical powers."
"Oh no!" Wander gasps.
"You poor thing" Sylvia says less sympathetically as Neckbeard looked around.
"We are searching for-" Neckbeard reveals with eyes narrowing, "the rainbow unicorn!"
"The rainbow unicorn" Wander repeats intrigued.
"That's right. They travel in herds which makes it impossible to catch but if we can get one on its own, we may have a chance. Let us head for that hill and get a better look of our surroundings" Neckbeard instructs pointing towards a hill. "Try to keep up."
The hill was not very tall nor very far away and first to reach the top were Wander and Sylvia.
"Hey- you two- slow down!" Neckbeard says trailing behind while gasping for air. "I'm the- boss here!"
"Okay boss. Now what?" Sylvia questions.
Neckbeard raises a hand for a moment for he was still struggling to catch his breath.
"Now, we track down the legendary rainbow unicorn" Neckbeard says pulling out a compass from his person. "I need to focus on tracking so Sylvia, I'm going to need you to carry me."
"Carry you!? You've got two legs!" Sylvia counters.
"Yeah. And you're a horse. You were meant to carry others" Neckbeard points out.
"I'm a Zbornak!" Sylvia corrects angrily. "And no offense but I'm pretty sure you're way too heavy for me!"
"You calling me fat!?" Neckbeard growls.
"No! No! Not at all" Sylvia defends with heavy sarcasm.
"I'll have you know I'm the fittest in my Crypts and Serpents role-playing club."
"And there's a club only mothers could love, I bet" Sylvia ridicules.
"G-guys!" Wander suddenly speaks up. "L-look!" he points towards a part of the surrounding forest. There, all three spot a unicorn with mane and tail colored like the spectrum of a rainbow.
"I-it's beautiful" Sylvia and Wander both remark simultaneously.
"Gaaah!" Sylvia lets out after a great weight had landed on her back. She looks behind her to find Neckbeard had hopped up on her saddle.
"Go go go! After that unicorn!" Neckbeard demands.
"Get off of me you sperging nerd!" Sylvia exclaims shaking Neckbeard off. "Chase it on your feet!"
Neckbeard wasted no time chasing after the unicorn, Wander and Sylvia following behind him. It did not take long for Wander and Sylvia to catch up and then pass Neckbeard who wheezes to a stop before collapsing.
"If you- two wanna- get paid, here" Neckbeard says pulling a lasso out of his wizard's hat. "Reel the unicorn in!" he commands.
Sylvia charged forward while Wander spun the lasso above his head.
"YEEEEHHHAAAAWWW!" Wander lets out tossing the lasso at the galloping unicorn.
"Got it!" Sylvia celebrates seeing the lasso catch the unicorn around its neck. She then digs her heels into the ground to anchor the unicorn to a stop. She wrestles against the caught creature's lasso before tying it to a tree. "Nailed it!"
"Yeah!" Wander celebrates high-fiving Sylvia before Neckbeard manages to catch up.
"Good work you two" a sweaty Neckbeard praises approaching the unicorn, pulling out more rope, and binding it further.
The unicorn then aims a sorrowful look Wander's way.
"...Oh no! What have I done!?" Wander panics. "Uhh, Mr. Neckbeard" he says tapping Neckbeard's shoulder.
"I'm busy! What is it!?" Neckbeard responds harshly.
"Could you let this poor creature go?" Wander asks.
"Why would I do that?" Neckbeard questions.
"Because, well, I think this is a creature best left alone so it can roam freely and happily and-"
Neckbeard shoves a bundle of bills into Wander's hands while saying "there's your pay. Now shut up and go away."
The amount in Wander's hands was enough for him to buy the stroller he had been coveting for his coming child. He anguishes for a while however. "I-I can't accept this" Wander says pushing the pay back into Neckbeard's hands.
"I don't get it! It's your pay for catching this unicorn!" Neckbeard objects pushing the money back at Wander.
"And I regret helping catch this poor thing. I was caught up in the moment!" Wander explains pushing against his pay again.
"Take your pay. You've done your part!" Neckbeard demands with increasing impatience.
"I can't accept it! Please let the unicorn go!" Wander begs.
"No! I need it for my magic shop!" Neckbeard explains. "This creature will be excellent for business."
"Please!"
"NO!"
"Pleeeaaasssee!"
"ENOUGH! YOU HAVE DEFIED MIGHTY WIZARD NECKBEARD FOR THE LAST TIME!" Neckbeard bellows trying and failing to summon his magic powers. "...I'm keeping the pay AND the unicorn" he says snatching the money.
"B-b-but" Wander sputters.
"That's what you get" Neckbeard condemns. "Anyways-"
"Hey Neckbeard" Sylvia calls out.
"What is it now!?" Neckbeard snaps. Looking Sylvia's direction, he notices Sylvia with loose rope in her hands standing beside a freshly-liberated unicorn. "What are you doing!? That's my unicorn!"
"Is it now? Let's ask the unicorn" Sylvia suggests. "Hey unicorn, is this your owner?"
The unicorn turns its rear to Neckbeard before winding up a rear leg.
"Uuuggghhhh!" Neckbeard groans knowing what would come next: a mighty, magical kick sending him flying up and away to disappear into the cosmos.
"That's a firm 'no'" Sylvia concludes.
"Oh my. Hope he's okay" Wander says.
"Serves him right" Sylvia says satisfied.
"I'm sorry about that Mr. Unicorn" Wander apologizes. "Felt like a cowboy tossing that lasso."
"Yeah, I'm sorry too" Sylvia joins in. "I got caught up in the moment like my buddy here."
The unicorn licks Wander's cheek and nudges Sylvia warmly before galloping away, Wander and Sylvia waving it farewell as it grew wings to join a great herd flying up in the sky. The herd then also disappeared into the cosmos.
On the trip back to Gardenia, Wander stared into a jar filled halfway with money.
"Not enough" Wander says regretfully.
"Relax buddy. That was just one day's work" Sylvia assures. "Tomorrow, we'll continue fundraising."
"You're right, Syl" Wander agrees. Then, a phone rings from within Wander's hat. "Hello!" Wander answers after pulling the phone out of his hat.
"Wander" Beeza's patient voice is heard, "it is with great elation that I report to you that Dominator's water has broken."
"...WHAT!?"
"Buddy, what's wrong?" Sylvia asks of the sudden exclamation.
"DEE'S GIVING BIRTH!" Wander explodes. "WE GOTTA HURRY BACK!"
"I'm on it! I'm on it!"
With button presses and switch flipping, Sylver Lightning explodes forwards with great speed. Wander could not stop pacing about Sylvia's ship as it sped through space. As a loving husband, he had to be there for his wife. The pacing only stopped when Sylver finally passed by Buster and pierced Gardenia's atmosphere.
Sylver could barely land before Wander hops out to run to the Leisure Gardens clinic. The receptionist directs him to room 19 and Wander speeds through the halls, dodging any staff that he encountered on his way to the room. The orange-green blur only slowed down to gently turn the door handle to room 19 not wanting to create a loud disturbance.
Opening the door, he beholds Beep Boop, Beeza, and some Leisurian nurses gathering around a tall, green-skinned figure. Beep Boop, Beeza, and the nurses all turn to face Wander but say nothing as Wander approaches the tall figure who had her back to him. Finally, Dominator turns to face Wander as well, her pregnant stomach almost gone.
Dominator smiles at Wander, in her arms was something wrapped up in a blanket. Dominator then gets down on one knee signaling Wander to approach. With legs feeling like noodles, Wander got closer.
He had fuzz as orange as Wander's fur. He had big eyes, no nose, no ears, and a small mouth just like Wander. He had a large head and slim body making him look like a spoon just like Wander. He also had sclera colored red like Dominator's eyes rather than white. Wander's eyes then begin to water as Dominator places the baby into his arms.
"It's official. We're parents" Dominator whispers.
Wander looked like he was ready to burst into joyful tears while suffering a rapturous paralysis.
"He's adorable, buddy" Sylvia compliments taking pictures with her phone.
"I- can't feel- my legs" Wander struggles to say.
"You can't feel your legs? In that case" Dominator says trying to take the baby back. "Let go, Wander."
"D-don't take my b-baby" Wander mutters refusing to let go.
"He's my baby too!.. Fine" she says picking Wander up. Now both Wander and her child were in her embrace.
"..I'm sorry I couldn't be here sooner" Wander says finding Dominator's arms reassuring. "Hope delivery wasn't too tough."
"It was over quick" Dominator shrugs. "Did it standing up, even!"
"It's true" Beeza adds. "Our nurses had never seen a faster delivery" she says as the nurses nod.
"Wow" Wander emits. "I was trying to buy a stroller for our child when I got the news."
"A stroller?" Dominator repeats and Wander nods. "Pffft, I could easily build one."
"You can?"
"Of course. I built a ship and army didn't I?" Dominator asks. "Better stroller than even the best money can buy."
"...I love you. Dee" Wander confesses.
"I know that. No need to get all mushy... Just kiss me."
Beep Boop, a teary-eyed Sylvia, Beeza and all others in the room admire the beautiful sight before them: the beautiful sight of mother and father locking lips while the new life they brought to the world smiled up at them from the safety and loving embrace of his parents' arms.
