Wander over Yonder Season 3-51
Dominator was dressed in all orange and sitting in a jail cell. Not out of necessity or of conscious decision but rather as a prisoner. The long, destructive trail she had left in her wake had finally caught up to her and she had been taken in by a newly-formed group named Deterring of Unbecoming Mischief for Corrective Enforcement; DUMCE for short. Her apprehension had taken place not long after her ship and army had been destroyed by Lord Hater.
"Don't worry, Dominator. We're gonna get ya the best criminal defense money can buy!" Wander assures standing just outside of Dominator's cell.
"Wander, you're still sticking around?" Dominator asks half amused, half annoyed by the star nomad's persistence.
"Of course I am! I see you need help and I want to help!"
"And why are you here?" Dominator asks a Sylvia standing beside Wander.
"I just wanna see ya rotting behind bars" Sylvia says happily.
"Sylvia!" Wander gasps.
"What? She deserves to rot in a cell! She destroyed the galaxy, remember?" Sylvia says swiftly.
"Everyone deserves a second chance" Wander says.
"Visiting hours are done" a guard notifies loudly.
Later in the week, Wander shows up again with some not-so-good news.
"Well, I've looked up every law firm in the galaxy and not one wanted to take your case" Wander says.
"Shocking" Dominator responds flatly.
"Not to worry" Wander says pulling a large book out of his hat. "Been studying non-stop for the last couple of days! I shall represent you!"
"Oh goody" Dominator deadpans as Wander pulled a suit and tie out of his hat.
-=episode title=-
THE TRIAL
-=episode title=-
With wrists and ankles chained, Dominator is escorted to the court room by heavily-armed guards, a neatly-dressed Wander sticking close by reviewing several legal documents. She is then seated at the defendant's desk beside Wander with Sourdough and a pair of Beefeaters leading the prosecution at the desk opposite. The jury was a mix of different galaxy residents and in the court audience sat Sylvia watching on half rooting for Wander, half rooting for the prosecution.
"All rise" the court bailiff announces as the judge entered to sit at the head of the court room.
Dominator wasn't sure she was seeing things right. The judge was a giant: tall and imposing but also, atop his shoulders sat two great big butt cheeks. The judge had a butt for a head!
"I-is anyone else seeing this right now?" Dominator asks aloud looking around to find indifferent expressions. She looks at Wander who looked as if restraining an attack of laughter.
"Order! Order! I will have order!" the judge booms hammering away at his desk.
"Oh grop. It talks!" Dominator remarks aloud.
"I will hear no more talking out of turn from you!" the judge complains as Wander grabs gentle hold of Dominator's bicep. "We are here today to ascertain the guilt of defendant 'Lord Dominator'."
Booing and jeering is unleashed by the audience.
"You stink!", "You're the worst!", "Shame on you!", "Throw the book at her!", "Destroy Dominator!"
"Lock her up and throw away the key!" Sylvia joins in.
"Why don't you all bite me!?" Dominator barks at spectators but Wander quickly soothes her with a hand on her shoulder.
Not long after, Sourdough made his opening statement.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury" spoke Sourdough as one of his henchmen held him up on a plate, "I'm sure we're all familiar with the terrible destruction Dominator has sown throughout the galaxy. Now the galaxy looks upon you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, to put this dangerous villainess out of her misery" he implores before returning to his seat.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury" Wander, looking very astute in suit and tie, directed at the jury when it was his turn, "Lord Dominator is not the notorious evildoer she is often portrayed to be. Her deadliness is greatly exaggerated."
"I AM deadly" a Dominator mindful of Wander's efforts mumbles under her breath.
"Also, she is but a symptom" Wander goes on approaching a display board that was covered with a cloth. "She is a tiny cog in the notorious machinery of a greater scheme currently at work in this galaxy. That notorious machinery has been tolerated for far too long" Wander says tearing the cloth away to reveal the galactic villain leaderboard. "Whether we like it or not, we tolerate and in some ways, even encourage villainy in this galaxy. And now we seek to take it all out on one now-defenseless cog while ignoring the machine!"
A brief moment of silence is observed.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I do not seek Dominator's acquittal" Wander reveals. "I simply seek leniency. I humbly seek we give Dominator the chance to acknowledge her misdeeds, pay her dues to society, and to right her wrongs. Thank you."
The first witness called to the stand was Something the So and So.
"Something the So and So" Sourdough begins, "tell us what happened when Dominator brought her ship and armies to your quaint little planet of 'Silicy'."
"She arrived to Silicy and hovered above the planet" Something says rubbing the back of his neck.
"And? What happened next?"
"Her ship drilled into the planet" Something says. "The planet was left in ruin after that, I think."
"Left in ruin. Just like the galaxy she destroyed" Sourdough condemns. "That is all."
It was Wander's turn to question Something the So and So.
"Mr. So and So" Wander says contemplatively. "The planet of Silicy. It is no more?"
"N-no. It's been coming back recently."
"Aah, so it has been healing?" Wander speculates upbeat.
"Yeah" Something the So and So confirms.
"Objection! Calls for speculation!" Sourdough shouts.
"What better authority than Something?" Wander asks.
"Hmm... Overruled" the judge says.
"Thank you..." Wander thanks. "So the galaxy heals no different than our wounds heal with proper care" Wander observes. "Safe to say Dominator's drill was not so devastating?"
"You could say that" Something accepts.
"Thank goodness for that" Wander says happily.
"Thank goodness" Something agrees.
The shark-headed Emperor Awesome was next to be called to the stand.
"Emperor Awesome" Sourdough begins, "you previously attempted to go into business with Lord Dominator, did you not?"
"Yeah, I tried" Awesome confirms.
"And what happened?"
"I was just showing her these killer guns!" Awesome boasts flexing and posing his muscular body. "And she got all angry at me! Went psycho, yo! Covered me in her magma and blasted my sweet ride to bits!"
"Awful! Absolutely awful!" Sourdough condemns. "Cruel even to her business partners."
"Totally" Awesome nods.
"Mr. Awesome" Wander asks when it was his turn, "can you tell us what line of business you are in?"
"You mean besides being sexy?" Awesome asks looking Sylvia's way and winking. Sylvia rolls her eyes.
"Y-yes" Wander says keeping on a professional veneer.
"I land on planets and rock out 'til the light's out! Woo!" Awesome exclaims.
"Keep it down, Mr. Awesome" the judge disciplines calmly. "I will have no outbursts in this court room."
"Yo, my bad" Awesome says.
"Rock out?" Wander poses. "You are a competitor in the villain leaderboards?"
"Yeah" Awesome confirms. "Isn't everyone?"
"And the business you sought to enter with Dominator was in what?"
"Conquering the galaxy~!" Awesome answers singing and kicking the air.
"Order! Order!" the judge demands hammering away. "I said no outbursts in this courtroom!"
"Yo. My bad" Awesome excuses.
"Conquering the galaxy" Wander ponders. "Seeking ascent on the villain leaderboards?"
"Duh!" Emperor Awesome confirms. "All villains wanna be top shark."
"ALL villains want TOP SPOT in this ubiquitous leaderboard as established previous" Wander remarks aloud. "Nothing further."
Lord Hater was next called to the stand.
"Lord Hater" Sourdough says eyeing up the witness.
"Sandwich" Hater says smirking.
"That's Sourdough!" Sourdough shouts angrily. "M-my apologies" he says spotting the judge readying his gavel. The sandwich then clears whatever it had for a throat. "Lord Hater, describe your relationship with Lord Dominator."
"She's an ex-girlfriend" Hater replies. "Got super jealous other women were after me so I had to dump her."
Dominator makes to object but Wander holds her back. Wander then points out the reactions going around the court room: no one believed Hater for a second.
"Dohohohoho~!" Sourdough laughs. "Always the comedian, ohohoho... But seriously, what is your relationship with Dominator?"
"Bitter rival" Hater says with expression souring. "She didn't want to date me!"
"Does anyone?" Sourdough asks with a sneer.
"Y-yeah, of course!" Hater quickly claims. "I have a whole binder full of ladies wanting to 'date the hate'!"
There was a long silence in the court room.
"Do you, really?" Sourdough probes further.
"Yeah but I'll never show you or anyone else so stop asking!" Hater explodes.
"Objection. Relevance" Wander says before the judge could beat his gavel.
"Sustained" the judge responds.
"Oh, you're no fun" Sourdough aims at Wander before returning to Hater. "Besides not dating you, tell us what Dominator has done to you."
"She took the ring of power that was rightfully mine. She destroyed my sweet HateRV" Hater listed off. "I sung and danced for her and she wasn't there to hear or see it!" he nearly shouts.
"All that unacknowledged, unappreciated effort. You poor thing" Sourdough pities before Wander's turn.
"Mr. Hater" Wander starts, "you mentioned a binder full of ladies wanting to 'date the hate', yes?"
"Y-yeah" Hater says trying to keep his cool.
"So what's so bad about one rejection for a gentleman in high demand such as yourself?" Wander questions.
Hater didn't know how to answer the question and, upon hearing a few giggles from some Watchdogs in the audience, immediately zaps his disrespectful henchmen.
"Order! Order! Lord Hater, I will not have that in my court!" the judge reprimands beating his gavel. "Don't do it again!"
"I won't ya butt head" Hater growls under his breath.
"What was that!?"
"I-I'm sorry, won't happen again" Hater says more clearly.
Wander continues. "The dating scene can be merciless but all have a right to date and not date as they please."
Hater lets out a reluctant grumble of agreement.
"And this ring of power, you and countless others were after it, right? Not just you and Dominator, right?"
"Yeah" Hater says crossing his arms.
"One wins some, loses others... And didn't you willingly hand over the HateRV to Dominator?" Wander asks reviewing his notes.
"S-so?" Hater says gritting his teeth.
"If it's hers, she's free to do with it as she pleases" Wander reasons. "And you sung and danced for her and she missed it? She's under no obligation to listen to your song."
"She should listen to my song! I worked hard on it!" Hater shouts angrily.
"Order! Order!" the judge exclaims. "I'm warning you, Hater!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah" Hater mumbles sulking.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, all is fair in love and war" Wander concludes. "Nothing further."
The court case continued with further questions put to other witnesses such as Kragthar, General McGuffin, and Little Bits who tried to hypnotize the jury to the annoyance of the judge. There was even an attempt to bring Sylvia in but she refused to take sides. Jury then retired for deliberations.
Wander and Dominator sat themselves at the same cafeteria table during this time. Tea is prepared.
"I think we did pretty well" Wander says while reviewing a few more notes. "Tea?"
"Why?" Dominator says simply.
"Why? Tea's good for your throat and it quenches thirst" Wander says sipping.
"No, I mean why do you care about what happens to me?" Dominator asks.
"Why not?" Wander says. "I think everyone deserves a second chance. Especially someone who only needed a friend all along."
"I-I didn't need a friend! I already had l-lots of friends!" a flustering Dominator defends.
"Yes, you do. I'm your friend!" Wander says giving the villainess a hug.
"Aaah! G-get off!" Dominator growls but her body doesn't immediately respond. A curious little warm tickle in the pit of her chest was keeping her from immediately tossing Wander off.
"As you wish" Wander says releasing his hug.
"G-good" Dominator approves though not as readily as she thought she would. "Y-you better have!"
"Isn't this just sweet?" Sourdough mocks from atop his plate, his muscular Beefeaters crowding around him. "Enjoying your last few moments of freedom, Dominator?"
"As a matter of fact, I am!" Dominator quips.
"Of course she is" Wander replies. "And I'm sure she'll serve her sentence out rightfully and truthfully."
"You'll both see" Sourdough angers, "Dominator's date is with a death ray! She will never stain this galaxy with her bile ever again! Aahahahahaha~!" the sandwich laughs before being carried away triumphantly.
"Just wanted to laugh at us, the stupid sandwich" Dominator growls.
"Don't worry, Dominator" Wander soothes patting Dominator's shoulder. "I'm sure it'll all work out."
"Y-yeah" Dominator agrees finding Wander's touch reassuring.
When the jury was done with deliberations, all were summoned back to the court room for ruling.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asks in a loud, clear voice.
"We have, your honor" a jury member answers.
"Very good. All rise for the verdict" the judge instructs and all direct their attention to the jury box.
"We the jury find the defendant..."
What felt like a long pause follows. All but Wander would be on the edge of their seats if they were in fact currently sitting, Wander looking forwards confidently.
"Guilty!"
"Not surprised. After all, I'm a bad bit-" Dominator says while her words are drowned out by the many villains in attendance erupting into cheers.
"Yes! I win!" Sourdough celebrates. Hater and Peepers high five. Little Bits fires a blaster into the ceiling. Something the So and So was unsure he should be celebrating while Mandrake the Malfeasant lifts his staff into the air before having to hunch over again. Emperor Awesome busts some moves and tries to pull Sylvia into a dance before she shoves him away.
While Sylvia wanted to support her friend, she also wanted to see Dominator punished for her crimes thus her celebrations were not as loud as all others. All the while, Wander did not look shaken at all by the verdict.
"Yes! YES!" Hater bellows belatedly. "Now for the sentencing!"
"Lord Dominator, for your crimes against this galaxy, I sentence you to..."
What felt like another long pause follows. All were now on the edge of their seats if they were in fact currently sitting. Even Wander was tense, hoping for leniency while many of Dominator's rivals were hoping for most severe punishment.
"Two months community service!"
"Yes!" Wander cheers but beneath an uproar of anger and protest.
"You can't be serious!" Sourdough exclaims.
"This is an outwage!" Little Bits screeches.
"Bro, you for real?" Emperor Awesome asks.
"These courts don't punish like they used to" Mandrake the Malfeasant complains.
"WHAT!?" Hater roars.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Peepers protests.
There was great dissatisfaction throughout the court room compelling the judge to beat his gavel.
"Order! Order!" the judge demands amid rising anger. "Wh-what I meant to say was, uhh, three months of community service? Is that better?"
"You better have!" Little Bits says haughtily.
"Now we're talking" Emperor Awesome says.
"Music to my ears" Mandrake the Malfeasant celebrates.
"Now that's more like it!" Hater says crossing his arms.
Peepers, in disbelief, smacks his forehead at the gullibility in the court room.
"NO!" Sourdough shouts. "You should have had her blasted into a star's core!"
"I don't know, that seems a little harsh" the judge says casually. "Whatever the case, I have passed sentence. Good day."
"Much appreciated, your honor" Wander thanks with toothy smile before taking Dominator by the hand and making to exit.
"Not so fast" Sourdough says having his Beefeaters block the exit. "Lord Dominator will be destroyed! If I must do it myself, so be it!"
"I'd like to see you try!" Dominator barks readying icy and fiery claws that threaten to snap her restraints.
"I don't think you want to do that" Wander advises as court guards quickly deploy to thwart Sourdough's actions.
"Why? You think simple court goons can stop me!?" Sourdough asks.
"No but Dominator has lost all her planets and is no longer a threat. You distract yourself with her while your contemporaries have perfect opportunity to take your holdings? Not a wise move" Wander says aloud.
"Hey, we do! Don't we?" Awesome acknowledges before the villains in the court room look at each other and quickly leave through other exits.
"GGrrrr! You clever little, orange cretin!" Sourdough growls. "Oh no you don't! Beefeaters! Move out!" and the sandwich had soon also departed.
With villains gone, Wander turns back to Dominator.
"So Dee, let's get you started on giving back to the community!" the star nomad says with the widest of smiles.
"Yeah, let's" Sylvia says handing Dominator a shovel while wearing a grin of her own.
"...I'm still a threat" Dominator reminds with a grumble.
Dominator was transported via prison ship to her destination where she was to serve a fraction of her sentence: a village that had suffered a recent mud slide where she was to shovel up all said mud. Cold, dirty, heavy, sticky mud was not pleasant to work with. Not the type to back down from challenge, Dominator stabbed at heavy mud with little complaint.
"Now this is a show!" Sylvia lauds relaxing in a bubble above. "Ya missed a spot!"
"Shut it, Zbornak!" Dominator growls amid heavy effort.
"Wander, bust out some snacks! This is entertainment" Sylvia says. "...Wander?" Looking beside her, Sylvia does not find Wander and instead spots him down below helping Dominator shovel the mud. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Why are you following me around?" Dominator asks the star nomad.
"I just wanna help, of course" Wander says readily. "Never hurts to help!"
"...Whatever!" Dominator rolls her eyes getting back to work which went on with mud caking Dominator up to just below her knees at times but now, Dominator had Wander to help.
"I got this area, Dee!" Wander says one moment. "Already cleaned that area up" he says another. "Put these under your shoes so you don't sink into the mud" Wander says gifting Dominator shoe accessories. "Your hands are cold! Here's some gloves that should help warm them up" Wander says gifting Dominator thick gloves.
Dominator had said very little in response. She was unsure what to make of the little orange nomad who insisted on helping and struggled to say a simple 'thank you' when it was merited the most.
"So Dominator, you've been at it for some time now. Why not take a break?" Wander says pointing towards a mud-free area equipped with comfortable-looking sofa chairs.
"..Sure. I'll do that" Dominator agrees dropping the shovel and having a seat. "Whoa!" she lets out after the chair reveals itself to be a recliner with soft cushions and a foot rest. She hadn't realized how much her feet needed a rest until after the foot rest had lifted them up. "Wow. This actually feels nice! I could nap in this" she thought as her attention found its way to Wander who was still shoveling mud. "What an idiot! Does he think he's getting on my good side? Ha! As if! I don't need him! I don't need anyone!" she almost exclaims but wisely decides against it. "Some shut eye is what I need" she continues thinking as she gets herself comfortable.
"A thank you would be nice!" Sylvia's voice suddenly cuts in.
"And what if I don't? What are you gonna do about it?" Dominator challenges.
"Guess who put these chairs here" Sylvia says. "Wander did. With a little talk, I can get him to stop being so helpful."
"Y-you're bluffing" Dominator says trying to mask a struggling resolve.
Sylvia simply offers a sly smile before calling for her friend. "Hey Wander!"
"Yes, Syl?" Wander replies in the distance.
"Dominator wanted to say thank you" Sylvia claims and without another word, Wander was quick to run up.
"Did you really?" Wander asks Dominator all while his orange fur had bits of mud decorating it.
"Y-yeah" Dominator says rigidly. "You've been very helpful" she adds not wanting Sylvia to take him away. "Th-thank you."
"Aww, you're very welcome!" Wander says giving Dominator a hug. "Well. Back to work for me!"
"Now was that so hard?" Sylvia asks after Wander begins shoveling anew. "...Hey! I'm talking to you!"
"Wh-wha-?" Dominator says looking lost.
"You spacing out on me?" Sylvia asks strictly.
"I'll space out if I feel like it" Dominator says defiantly.
"Space out all you want but only for an hour. After that, you're getting back to work!" Sylvia orders.
"Shut up! You're biting into my break time!" Dominator growls getting comfortable in her chair again.
Close to dragging out the discussion further, Sylvia instead breathes out of her nostrils aggressively like a grumpy bull. With some quiet restored, all Dominator could hear was the sound of Wander shoveling mud in the distance. Before she closed her eyes to nap for a bit, Dominator watches Wander hard at work and felt sincerely grateful. This after she had enjoyed Wander's hug more than she thought she would.
Author's note: as I write this, I'm thinking Wander and Sylvia would accompany Dominator as they traveled the galaxy with the purpose of Dominator serving out her sentence. A fun idea but alas, one cannot stay indecisive forever.