Summary: An AU starting at the end of "The Rider". Lord Dominator sees an opportunity in Wander's vulnerable state and takes it. After all, she would like the…intimate company.

Wander was walking somberly through the endless deep space, his pace almost at a turtle's speed. His green, floppy hat, which was normally found on top his head, was now clutched tightly in his hand.

Normally, traveling through space didn't bother Wander, even during the times he was all alone. The darkness and unknown that bothered and scared so many others had never caused Wander any fear (and even if it had at one time, that fear had long since eroded away with more experience). But now…

Now that he was all alone, now that he had been practically abandoned by his partner, now that he had been cast out like garbage by someone he considered his friend…

Well, space definitely felt much more lonely.

Otherwise, Wander felt completely numb and emotionally detached from reality. He didn't want to face the possible reality that he had LITERALLY JUST lost Sylvia, his best friend of many good years, to a morally questionable partner. The very idea, even at the farthest corner of his mind, was enough to make the nomad like his world was going to crash around him.

After about 15 minutes of walking in his orbble bubble, Wander found a relatively small, out of the way planet he could rest at. In Wander's opinion, it looked kind of depressing with such a dull grey color scheme, but Wander was quick to mentally reprimand himself.

'It ain't the planet's fault it doesn't look like other planets. Besides, it probably has a lot of other things to offer…maybe there's a little village that needs helpin'!' This thought brought a new sense of hope to Wander's eyes, and he quickened his speed towards the planet.

After a minute or two, the space nomad had walked so close to the planet's Rocky surface that he was floating only 3 feet from the ground. Cautiously, Wander slowly popped the bubble with his finger and bent his knees as he fell to the ground. Wander easily recovered his balance, everso agile, and straightened his posture as he gazed around at the landscape.

"Wowie, not a soul in sight…" Wander murmured to himself. Honestly, the planet looked even worse than from space; there was nothing but Gray, barren rock and large craters for miles And miles, with a sky full of dark, angry clouds…

"Th-this is okay, I'm-I'm fine!" Wander said to himself, griping and moving his hat around in his hands. "Don't be negative, just…look on the bright side Wander. I mean, you're…still alive, that's one thing! Oh, and you helped those people with their fruit carts and helped Rider's friends find Rider-oh, but…then they tried to kill us, oh!"

Unconsciously, Wander walked over to a nearby crater and hopped onto the edge as he talked to himself. He looked straight at the ground, trying to think about more positives in his situation. Had he ever finished helping that tiny family unpacking their stuff? That could probably count as…

All of the sudden, all of the emotions the nomad had bottled up the whole time hit Wander full force, something he could only liken to being hit by a runaway train at 200 miles per hour.

"Sylvia, she…she left me…she really left me…" Wander whispered, the dam of tears he had been holding back now coming down in heavy streams. A guttural cry emitted from him as his hands went to his face, automatically wiping the falling tears away. This left his green hat to fall on the ground, its brim curved in a way that made it seem like it was frowning.

Wander didn't like showing this emotion, he didn't like feeling this sadness at all. Even when no one was there to see him cry or mull over such melancholy thoughts, the wanderer had always refused to feel sad. It had always made him feel so helpless when his emotions were so raw And in the open, something he never wanted anyone to see.

In a way, this had been coming for a while. After all, no one can stay happy forever…

Wander continued to sob for 5 minutes straight, his weeping the only sound on the entire planet.

Now…now Wander*hic*, don't be selfish…" Wander began, sobs still racking through his body as he forced his hands to his sides. "If Sylvia wants to have hard-core, violent, inconsiderate space adventures with someone like Rider, then you gotta let her! You…you'll just have to find another partner…someone strong…and smart…and brave! Someone who, though they act all tough, has a cream center of goey-goodness!

And then, when you inevitably get yourself into trouble, they'll always find a way to get you out of it, no matter how bad things seem!

…I mean, that wouldn't be so hard…right?"

Silence was Wander's answer, and after a few moments the star nomad resumed his crying. He didn't even notice the person coming up towards him, slowly, silently, and cautiously. The person picked up Wander's hat from the ground and brushed the dust off of it, twirling it around before saying anything.

"Hey, I think you dropped this." To Wander, the voice seemed to come out of nowhere, which (naturally) scared the freaking crud out of him. He didn't respond at first, his throat still raw from crying. The person didn't seem to mind that, and instead they sat next to the nomad, hugging him close and stroking his head as if he was a close friend.

The two stayed like this for a while, with the person sometimes murmuring 'it's alright to cry' and 'just let it out'. Eventually, Wander found the strength to pull away, a smile finding its way on his lips.

"T-thanks for…you know, helping me friend." "No problem, bud, happy to help!" The woman said, a warm smile on her face and whoa she's really beautiful.

Wander found himself staring in shock at the person who had come to comfort him, not sure whether or not she was real. She was a tall, curvy humanoid girl, most likely in her early 20s, unlike anyone he had seen in his travels. She had light green skin that was sprinkled with pink freckles on her cheeks, white, shoulder length hair that was lopsided to her right, and eyes with striking electric pink sceleras that were accented with tear drop shaped mascara. Her outfit was quite colorful, with a short sleeved blouse splashed with patches of blue, green, orange, and cream colors, a cream colored pair of trousers, and copper, ankle high boots.

"What're ya staring at, sweetie?" The woman asked, not at all snappy but more…flirtatious perhaps?

"N-nothing! It's just…well…" What could Wander say? 'Your outfit doesn't look right for a traveler'? That would be just rude, especially after she just comforted him. "…Well, I never got your name!"

The woman gave a lopsided smile, arms in her lap. "I go by…quite a few names. But you can call me Genesis."

"Why that's a lovely name! Folks call me Wander!" Genesis giggled at his enthusiasm, excited herself that he was more lively. After this fit of giggling passed, Genesis took the initiative to ask a question she had just thought of.

"So, Wander, are you waiting for anyone?"

"…Well, no actually." Wander bit his lip as he said this, trying not to get himself crying once again. "I was traveling with someone before, her name was Sylvia, but she left me pretty recently. Just now actually."

"Wow, that explains why you're so devastated!" Genesis exclaimed, sympathy clear in her tone. For a moment, she was silent, and Wander wondered if he should just get going.

"Well, I should probably go and-" "Why don't we travel together?" Genesis interjected as Wander reached for his hat still gripped in the girl's hand. The nomad almost froze at the offer: did she really mean that?

"Are…you sure? I…have a tendency to find trouble where ever I go. And by that I mean I almost get killed at every planet by a villain trying to destroy me." Wander expected to see the green-skinned girl change her mind when he admitted this. Instead she just shrugged nonchalantly: "Whatever, I've had that happen to me in a couple of galaxies too. Besides, I can handle a couple of baddies."

Genesis stood up, plopping Wander's hat on top of his head before intertwining her hand with his and pulling him onward. "Come on, my ship is nearby! It'll only take a few minutes to get there."

"Oh, okay…" Wander felt kind of uneasy at the idea of getting into an unfamiliar ship with a stranger he just met. Of course, trusting as he is, this only lasted a moment before Wander excitedly followed, any sadness he had before being pushed away by the thought of traveling with a brand new friend.

'Wow, I can't believe it was so easy to convince him to do this!"' Genesis, AKA Lord Dominator, thought as Wander followed her closely behind, like a trained dog on a leash. Oh yes, this would be fun…