Old Derf

credit: Sam Booker

Born Derf Dinkleson and also known variously as Young Derf, Old Derf, Older Derf and Oldest Derf, Old Derf is a Zima warrior for the fresh side of The Space. The Crew first meets Old Derf on Asteroid 951-N located in the Krin-Kryn Belt, where he has been waiting for Pleck, as it was foretold by the prophecy of the Zima Scrolls that Pleck was "The One". They later encounter Old Derf at various locations including a shopping mall, a wedding, and at a zoo. He has a wife and children, including Derf Jr., that he leaves behind on the asteroid.

## Abilities

Old Derf is wise to the mysterious ways of The Space including how The Space works and the contents of the Zima Scrolls. He is able to use The Space to resurrect himself after dying and to communicate telepathically across vast distances and planes of existence. He serves as a somewhat reluctant trainer and impatient mentor, or Papa, to Pleck. In spite of his age, he is also fairly agile and enjoys performing simple gymnastic feats.

Apart from his skills as a Zima Knight, Old Derf also has knowledge and experience in the fields of asteroid mining, dentistry, catering, clowning, and zookeeping.

## Appearances

### Episode 115: The Space Awakens

The Crew goes on a mission to serve as arbitrators in a dispute between miners on Asteroid 951-N. After he introduces himself, Pleck is told by the miners that Old Derf has been looking for him. Pleck travels to Old Derf's cabin where he meets Derf. Old Derf explains to Pleck, that Pleck is an avatar for the Fresh side of The Space and that his name appears in the prophecies of the sacred texts. It is foretold that Pleck will unite the two sides of The Space to bring about galactic peace. After gifting Pleck with a wood saber, Old Derf agrees to join Pleck and leaves his family behind, only saying goodbye to Derf Jr. Aboard Bargie, Old Derf is met with doubt and hostility by Pleck's crewmates. After a brief training session, Old Derf says he has faith in Pleck and advises him to look out for Nermut Bundaloy, the avatar of the whack. Old Derf says goodbye, walks out of Bargie's airlock and disappears without a trace.

### Episode 118: The Delegator

While aboard the Delegator, Pleck and Dar encounter a garrison of C.L.I.N.T.s in their attempt to rescue Nermut. As he prepares to battle the C.L.I.N.T.s, Pleck hears the disembodied mystical voice of Old Derf telling him to "keep it fresh, Pleck."

### Episode 216: Oh, Zima's Back

The crew travels to the Tiger Nebula Strip Mall on a mission to get info on the Planet Crusher Crusher from Zwog Tambouie. Finding Zwog's furniture store is now a Pierce Anything, the crew makes its way to the Blue Julius where they find Old Derf, now going by Older Derf working the counter. Older Derf quizzes Pleck about his training and is upset to hear that Pleck has lost the scrolls that he gave Pleck. Old Derf gives Pleck more information about Pleck's destiny in battling the Emperor to save the universe. Old Derf finds that Pleck has been working on a song, and mistakenly believing it is a song that will help rally forces in his battle against the Wack, Derf convinces Pleck to perform at the Mall's food court. Old Derf sets himself on fire because Pleck's song was so embarrassing. Later back on the ship, Pleck returns to his quarters to discover Beano has found a box containing Derf's ancient scrolls. Old Derf's disembodied voice contacts Pleck encouraging him to read the scrolls.

### Episode 311: Prime the Pipe

In an ad break, Old Derf communicates from the beyond and apologizes for missing the last book club due to the fact that the wedding guests at his most recent catering gig tore him apart. Currently, and concurrently with working to reconstitute himself into physical form, he is reading a sci-fi book from Tor Books which he welcomes as a break from the exhausting conflict of Fresh vs. Wack. He apologizes he can't bring the wine to the next book club and advises letting the lemon lime soda go flat and calling it a 'vinho verde'.

## Trivia

* In 2010, Justin Tyler and Alden Ford worked together in *The Webventures of Justin and Alden*, a YouTube web miniseries.
* Old Derf appears to be able to also repair the Dinglehopper after it breaks in Pleck's first training session.
* Old Derf has on multiple occasions attempted to explain the metaphysics of The Space using the urethra as a metaphor

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The Space Awakens
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Oh, Zima's Back
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 One Wedding and a Funeral
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Same Shit, Derfrent Day
5. ↑ Prime the Pipe
6. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/thetridenttv