I-Visions Boston '99
"Love, Do You Remember?"
PROLOGUE:
"Enter the Hero"
It was Wednesday. It was about 8 PM. Mr. Pause had called. I was listening to my ROBOTECH CD. He told me that three new guest had been added... another Playmate, Byron (Mr. Keegan, in the background, began singing Byron's teep song), and someone else. He paused. I mind jumped to the conclusion. I was wrong. It wasn't who I expected, but it was strangely fitting. It was Marcus.
I didn't have proper time to prepare to meet Jason Carter. I bought my first Marcus figure last year, when I got my Ivanova one signed. I new that the Marcus one would come in handy... someday.
ACT I:
"Before the Dawn"
I woke at 5 AM on Saturday July 24th.
I delivered the newspapers, something that I soon hope to abandon.
I set a tape for BEAST WARS.
I put on my convention clothes. Originally, I was going to wear a nice shirt I picked up last year. The words IVANOVA IS GOD were written across the front, with a big 5 on the back. Well, I didn't wear it this year because of the absence of Ivanova.
I knew in advance that I needed a different shirt. I knew that both Warwick Davis and Ray Park were going to be there. I knew that both of them had a copy of a shirt made by Randy Martinez. It's a simply white shirt with Lucas, lightsabre in hand, riding on the back of an N-1 bombing the Titanic. I thought that it would be perfect. I ordered the shirt. I ordered two weeks before June 19th. I'd get it in time for Fan Day. Well, I didn't. I didn't get it in time for Fan Day II, either. I still don't have it. Mr. Martinez has my money, but he's not making up more shirts until he gets more orders. I was VERY upset. I WAS. It's a mute point now, though. I'm glad that I didn't get it yet.
I needed a third choice for a shirt. I had my FFVII shirt from last year, but that's in my museum with all the other shirts I've worn to conventions. Sad, I know. There's the shirt I wore to the premiere of EPISODE ONE, but I can't wear that. There's the tie dye TPM shirt. Maybe. Then, there's my ROBOTECH shirt. I've only worn it once before... to a sneak preview of Wing Commander that DFFQI attended. I decided on the ROBOTECH shirt.
I checked my backpack. I had the EPISODE ONE script to be signed by Mr. Park and Davis and the Marcus figure. I'd get something there for Mr. Mumy to sign, preferably a figure.
We left.
ACT 2:
"People to Meet and Miles to Go"
The ride to Boston was long. I had feelings of uneasiness. I wasn't sure about something.
I kept thinking about what to say to Jason Carter. I came up with nothing.
Just before getting to the Bayside Expo Center, we passed a storage building. On its side the words FORTRESS SECURITY: MUSEUM QUALITY STORAGE were written. It was a tall windowless grey box. Gear.
ACT 3:
"Welcome to Babylon 5... Please dock in Bay 3."
We arrived at the convention at 8:20 AM, about 20 minutes after it started.
As we approached the Expo Center, we saw a grand gentleman putting on his Jedi robes and a corpulent woman putting on her Queen Amidala gear.
Right before entering, we saw a disheveled old woman in a Starfleet uniform nursing a cigarette. She's one of the organizers of the event.
We walked passed the lines, already having our tickets. We entered. My pupils dilated as I gazed across the cavernous warehouse size rooms filled with activity.
We filled out our survey cards, insuring a brochure for next year's con.
My father said goodbye and went his merry way.
I stood there and stumbled through my first steps.
As my head turns to take in the vista, I choked.
ACT 4:
"Satai"
There, sitting next to a temporary wall of black fabric was man.
He was a normal man.
He wore a light long-sleeve black shirt over a thin T-Shirt. The black shirt had an emblem sown into its right shoulder. It was a patch.
It was an Anla'Shok patch.
It was a Ranger patch.
His T-Shirt had a strange image on it. It was reminiscent of the LucasArts logo. It was a stick figure with a vertical line next to him.
A Ranger?
A Ranger holding a Minbari Fighting Pike?
The man's hair was short and black, uncombed.
He seemed small and thing.
He was a normal man.
He laughed.
He joked.
He smiled.
His voice was booming and British.
I choked.
It was Marcus.
It was Marcus.
Ranger Marcus Cole.
Ranger Marcus Cole for Arisia Colony.
If only you knew everything. If only you knew what has taken place. If only you knew what Marcus, Ivanova, and Lennier mean to me.
I stood there.
There was Marcus Cole.
Alive.
Thin.
Small.
Alive.
Before I could make sense of it any further, my primitive ape survival instincts kicked in.
I ran.
ACT 5:
"Five Miles Long."
I walked the length of the dealer's room.
My first thoughts were of its size. This was not right. It was TOO expansive. There was no flow. There was no order. There were no central meeting hubs. There were no rules.
In past years, dealers were kept in check by the fact that there were others selling the same merchandise. They knew that they couldn't sell things for exuberant prices.
All bets were off.
The convention was TOO big. People couldn't make sense of the floor plan and lay out. You could see anything for any price. It was a maze. It was a labyrinth.
I began walking the entire floor.
I made a map, subconsciously.
I learned where everything was in relative location to each other.
I knew the room.
ACT 6:
"Leviathan"
Still early, I walked the tables and booths.
As I strolled, something caught my eye.
Transformers.
I saw the little hovercraft that my mother threw away years ago. I smiled.
I looked over the crowded market place. It was well over the size of the average booth. It was easily three tables long. Behind the three tables were three greasy dealers. Behind them were stacks of unopened toys.
At the left end of the table, near the ground, was something that hit me like a defolding VF-11 ThunderBolt.
Macross toys.
US Valkyries circa 1985. US sold mecha. I smiled. A man approached behind me and picked up one of the two boxes. He took the red on. I hugged the white one.
A greasy dealer spoke.
The red one was $100.
The white one was $80.
No.
No.
That couldn't be right.
Above the Valkyries was a large Transformers box. It was the fabled Valkyrie packaged as a Transformer from years ago. I dared not ask the price.
My sad eyes saw an opened Valkyrie on the busy table.
I pointed to it and asked.
$80.
My eyes looked down, toward the floor.
That was where I saw something.
Original unopened ROBOTECH figures. I had never seen them before. Small stickers showing a price of $3.99 were on the corners.
I found Lisa, Miria, and Rick.
I proceeded to buy them.
"$15," the dealer spoke.
Sure.
I'll pay.
"$15 each," the vile dealer grinned.
I mumbled something about just getting the Lisa fig. I then said that I'd be back later. It was a lie.
I ran.
It truly was a dealer's market.
ACT 7:
"The Sun is Rising"
A walked the tables.
There, behind one, was a familiar face. She was there the last two years. She slightly resembled Neve Campbell... slightly. I threw money at her the first year to purchase a Refit-Galaxy class schematics sheet. The second year, I bought "Taboo" and an Ivanova standee from her.
This year, I'd continue to patronize her table.
The familiar patches were hung. Later.
There, in the center of the booth, we CDs. Where I rummaged for "Taboo" the year before, I purchased the "Sleeping in Light" soundtrack. It was one of only two remaining.
ACT 8:
"Hello, Old Friend"
With the CD in my backpack, I wandered. I was was looking for Mr. Stephen Pause. This hunt would continue on for over 45 minutes.
Here I was, surrounded by merchandise that can only be bought here and celebrities that I worship as demigods (snicker, snicker -- it's called foreshadowing), and I was searching out Darth Pause.
Well, I'm not going to go through my hunt minute by minute.
Eventually, though, as I walked the area farthest from the door, there he was.
We spoke.
He inquired about when I arrived, boasting that he was here when the doors open.
He asked if I bought anything, lifting bags of merchandise.
I told him that I got the SIL CD.
He hadn't.
I guided him to the booth, and he bought the last one.
It was there where we parted.
He and his father went one way.
I went the other.
This was a far cry from what I had expected.
I mean, we were supposed to tag team all the celebs. I was supposed to make sure he didn't do anything too weird around Ray Park.
But, before we parted, he told me something.
He spoke.
"Did you see Cartagia?"
ACT 9:
"Sterling."
Hidden away deep into the convention was a small crowded alcove, stuffed end to end with pure import.
I bided my time until there was a break in the spectacle and entered.
The entire back wall was filled with Macross and Gundam kits.
And, they were dirt cheap.
The 15th Anniversary 1/72 scale Valkyrie kits were only $12.
I looked them over. They had several Strike Valkyries, but just as i was preparing to purchase one, a single kit caught my eye.
A MAX type Super Valkyrie.
I bought the kit.
The guy who owned the alcove was nice and understanding. He was a fan. He wasn't a dealer. He loved to build and own these things as much as selling them.
I then noticed a simple, unassuming cardboard box in a corner.
I noticed the contents.
Original ROBOTECH figures circa 1985.
I asked about the price.
$10 each.
That's $5 less than those greasy dealers wanted.
I looked through the box.
He had Roy Fokkers and Max Sterlings!
I noticed that both Lisa and Miria had the same head. Only their hair color was different.
I looked at the Lisas, Ricks, Roys, Mirias, and Maxs. I took the three Maxs that he had and studied their packaging. I bought the best one. Max came with an uzi. The art and sculpting of the figures was horrible, but the fact is that I now own a Harmony Gold ROBOTECH figure.
ACT 10:
"Favor the Bold"
I'd been hiding for far too long.
I approached the area reserved for celebs.
There Playboy playmates lined one wall. It was disturbing to see them chat with eight-year-olds.
There was the Jawa the shot R2. There was Lt. Boomer from BattleStar Galactica. There was Boba Fett's girlfriend from ROJ. There was the Pok'Ma'Ra.
There was the cast of Lost in Space.
There was Bill Mumy. Bill Mumy. Will Robinson. Lennier. Lennier. If only you knew... Lennier.
Well, Mr. Mumy didn't look that much like Lennier today. Imagine a blonde version of Jim Carrey at the 1999 MTV Movie Awards or a thinner Harry Knowles from AICN.
There was also Warwick Davis.
Both Mr. Mumy and Davis had massive lines around them.
Later.
Maybe later.
So, who else was there?
The Incredible Hulk was there.
So were three people very close to my heart.
Robin Atkin Downes (who I had called Rowan Atkin Downes), Robert Krimmer, and the afore mentioned Jason Carter.
There was Byron, Cartagia, and Marcus sitting in a row. Bored.
There they were. I only learned that Marcus and Byron would be here last Wednesday. I only learned Cartagia was here when Pause told me.
Cartagia and Byron, both sitting at empty tables, were maintaining a conversation. They were throwing peanuts and pens at each other.
Cartagia and Byron throwing peanuts into each others mouths.
Just imagine.
I circled the area from a distance, working up the courage.
What to say.
What to say.
The very best that I could come up with for Mr. Downes was, "I really had a love-hate relationship with your character. I didn't know whether to cheer of cry when Byron died."
It was a blatant lie. I hated Byron with every fiber of my being, but it was the best that I could think of.
I didn't say it.
I stood several feet from Robin.
A small Babylon Park standee of their equivalent of Byron was propped up next to him. (A Pok'Ma'Ra standee was next to Mr. Austin)
ACT 11:
"And We Shall All Come Together In a Better Place..."
I stood several feet from Robin.
He looked up and motioned towards me.
He initiated the conversation.
He was either very nice or very bored.
We spoke.
You know, I don't hate Byron all that much any more.
And, Mr. Downes has the warmest smile.
He's a great, great, great guy.
Eventually, we got to the business end of our meeting... the autograph.
He had several sprawled out on his card table.
There was one with him, Pat Tallman, and our favorite doctor, who was pointing at Mr. Downes, smiling.
Another was a shot of all the B5 sets, with Mr. Downes amid the crowds of behind the scenes people.
There was one that was a simple head shot.
He also had the CCG card of Byron for sale.
The final picture was of Byron and Lyta, together.
It was the most expensive he had.
He only had a limited number, as they were signed by Pat Tallman.
I paid the extra $10.
Robin signed the photo, next to Pat's signature.
It reads...
PETER!
ROBIN ATKIN DOWNES
BYRON
He then drew little squiggles and shapes around his name.
After decorating his name to his satisfaction, and since there was no one else there to see him, he drew his rendition of Babylon Park's Byron.
We talked some more
Then, when someone else had arrived to see the now not-so-evil Byron, he signed his name to a photo for her. She snapped a picture of him.
I asked if she could take a picture of the two of us.
She said yes.
See, that's one of the things about cons. You are around people like you. You don't have to hide. In fact, you can be who you really are. There is nothing to fear. No one will mock and heckle you (except a few dealers). There is a real sense of community.
Robin got up, ran his fingers through his hair, stood by my side, placed his hand on my shoulder and smiled.
ACT 12:
"Kill Mollari!"
After saying goodbye to Robin, I walked toward Robert Krimmer.
Again, the actor was the one to initiate the conversation.
I was going over to meet with him, but before I could, he called me over.
I really didn't know what to say to him. "Hi, you know, even though you were evil, I thought that Cartagia was one of the greatest characters" or "Hey, we call a person that we hate 'Cartagia'".
I didn't say either, but we spoke.
We spoke.
And, he was a real person.
Just like Byron, he was a real person.
He was a real person.
We spoke.
He had several pictures, most head shots and photos from his work on soaps.
I didn't care about them.
He was Cartagia.
One photo was of him in full Cartagia gear, sprawled out in his throne.
He signed it...
PETER -
ALL THE BEST!
ROBERT W. KRIMMER
CARTAGIA
B-5
Then, for the obligatory picture with him. It went like the one with Mr. Downes. I asked a female fan behind me.
Cartagia stood beside me, draped his arm around me, and smiled.
ACT 13:
"Before the Storm."
Jason Carter.
Jason "The Quintessential Ranger" Carter.
Jason "Ivanova's Soul Mate" Carter.
Jason "The Coolest Man Alive" Carter.
A small group of female fans were around him as I approached.
As they departed, so did he.
He left, waving his arms, shouting.
"Goodbye! Goodbye! I'm leaving now! I'm going to be on stage now!"
He shouted it with me a foot away, very similar to what Miss Christian shouted last year. And, his table was about 10 feet from and facing where her's was.
"Everybody come! I'm an actor! I need love! Love me! Everybody come! Everybody love me! I need love!"
Jason continued.
"Robin! Come on!"
Jason motioned to Mr. Downes.
I entered the main room. It was easily double the size of the dealer's room.
Jason ran the distance of the vast warehouse room, shouting about loving him.
Now, I am not making this up, as he approached the stage, between 4 and 6 feet above the ground, he planted his feet in mid stride and jumped, back flipping onto the stage.
Mr. Mumy, Downes, Austin, and Krimmer used the stairs.
ACT 14:
"The Tempest"
Bill Mumy, Jason Carter, Robert Krimmer, Robin Atkin Downes, and Stephen Austin sat at a long table.
Robin Atkin Downes was the first to speak.
He told us that they didn't have much time, so he'd have to tell us everything telepathically. He then did do just that.
Mr. Mumy was the next to speak.
He spoke about how he likes Boston and feels like a fan at a convention whenever he goes.
"Sam Adams, I really like your beer. You're a very nice guy."
Mr. Carter shouted "Love me!" again.
Bill then continued his interrupted speech about Boston.
Jason didn't keep up and shouted, "What are you speaking? Minbari?"
Bill then replied, "Enthil Zha."
He continued with, "Understanding is not necessary, only obedience."
He then told us how Jason and Bruce would get into heat political debates which would turn into arguments.
Jason called Bruce "Ghengis Khan and Ronald Reagan" while he was "more of a Socialist."
After a brief squabble between the two, Bill announced that he was going to tell a story.
It's a dark story that he hates but is always asked to tell.
It's about Jason Carter.
It took place during the third season, shorty after Jason joined.
He set it up by informing us that he was the "Messenger of Evil" on the set. Whenever there was bad new, Joe'd let / make him tell the rest of the cast.
Bill said that Joe said that "Jason was getting a little big for his britches."
"I've never ever heard that!" Jason shouted.
"Understanding is not required," Bill replied and continued.
Joe told him to tell Jason that he read the next script and Marcus dies... and that Lennier kills him.
So, Bill went up to Jason and said, "Dude, I'm sorry. It's a war a story."
Bill then did an imitation of Jason, which was a high pitched whiny British accent.
Jason told Bill that he'd do one of him later on.
Bill continued.
He got Claudia and Bruce to help out and "got Jason in a frenzy".
Claudia went up to Jason and pat him on the back.
"I guess the chemistry was not so hot here, babe."
Claudia then trotted off, smirking and laughing her evil laugh.
Now, Jason was upset.
There's a lady who types up the scripts that Joe writes. Jason went to her office to see exactly what had happened.
This is when Jason stood up and shouted, "Were you there? WERE YOU THERE!?!"
"Well, no."
"Then, how can you tell the story if you weren't there!?! How can you!?!"
The two went on shouting.
Mr. Krimmer started singing kumbya. Robin began singing the teep song, "We Shall All Come Together In A Better Place...".
We cheered.
"So..." Bill continued.
There were doing the episode where Delenn becomes head of the Rangers.
Jason got to the woman's office just as she was typing the line "MARCUS steals himself for the death blow."
Jason shouted again.
A fight ensured.
Mr. Krimmer noted that "Jason needed Prozac and that he'd be joining the WWF as the Ranger."
Bill, fed up, left the stage, shouting that he'd be at his table if anyone wanted to here the story.
Jason yelled about him not getting away that easily.
Jason leaped off the stage and ran down the central isle, cutting Mumy off.
The two collided feet away from me. I hope the picture comes out.
A chase ensued.
Yes, a chase insured.
Mr. Krimmer, wanting attention, stood on the table.
Jason continued to chase Bill around the room.
Robin began singing again.
Bill tried to evade Jason by running back across the stage, but it would prove to be the single mistake that would lead to his down fall.
As Bill ran up the stairs, to cut across the stage, Jason ran back down the central isle.
He back flipped up, in mid stride, and caught Bill just as he got to the last step.
The two froze, Jason's hand out stretched in a martial position.
We cheered.
The two sat down, briefly.
Bill asked Jason is his feelings were hurt in a mocking tone and continued the story.
Jason hid under the table.
Bill was laughing with the other cast members when Mira came by, asking what was so funny.
Bill told her.
She replied.
Bill spoke her lines in a barely comprehendible broken English.
"Oh. You are so bad. I though I knew you. I thought I knew you. How do you think he feels? You are very bad. I thought I knew you. You are a mean person. I do not know you. You are very bad. Apologize."
So, Bill went to apologize to Jason, but Jason only felt that Bill was patronizing him.
Eventually, Joe sent Jason a basket of fruit to make up for the little joke.
The basket had a note attached.
It read...
I WOULD NEVER EVER KILL YOU AGAIN
- JOE MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Robin then spoke, before Bill or Jason could snipe at each other again.
He spoke about a dream that he had last night.
He was in bed with a red head with two black eyes.
And... it was Jason Carter.
And... he was frozen.
And... the hair was Bill Mumy's.
He went on to talk about the Byron - Lyta sex scene, which is easily the most unprofessional and worst scene in the entire five year run.
What happened is that the director sat Robin and Pat down and tried to explain to them what was going to happen. He was pretty choked for words and red. He taught them all about the birds and the bees.
Robin pulled him aside and said, "You know, Byron's such a pacifist, do you think that in bed... he could be on top?"
"No."
He went on about how is was like a B movie. The camera man kept rotating around them while another guy kept spraying them.
"It was weird."
The conversation shifted to Robert and about how he got the job.
His agent called him.
Jason, back in his chair, and Bill began fighting again.
This time, it was through whispers and dirty looks.
Jason, however, did stand up and shout to Mumy, "You're a bastard!"
Robin got caught up in both his and Robert's microphone cords, both wrapped around his neck.
Jason did his Bill impression, which seemed to be the standard surfer dude.
Stephen Austin then reminisced about being the Pok'Ma'Ra. Early on (the first three seasons), the Pok'Ma'Ra suit would get hot quickly. After about five minutes, he would pass out.
One time, they were filming a scene. They had been filming for 15 minutes. It was at this point that he began wobbling back and forth.
He heard someone shout, "The Pok'Ma'Ra's going down!", just before he did go down.
Robert told us that Cartagia was based on Barney, not any of the charas he's done on soaps.
A question was asked about a B5 movie.
Jason responded, "Bill ruined all chances for that ever happening."
Bill then fought with Jason.
He then spoke, "Joe really wants to do a feature film of the GREAT TELEPATH WAR... and Joe usually gets what he wants."
Robin and Robert then joked about it being two hours of people just staring at each other.
"Imagine the action."
Then, Crusade was brought up.
Bill spoke about seeing the Peter David episode and he his thoughts were, "... uh"
He doubted that Crusade had a future, due to his absence in the project, but he feels that there WILL be more B5 projects and that it is not dead.
"Joe's writing something for the network now."
Interesting.
Robert dismissed rumors of soap charas being based on Cartagia.
Jason and Bill fought again.
Jason picked up his chair.
When that settled, Mr. Pause asked Bill a question.
He inquired about Lennier's choice.
"I disagreed with the choice that Lennier made. I mean, he'd die for just about any sentient being. He saved Londo's life, and he's just about a Nazi war criminal.
But, it's all Joe. They're all Joe. The characters are all Joe. It's whatever he wants. It's all Joe. All Joe."
He also spoke about it being the last season and that everybody was squatted on at one point during the show.
He was just happy to get the bone off his head.
Bill's inspiration for Lennier was mainly the old series Fung Fu. "Noble and Efficient."
Jason's inspiration for Marcus was Lord of the Rings, Robin Hood, romantic Europe, "and Bill, of course."
Another fight.
Then, it was asked who would win if Marcus or Darth Maul got in a fight
Jason took a breath and contently said, "Seeing as Ray Park isn't here, me."
Stephen Austin then pointed out how everyone at the table was dead except him.
It should be noted that Lennier's death has never been confirmed and that Marcus is frozen.
Also, despite them all being from B5, very few were actually together when filming, due to the timing of their parts and deaths.
Bill wished that Lennier grew hair and that his ears moved up his head.
Jason wished Marcus got new boots. His boots weren't comfortable. He complained but never got new ones.
He also wanted more screen time.
Robin spoke about the episode where the guy punches him in the face three times, each time Byron tells him to hit him again.
Robin just wanted to slug him in the face.
Robert wanted Cartagia to become a god.
Then, a question was asked about mundanes having teep children and teeps having mundane children.
Robin couldn't answer it, but I could.
Once the teep gene is activated, odds are, it stays active. And, if your gene pool is purely teeps, you're gonna keep getting teeps.
Robin also said that Byron is still alive, working the underground.
He then made mention of the early episode with the underground teep railroad, where the teeps fooled Bester.
Wow! Robin knew his B5.
Robert then said that Cartagia is also still alive... and a teep.
Bill then said the Lennier's still alive... and won the war.
ACT 15:
"Hello, my name is Jason Carter. I'll be your Savior."
It was finally time to speak with Jason Carter. The B5 people departed as the Lost in Space cast entered. I bet Old Doctor Smith didn't do no back flip, eh? Bill Mumy stayed on stage.
I went up to Jason.
I bought a large "Rangerman" shirt. I was planning on wearing it, but Jason dug through a bag to give it to me... ie he touched it.
Yeah, I know I'm pathetic.
I got my Marcus figure signed.
It reads...
RORGO ON PETER
JASON CARTER
He then drew his logo, the Rangerman... a stick figure with a staff.
We spoke.
You have no idea just how cool Jason is.
He takes so much pride in being who and what he is.
He is a fan.
He was wearing a Rangerman shirt under his homemade black B5 jacket.
When it came to the photo, again I depended on the kindness of strangers.
Jason got up and put his hand on my shoulder.
The woman took the photo, but Jason wouldn't let go.
There wasn't a flash.
He wanted her to take another.
He insisted that she take another one.
Thank you, Jason.
Thank you.
She took that second one.
Thank you.
ACT 16:
"Thank You"
Thank you.
I don't say "thank you" a lot.
We are defined through the words we use, and the world is defined for us.
Still, words are just words.
It is the meaning and emotion behind them that matters.
I don't say "thank you" much.
But, I said "thank you" to Robin Atkin Downes, Robert Krimmer, and Jason Carter. And, I meant it.
ACT 17:
"Dune"
I wandered the desert that was the Boston Con.
There was still a long time to go and I'd been walking all day.
There was a single other soul wearing a ROBOTECH shirt. His had the bridge crew from MACROSS with the words ROBOTECH CREW across the top. We had a bond. Something could be said about us. We liked ROBOTECH.
There was also a person wearing a FFVII shirt. Its colors were all faded. That's what happens if you wear it constantly. I found that out the hard way.
There was also a tall gentleman at the con dressed in full S:AAB USMC Spacy dress... A black flight suit with all the patches.
Remember that girl who looked something like Neve Campbell?
Well, I went back to her table.
She had a ROBOTECH shirt for sale. There was a large picture of Rick Hunter with images of vehicles from Mospeada surrounding it. There were also some Akira shirts.
I decided it was time to get my patches.
Last year I bought a 58th squadron "Wildcards" patch. As you know, the 58th squadron was the squadron followed in the shortly lived FOX sci-fi series SPACE: Above & Beyond.
This year, I was going to get the "Battle of the Belt" patch.
Only thing, she couldn't find it.
So, I bought a Ranger patch and after some confusion an SG-1 patch.
I went to another table and picked up the SPACE patch.
Next year, I'm getting the "Angry Angel" squadron patch.
ACT 18:
"Sith Lords Kick Ass"
A large group of women had made their presence known throughout the convention. The 20 and 30-year-olds visited dealers in formation. They were here for one reason alone.
They wore black shirts with SITH LORDS KICK ASS written in red across the back.
Well, it would prove to be a dark day for them.
It had been whispered in small pockets right from the start, but it was Jason Carter that first spoke it aloud.
Ray Park canceled.
Ray Park canceled.
No official announcement was ever made.
Convention goers had to find out for themselves.
I would have been crushed.
I should have been crushed.
But, well, Jason Carter, Robert Krimmer, and Robin Atkin Downes more than made up for it.
ACT 19:
"Danger! Danger! Will Robinson!"
As I wandered, I made note of the line length around Mr. Mumy.
Now was the time that it was the shortest.
I stood behind a female fan. She was there with her husband. She was going to take his picture with Mr. Mumy. I asked her if she could also take mine.
Yep.
I exchanged a few words with Mr. Mumy and he then stood beside me and patted me on the back.
Thank you.
Thank you, Satai.
ACT 20:
"Ecco Base"
The far corner of the dealer's room contained one booth filled with buckets of old figs. They had several B5 figs early on. They were all half price.
I happened to look through the bins again. They had Future Spawn figures. $12.50. I remember seeing them in KB Toys long ago. I didn't get one then and I didn't get one now.
Maybe -- Hopefully -- sometime later.
But, I did get something.
I noticed a small Star Wars figure in one of the teal buckets.
It was a Hoth Luke.
It was a Hoth Luke.
I've been searching for a Hoth Luke forever.
I've seen them before for exuberant prices, but this one had a price tag of $6.95. I paid half of that.
I knew I was getting a good deal.
The dealer knew that I was getting a good deal.
He was practically kicking himself as he sold it to me.
ACT 21:
"Crux"
It would be the last time that I saw Pause at the convention. We walked past each other. He mentioned Tomb Raider.
I went to investigate.
There is was.
A Top Cow artist selling some of his wares. One was a Darkness comic with Lara Croft on the back cover. $5 and you'd get all the posters you could ever want.
Alas, the final copy was sold to man who had approached from behind and taken it right out of my hands.
Well, it was he who was the fool.
I asked the friendly neighborhood artist-man if he had any more.
Indeed he did.
He opened a small plastic bag containing his last five.
I bought one and got a Lara Croft poster that can only be described in words I dare not use.
ACT 22:
"Essex Point"
Of course, a large portion of the dealer's room was devoted to bootleg tapes.
Last year, patches were also easy to find, but only two tables sold them this year.
Tapes, however, were even more prominent this year than last.
There was the obligatory Sailor Moon nudity, but there was a lot of other stuff too.
A Japanese Starship Troopers series, The foreign version of the Transformers movie, its sequel, Beast Wars II, the entire ROBOTECH series, and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels could all be had for a price.
There was a tempting B5 Blooper's tape and even a bootleg of BLAIR WITCH.
I was tempted, but didn't purchase any.
Then, I saw something.
A pure and simple tape.
MACROSS: DO YOU REMEMBER LOVE?
This exact same cassette was for sale last year from the same dealer.
I remember.
There was a single copy.
I looked it over and accidentally dropped it, causing a small scuff on the case.
The scuff was still there.
It was the exact same copy that I held one year prior.
The dealer approached me and said that it was normally $39 but on sale for $19.
Yeah, a lie, but I didn't care.
I was wearing a ROBOTECH shirt.
I give him $19.
He told me there was tax.
I gave him another $2.
I didn't care.
He told me that it was never released in the US.
Well, it was.
The fact is, I already owned a legitimate version of the tape, but bought the bootleg anyway.
If I have to justify it, this one was letterboxed.
The opening was also different.
I have learned from Mr. Keegan that Mr. Pause bought a Macross 7 tape at the con. I didn't see any. If I did, I would have surely bought them as well.
How BASIC of me.
ACT 23:
"Private Time"
Things were coming to a close.
It was time to wrap up some loose ends.
As I waited to buy an autograph ticket for Nicole deBoer, a woman tried to make small talk with me about my watch.
I eventually purchased the small orange ticket, just as the disheveled woman in a StarFleet uniform announced that tickets were no longer being sold.
I went to buy a headshot of Nicole for her to sign.
I went back to the table worked by the Neve Campbell.
I stopped and looked at her magazine selection. There was one mag with a brief write up about Rowan Atkinson as Doctor Who. I didn't have that much money left.
I did, however, still purchase a Star Wars Insider, with Natalie Portman cover, and B5 UK mag, with Claudia Christian cover, along with the head shot.
I then went to the far end of the dealer's room to pick up one last thing.
It was another Claudia UK B5 mag. It was the first one that she graced. It was $10.
I looked it over and found the contents to personal to refuse.
I paid the dealer $10 and thanked him.
ACT 24:
"I am become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds"
I sat in the main room, waiting for Nicole.
I watched the autograph auction run down.
Claudia's sold for $10.
I then sat through five prepubescent girls dance to old theme songs.
Eventually, it was time for Nicole deBoer to arrive.
The DS9 theme blared as the assembled masses searched for her.
She was nowhere to be found.
Then, she strolled down the isle next to me, winking as she did.
My father choked.
He told me that he was just outside, smoking, and was standing next to her. He thought that she was just some kid.
He was mistaken.
Miss deBoer was not just some kid.
She was Ezri Dax from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, a series that no longer means anything to me.
Now, Miss deBoer hopped on stage.
Now, if you've seen DS9 or just any pics of her as Ezri, you know that she's cute. But, let me tell you, she is even cuter in person.
Her raven black hair was tied back in two pig tails.
She wore a small brown spaghetti string T and tight little pants. Her cute little tummy was visible when she laughed.
She explained that this was only her fourth convention.
She wasn't a pro and just opened up the floor for questions, a very unconventional move.
Celebs normally speak first and address the main topics before opening it up for Q&A.
A short line of men filed behind the microphone.
Most of them wanted to shake her hand, make her dinner, or more.
They didn't have questions. They went to the mic and asked her if they could shake her hand, make her dinner, or more.
That IS what they asked her.
She kissed the first few.
One man gave her a white teddy bear and chocolates. I'd check to see if they were poison, but that's just paranoid me.
Now, Bill Shatner knew how to accept a gift.
Nicole spoke about getting the job.
One of the producers knew her. He asked if she'd try out. So, she sent them a tape that she made in her hotel room and they liked it. She then went to an audition and choked on some water.
She got the part.
Her main motivation was to work with Patrick Steward, who she has a crush on. I believe her exact words were, "I want to rub his bald head."
Yes.
Well.
She enjoyed working with and kissing Michael Dorn. She also liked Quark.
She admitted to NEVER seeing DS9 before and had no idea about what was going on.
She felt that it was easy to fit in with the cast and hasn't heard anything about any spin offs.
As for Cube, it's a student project. Every year, one student at this Canadian school's project is made into a feature film. She plays a geeky girl who's trapped in this cube.
Everybody kept calling it The Cube, while it is just Cube.
She doesn't know much about the ships of Trek, either... something which got one fan very outraged.
Another fan went up and proclaimed that DS9 was the greatest Trek series. I agree. I call it BABYLON 5, though.
Nicole then spoke about Kids in the Hall.
She really enjoyed working with Dave and Bruce and Kevin and Scott and Mark.
She told that there was only one large dressing room behind all the sets.
Since the show was done before a live audience, there was little time for modesty.
Nicole wasn't the Holy Grail that many hoped her to be. I really didn't care. I've lost my faith in Trek for now.
It was then time for her to sign autographs.
Chris Franke's B5 score blared from the speakers as we waited.
Due to a mix up in the computer system, we were closer than originally planned. That was a good thing. Thank you, Universe.
I spoke with a Scottish fan as we waited. He had a book version of the DS9 finale for her to sign.
Finally, I got up there with Ezri.
She signed her officially licensed head shot...
XO, NICOLE DEBOER
She didn't just any everyone's like that.
She smiled and posed for a photo with me.
ACT 25:
"Good Bye"
My father and I began to leave.
I saw that Jason Carter, a living breathing human being, was packing up to leave.
My mind considered rushing over and getting one final shot.
That's what I had done with Claudia both times.
No.
Not now.
Not Jason.
Robin, Robert, and all the rest had already gone home. Jason was the last to leave.
He had all his things in a simple canvas duffel, slung across his back.
We walked out.
Together.
Jason Carter and I walked out together.
He spoke, with his wonderful voice, to the volunteer that was accompanying him.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to kill Austin."
My father, over reacting, spoke to him... Jason Carter.
"Hey, take it easy."
Jason turned around.
"Kill Austin? It's just an expression. Take it easy."
He smiled.
We were just reaching the final door.
Jason's aide and my father went out one.
Jason went out another.
It was raining.
ACT 26:
"Perfect Finale"
Jason's aide and my father went out one door.
Jason went out another.
He held it open for me.
Marcus Cole held the door open for me.
Jason Carter held the door open for me.
I thanked him.
I watched as he walked off in the rain.
I watched as Marcus Cole walked off in the rain.
I watched as Jason Carter walked off in the rain.
ACT 27:
"Blue Wind"
I sat in the car, waiting to leave.
My father had a smoke in the rain.
I thought about things that people have been thinking about for over 2000 years.
My father entered.
We drove home.
EPILOGUE:
"The Future is Not Determined by the Roll of a Die, but by the Conscious Decisions we make Here and Now."
Celtic music played from the local NPR station.
The sun was low in the sky.
Sol was burning brightly, tearing an orange wheel across the twilight.
Sol seemed larger than usual.
Everything had an orange tint.
My father spoke.
He spoke of the things he saw.
He spoke of Doctor Smith and Lost in Space.
Hmmm.
If I could do it all again, I'd do it differently. I'd see different things. Do different things.
I missed a lot.
I missed a lot of things that will never come by again.
He then spoke of people being into "these things" too much. He spoke about it being "just a show".
Yes.
Just a show.
But.
We all must believe in something, and some people just don't have enough faith or trust left to believe in anything greater than a TV show. Who are we to say that they are wrong? We all worship the same god. We just use different names and different faces. Who are we to say that we are closer to the Truth?
I know DS9 is just a show. My faith is no longer with it. I know that it's a TV show.
Babylon 5, now that's different.
And, yet, it too is just a show.
That is what today has taught me.
That is what Bill Mumy, Stephen Austin, Robert W. Krimmer, Robin Atkin Downes, and Jason Carter have taught me.
It is just a show.
It is what we choose to make it that is important.
Words are nothing.
It is the meaning behind them that contains the value.
As I looked up at Sol, burning a hole there in the sky, it all made sense.
I knew it all.
For just a moment.
I still do.
It's just that, well, I don't know the words to explain it.
I don't know the words.
---
Peter Tatara
7.27.1999