“All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.”
- Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer), Bladerunner (1982)

I am by no means a Star Trek expert.

I would say that I am more than a casual fan.

I adore the Original Series.

I came to enjoy The Next Generation in its third season all the way through “All Good Things…” I Love Deep Space Nine to Death; the Best of the new series in my humble opinion. I was never a fan of Voyager even though I gave it a good try over its seven seasons on the now defunct UPN network (Seven-of-Nine influenced my return to the series after giving Season One a chance). Enterprise was better than people gave it credit for and though the Series Finale was inventive, it did distract from the importance of the show itself by making very important events unimportant to “us.”

In any case, I have seen almost every incarnation of Star Trek on television and in film.

Yet, I have never read a book about the show or the Universe it created, seen a fan made episode, read a script that was or was not produced for film or television, or attended a convention. Hence “a casual fan.”

Now you may be asking yourself “what the hell is this all about?”

Well, dear Reader, it is about Las Vegas.

But more specifically, the Las Vegas Hilton and the fantastic Star Trek: The Experience.

To make a long story short; the Hilton did not renew the lease of the ST: The Experience and on Labor Day 2008, the doors will close for the last time on this amazing tribute to the Star Trek Universe.

It has occupied a space in the Hilton hotel for about a decade and in that time over three million Star Trek fans and non-fans alike came to see the amazing display of the props from the shows and films as well as the most detailed History of the Star Trek Universe ever created. We’re talking from the real first space missions tied into the mythology of the Star Trek Universe. It was really an interesting display to see and I wonder where that important artifact will end up?

But the real reason I am writing this article is “Quan.”

He is a Ferengi Commerce Authority (FCA) Liquidator at the Star Trek: The Experience and a friend of mine.

I met the actor that created Quan in 1998 through mutual friends.

From that time on I discovered a kindred spirit that shared many of the same interests in Star Trek and Star Wars that I did. It was he who introduced me, via spoken word, to Harlan Ellison’s radical take on the Star Trek Universe with his original script for “City on the Edge of Forever” (The 1968 HUGO Award Winner for Best Dramatic Presentation).

He and I have had many discussions about the Star Trek Universe ranging from our favorite captains to why the Next Generation movies were difficult to enjoy (mostly for him though except Nemesis, that was shite plain and simple).

But, as with life, I left Las Vegas and my friend and I did not keep in touch the best that we could.

Yet in 2006, I went on vacation to Las Vegas and met my friend at his dream job, Star Trek: The Experience.

By the time I returned, they added a second immersive ride (“The Borg Invasion”) to accompany “the Klingon Encounter” ride. Also, they had added an exclusive Behind the Scenes Tour of the Experience. Both were really cool and I would highly recommend them if the attraction were not closing this Monday (September 1, 2008).

So, it is with a sad heart that I say goodbye to Star Trek: The Experience.

And I have an even more sad heart now that my friend has lost his dream job.

Good Luck, Quan

I miss you buddy.

“Live long, and prosper…”
- Mr. Spock (Leanord Nimoy), Star Trek (1967)