Star Trek: Klingons and ... Squirrel?

In honor of the 40th Anniversary of Star Trek, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite Star Trek stories. I tell it to you as it was told to me.

So, I go to a science fiction convention every year called Norwescon.

For years, a guy comes to the convention dressed as a giant squirrel. No discernible reason to dress as a squirrel at a science fiction convention, but he dresses as one, nonetheless. Hey, I'm cool with it.

I was speculating with my friend Rob one year "Where's the Squirrel? I haven't seen him yet," when a woman dressed as a Klingon piped up: "He's not here yet. Should be showing up tonight."

Figuring she knows the Squirrel, I asked "You know the Squirrel?" She responded with a story that, while true, is very strange. Norwescon usually has a fairly large Klingon contingent. Most are allied in one specific band, with usually a half-dozen or so freelancers. One year the Klingon Band (I forget their ship name) was wandering the halls and ran into the Squirrel.

The Klingons looked at the Squirrel and the Squirrel looked at the Klingons and the Klingons yelled "Squirrel" at which point the Squirrel turned and ran away (as fast as he could, considering the costume) with the Klingons in pursuit. "Soon it became apparent," said the Klingon woman, "that the Klingons were wrong to pursue the Squirrel and so they sought him out to make peace."

Want the story to go on? Klingons and Squirrel were now at Peace. To commemorate this great triumph of reason, the Klingons started a Tradition at Norwescon. The Great Squirrel Hunt, where they hunt for a picture of the Squirrel hidden around the convention hotel and then have a great feast later that night with the Squirrel as guest of honor. I have not yet witnessed this Great Squirrel Hunt, nor the following Feast.

Rob and I were, as you might guess, rather shocked at this revelation from the Klingon woman. She ended her story with "So, he should be showing up tonight" as she continued her knitting.

Here's a picture of him at the 2006 convention with a fox friend.

Enjoy!