viivi
in
chekov_sulu
Fanworksathon Fic: Galaxy Con 2011
Title: Galaxy Con 2011
Rating: PG
Word Count: 7,200
Summary: 8 year old Hikaru tries to figure out the real life identify of Commander_Andreievich, a poster on his favorite internet forum!
Prompt: Contemporary AU: Chekov and Sulu are hopeless nerds who catch each other's eye at a Galaxy Quest convention.
"There's gonna be a new safety monitor!" Jim shouts this as soon as he makes it out the school doors, arms flailing as he runs toward them. "And he's in third grade."
"What!" Nyota says. She obviously doesn't believe Jim Kirk and Hikaru isn't sure he does either. Jim likes it when people are looking at him, and he'll balance books on his head, or make a farting noise in class, or lie, to make it happen.
"I just saw him in the office!" Jim says, pointing back at the school. "They were giving him a vest and everything. And I saw him on the playground during third grade recess yesterday."
He looks frustrated that they don't believe him instead of happy that people are watching him talk, and Hikaru decides he's telling the truth. Nyota seems to agree, crossing her arms.
"Well - that's not fair," she says.
"I know!"
There are a lot of rules for being a safety monitor, because being a safety monitor is a privilege. That means it's a special bonus and no complaining when it gets taken away because you were lucky to get it to begin with!
When you're a safety monitor, you get to leave class twenty minutes early at the end of each day, and you get a whistle, and a bright yellow vest, and you stand outside and help pedestrians cross the street. Pedestrians are people who are not wearing a yellow vest or a whistle, except firemen and police officers. Even parents are pedestrians, even Hikaru's mom.
The most important rule is that you have to be in fourth grade to be a safety monitor. Your parents have to sign a permission slip, and you have to have good enough grades, and an interview with the principal. The principal was the hardest part for Hikaru; the permission slip was for Jim.
Most kids want to be a safety monitor to get out of class early, but Hikaru really likes helping pedestrians cross the street. He always holds the kindergartener's hands. Also he likes the vest, and the whistle, which he only uses when Mr. Spock is checking on safety monitors on the other side of the school - Hikaru is careful about his whistle. Most of the other safety monitors have had their whistle privileges taken away, even Nyota.
Usually, he likes to pretend he's an officer on the space ship the NSEA Protector, helping innocents (which are a lot like pedestrians) evacuate their home before an attack from hostile aliens hits. Once they're safe, Hikaru will jump into his cruiser (his mom's minivan) and help take down the aliens before they can attack! He puts his face up against the backseat window and imagines that other cars and bushes and mailboxes are enemies that he's destroying with highly sophisticated technology, pressing buttons that will launch heat seeking rockets. Sophisticated means Hikaru, set that down right now, who gave that to you!
This is pretending only for his head, though. If he told anyone else they would laugh. Galaxy Quest isn't cool to the rest of the kids in his class. There's going to be a Galaxy Con next week and Hikaru knows he'll be the only kid his age there.
"Look! There! There's the third grader!" Jim says, and Hikaru and Nyota rush over to see.
"Oh. That's just Pavel," Nyota says, dismissively.
"Pavel from third grade," Jim reminds them, glaring at the third grader rolling out the miniature stop sign with the help of Mr. Spock. "Right, Hikaru? That's not fair, is it?"
Hikaru shrugs.
Little Pavel is from Russia, and he doesn't speak English yet. Hikaru and Nyota know him from Panda class, which is a special classroom some kids go to instead of the regular ones. Nyota was in Pandas for a week when she first moved from Tanzania, but then she adapted to the new school and was given a regular class schedule. Adapted means that she already knew English okay.
Pavel waves at them when he gets close enough, looking proud of himself and his whistle.
"I believe most of you are familiar with Pavel," says Mr. Spock. "He's joining your -"
"Isn't he too little?" Jim is crossing his arms like he wants a fight.
"Yes, special allowances were made," Mr. Spock says.
Pavel is beaming, oblivious, looking from Mr. Spock to the rest of them, and he keeps petting his bright yellow vest. Hikaru, who was only a little bothered by a third grader becoming a safety monitor to begin with, decides that it's a great thing Pavel is joining their corner. They don't really talk in class - of course - but he likes sitting next to Pavel, and sometimes when it's time to partner up, they read from the same book together.
When Mr. Spock leaves to check on the other corners, and Hikaru takes the stop sign handle from Pavel, ready to show him how to set it up securely, which means tightening all the screws and not taking any short cuts!
"Here," Hikaru says moving so Pavel can watch how he does it. "Like this."
And that's when he notices Nyota and Jim staring.
*
Hikaru didn't mean to stop talking. It just happened after his dad died. He was super brave when he talked to the police about everything, but after that it was like his voice dried up.
That was a year ago, and three months ago he had a breakthrough, which means he said good-night to his mom. But his therapist says he still has a lot of work ahead of him, and that means his mom still cries sometimes, and he still can't talk to his friends at lunch, and that he's still in Panda class.
He spends math and science with Mrs. Rand and the rest of the kids in the regular fourth grade class, but he's in the Panda room for the rest of the day.
Panda class is boring like regular class, but Hikaru likes it because sometimes they have special treats, like shutting off the lights in the room and watching a movie. Hikaru especially likes the class because it attaches to the computer lab, and he can use that to check his Galaxy Quest forums.
Hikaru is really good at the internet. His username is LAREDO9900, after the best character in the show. His dad helped him pick out the name and fill out his biography page, and they used to make posts together. Hikaru is kind of a big deal. On the internet.
There are two Panda teachers, Mr. McCoy and Mrs. Chapel. Hikaru likes Mr. McCoy the best because he lets Hikaru spend reading and writing and free time in the computer lab. At first he pulled a chair up beside Hikaru and supervised him while he read his forums, but after three weeks he said that he couldn't read anymore garbage about Galaxy Quest and that Hikaru could supervise himself.
Hikaru's mom calls Mr. McCoy upfront which means that he calls things garbage, and then winks to let you know it's a joke. Some of the kids don't like him, though, classes are quiet when he's in charge, and once he made Pavel cry. Hikaru didn't like him that day.
Usually Hikaru is alone in the computer lab, but sometimes Pavel is in there too, and sometimes other classes will use it, and sometimes they use it during Hikaru's reading time.
"Don't pout," Mrs. Chapel says when she sees Hikaru looking at the used computer lab. "Go get a book."
Hikaru sighs and picks out a book on sharks, which he reads between long stares at the computer lab windows.
He's in the middle of a fight about how fast the Protector can fly. Hikaru's Galaxy Quest novelization says it can reach three thousand times the speed of the light, but this person on the forum keeps saying that doesn't count because it comes from the book and not the TV show or a movie. Hikaru knows they just don't believe him. He looked up the exact quote last night and he's going to prove it today, as soon as he can get to one of those computers!
It's Mrs. Rand's class in there - his regular class. He can hear Jim talking, making some of the other kids laugh when he pretends like his computer mouse is a real one.
"Pavel, come on. Focus," Mrs. Chapel says, and Hikaru looks to the desks, where Pavel is also staring at the computer lab instead of studying the worksheets in front of him.
Hikaru wishes he could be sitting in the lab with Pavel. He wishes they could have recess together, too. He liked having him on the corner yesterday. He felt normal and quiet with Pavel, instead of weird and silent.
Finally Mrs. Rand's class lines up to leave the lab and Hikaru lifts the book, slouching to cover his face. Sometimes it doesn't embarrass him, being in Panda class, but sometimes it does, and that's usually when kids from Mrs. Rand's class see him in there.
Hikaru hurries to return his book, then into the lab, trying to figure out how much time he has left as he types in the address of the forum - it's long enough for him to check his favorite threads for updates.
The log-in page looks strange. After a second he realizes why, and Hikaru sits straight, eyes wide in excitement, all earlier plans forgotten - he's logged into someone else's account! Someone forgot to log off! What this really means hits him slowly: someone in Mrs. Rand's class likes Galaxy Quest, too! And they like the same site as him! Enough to post there!
This realization is so profound Hikaru is practically trembling, scrolling up and down the account page of Commander_Andreievich. Hikaru clicks on the recent posts link, feeling sneaky, like a spy, like he figured out how to hack into this account all on his own.
Commander_Andreievich doesn't post very often. Only three posts in the whole month! Hikaru usually posts at least ten times a day. Most of the posts are in the fancreation section, a place Hikaru finds boring, except for the fanart. Commander's most recent post is on a thread for someone's fanart:
Nice DRawing.
The drawing is of Lt. Tawny Madison. She's holding a phaser and has a serious expression on her face, like she's ready for a fight. Hikaru stares at it for a long time, feeling like if he figures out what Commander_Andreievich liked about it, then he'll be able to figure out his real life identity.
This doesn't work, though, he spends the rest of his writing and free time going through the Commander's posts, looking for one that he can reply to, but they're all very short and Hikaru can't think of anything to write that wouldn't sound strange.
He knows he has to impress the commander if he wants them to be friends, he's not going to ruin this chance to have a friend over to watch the episodes with him - or trade novelizations or action figures. He has to be patient. Meeting face to face is definitely the way to go.
His biography page is blank, too, with no clues to the commander's real identity, but Hikaru is still determined by the end of the day, and when he goes to sleep that night he's already sure he'll find the commander, and sure they'll be friends - a friend that won't be disappointed with Hikaru's problem talking, because they'll have the forums!
*
"Ooh, big day?" Hikaru's mom asks, and he smiles proudly. He's only worn his Galaxy Quest shirt to school twice before: picture day, and then when the Fire Chief came, and there was an assembly in the cafeteria about fire safety. Hikaru was the first one to raise his hand when he needed a volunteer, and got to hold the axe.
Hikaru got up super early today, dressed and ready for school before his mom even woke up! He spent all night imagining the adventures he and the commander will go on - the possibilities are endless! Hikaru doesn't know many of the kids in Mrs. Rand's class, and it could be anyone! Hikaru doesn't even care if the commander is a girl. Whoever it is has to be smart and nice, or they wouldn't be into Galaxy Quest.
"You know, that reminds me," his mom says. "I've got good news!"
Hikaru sits straight, he knows what it is immediately - she's got their registration tags for Galaxy Con! "They came in the mail this morning," she says, fishing in her purse for them, at a red light, then reaches into the backseat to give Hikaru his tag. Hikaru holds it with both hands, beaming. With the mystery of the commander, he forgot about the convention!
Galaxy Con ranks somewhere between Christmas and birthdays, and this year might be the best one yet, because maybe the commander will be there, too! Maybe Hikaru can wear the tag, too, to his classes. Maybe the commander will see it, and if he doesn't know about it already, he'll ask about it, and it will be easy for Hikaru to explain because there's a whole description printed on the back of the tag.
"Not-uh," says his mom when they reach the school and Hikaru gets ready to jump out. "You're not losing that in school, give it here."
Hikaru sighs and hands it over.
All through his first classes, Hikaru sits up very straight, to make sure anyone who looks can see his shirt, but no one says anything, not even during lunch or recess.
He usually spends his time jumping from the swings, but today he goes to the four-square and wall-ball court, where most of the kids play. It's fun, and he ends up forgetting about his shirt, until recess if over and it's time to line up, then disappointment hits.
His shirt failed - he leaves Mrs. Rand's class for the rest of the day.
By Panda class, he's telling himself that he should never give up and never surrender, but Hikaru's pretty sure that is way easier to do when you're fighting aliens or something is about to explode. It's harder to do it when it's just you, and you're just sad. But he tells himself that he'll try again tomorrow, and he slumps in the computer lab.
Pavel is already there, and he must still be excited from yesterday, he smiles so huge at Hikaru, like he as something to say. Hikaru smiles back, but of course he doesn't say anything. But still, having Pavel in the room makes it easier to never give up, he thinks.
Hikaru looks and looks, but there are no new posts from the commander.
*
Jim and Hikaru used to be friends, before Hikaru's dad died. After that, Jim started acting weird. Hikaru's mom says it's because Jim is troubled. Troubled means he stopped coming over to play and would sometimes be really mean at recess, calling Hikaru names, like crybaby, and one time he threw a slush ball at the back of Hikaru's head, and had to go to the principal's office.
But that's not all the time and usually Jim is nice. Hikaru knows today is not a nice day as soon as he gets outside. Jim is scowling, kicking a rock like a soccer ball, trying to hit Nyota's shoes.
"Is Pavel setting up the sign?"
"You mean dummy Pavel," Jim says. He's scowling.
"Pavel isn't dumb," Nyota says.
"Then why doesn't he talk?" Jim asks. "It's cause he's too stupid."
Nyota has her hands on her hips. "Hikaru doesn't talk, and he isn't dumb."
"Well, maybe they're both dumb. Too dumb to talk to anyone but each other!"
Hikaru grits his teeth. Pavel is still setting up the stop sign, and Hikaru hears him sniffle, but he ducks to hide his face so he doesn't know if he's crying or what. Pavel doesn't know English all the way yet, but he probably knows his own name, and maybe he learned dumb. Even if he doesn't, Hikaru finds himself getting so mad that he wants to shout at Jim, tell him to shut up his stupid face, but he doesn't. He just makes his hands into fists. He's used to Jim being mean to him when he gets troubled but it's not fair to do it to Pavel! Pavel didn't do anything!
"Shut up, Jim Jerk!" Nyota sounds just as frustrated as Hikaru.
"It's not like they can understand me! Right, Pavel? Say yes if you can understand what I'm saying. I bet you can't."
All the energy Hikaru has bouncing around in his throat and mouth, trying to get him to speak, suddenly goes right to his legs and arms. He runs forward and shoves Jim as hard as he can. Jim shoves him back, and they both end up on the ground.
"You can't fight!" Nyota gasps, hands at her mouth. "You'll get suspended! Stop!"
Jim rolls over and Hikaru realizes that he doesn't really know where to go from here. He had the upper hand, but Jim has an older brother and they wrestle all the time. Hikaru is an only child and is struggling to keep up, Jim forces Hikaru's face into the ground, and they flail at each other.
"Hey! You two-knock it off!" Mr. McCoy is running toward them, Pavel just ahead of him, leading the way. Mr. McCoy grabs Jim by the back of his shirt and hauls him up, off of Hikaru. Pavel and Nyota watch with wide eyes, and Hikaru sees the temporary stop sign left, abandoned, on its side. "The office. Now," Mr. McCoy says, shaking Jim's shoulder for emphasis. "Get moving, Hikaru."
He guides them toward the school and Hikaru is too embarrassed to look behind him where Nyota and Pavel are probably staring. He's probably going to lose his whistle privileges, at least.
"What the heck has gotten into you two?" Mr. McCoy mutters as they go, and he slams the doors open to the school so loudly that both Jim and Hikaru wince and scurry into the building.
They're left waiting in the reception area while Mr. McCoy talks to principal, and Hikaru feels bad for letting down his special Galaxy Quest shirt with such a horrible day. He didn't even find Commander Andreievich. And Jim called him dumb. And he made Pavel sad. Everything went so wrong. He hides his sniffle in his sleeve.
"Why do you get to cry?" Jim says, his voice is so sudden and so angry that Hikaru almost jumps. He doesn't understand the question because it sounds like Jim is almost crying himself. "You're not the only one whose dad died Hikaru. Some of us don't even have moms, either."
"Mr. Kirk." They both look up - Mr. McCoy is standing next to the principal, Mr. Pike, and they both have such serious expressions on their faces that even after their fight, Hikaru feels scared for Jim as he walks past both of them, into the office. The door clicks shut, and he feels like he'll never see Jim again.
He knows that his mom will be so mad, but he hopes that they called her, and that she'll show up soon. He's alone in the office, and he's scared and sad - and his cheek is beginning to hurt from where Jim pushed him into a rock.
The reception door opens and Hikaru looks up, expecting to see another teacher, maybe Mr. Spock, but it's Pavel, poking his head into the room. He bites his lip when he sees Hikaru, and closes the door behind him softly. He climbs onto the chair next to Hikaru and takes a deep breath, like he wants to say something.
He can't, and Hikaru can't, but Pavel takes his hand and holds it tight.
*
"Mr. Sulu," Mr. McCoy says the next day. He's being upfront again, mostly in the way he raises his eyebrows. Hikaru ducks his head and hurries for the computer lab, relieved when Mr. McCoy doesn't follow.
He has a three week suspension from safety monitoring, which makes him sad mostly because he liked seeing Pavel outside of class, and from how disappointed Mr. McCoy had looked about the whole thing. He's not upset about the fight, though.
He knows he's lucky that he didn't have his Galaxy Con privileges taken away, but his mom wasn't as mad as he thought she'd be.
Going to the Convention planning threads on the forum usually gets Hikaru excited, and he really needs some excitement if he's going to never give up, never surrender.
GOING TO SAN FRAN. CHAPEL HILLS CONVENTION?
Is anyone interested in getting together at the Chapel Hills's bar after the panels, around five or six pm? I'll be there either way of course. ;)
___________
-Grabthar's_Hammar
Count me in, Grabthar!!
inDIg0rain
Hikaru sighs. Last year, he tried to sneak out and go to a late night meet up, but ended up falling asleep waiting for his mom to get to bed. She doesn't like him to arrange to meet friends online who are way older than him. Besides that, last time he called to ask the hotel bar if kids could come in, they said no. That was the last convention he went to with his dad. His mom takes him now and she goes to all the panels with him and everything, but it's not the same. She only watched Galaxy Quest because his dad really liked it.
This isn't giving him much excitement at all.
He's about to go back to his usual posting threads, when a new comment pops up on the convention one.
Very Exciting
Hikaru gasps out loud, he types so quick he doesn't even think about sounding impressive or anything!
Commander_Andreievich R U GOING 2 THE GALAXY CON AT CHAPEL HILLS
-LAREDO9900
May Be
I Want to
Commander_Andreievich I AM GOING 2 GO SO MAYBE WE COLD MET UP. UR PICTURE IS COOL WERE DID U GET IT.
-LAREDO9900
Thank You I draw it
He is my character
LAREDO9900 I draw 1 for You
You want?
Hey guys, this is the mod, with a reminder to keep the discussion on topic. If you want to keep going OT you should probably message each other directly. Thanks.
-Mod
Commander_Andreievich WOW!!!!!!!!
-LAREDO9900
Mod SORRY…
-LAREDO9900
DOSE ANY1 KNOW HOW 2 MASSAGE DIRECTLY???!?!?!
-LAREDO9900
The mod messages him and shows Hikaru how it's done - that is the easy part. Carefully writing out his first message to Commander_Andreievich turns out to be way harder. He talked about having his own character, maybe it's a good idea to come up with a character of his own? He pretty much does, when he's playing in his own head! It takes him most of reading time to write it, but he's happy with his message:
Commander_Andreivich HOW R U? I WOOLD LIKE A DRAWING. I HAVE A CHARCTER 2. HES BIG AND HE WERES BLUE AND A SWORD INSTEED OF A PHASER. THANK YOU FOR DRAWING ME MY CHARCTER. 8) 8) 8)
Hikaru rereads it super slow and careful one more time before sending it, and decides to add:
PLEESE COME 2 GALAXY CON. :) ;)
-LAREDO9900
There's nothing to do but wait! When Pavel starts getting his stuff together to leave, Hikaru sighs, before remembering he doesn't have to go yet, because of his suspension! He can wait in the lab for twenty more minutes for a response.
It doesn't come, but Hikaru is still in such a good mood he bounces his way to his mom's minivan when she pulls up, and chases some of the dried, red and yellow leaves on their driveway, stomping them and listening to the satisfying crunch.
"You're in a good mood," his mom says, laughing.
Usually when Hikaru can talk, he doesn't think about it, if it just slips out of his throat super quick. But now, he's thinking about it, and he thinks he might be able to say something about his good news. It's just that good! He won't though, because he doesn't want to jinx it.
*
The new series - love it, hate it? Talk about it here!
The problem with the new series is the lack of spirit. They've got a bigger budget, sure, but what do they spend it on? Not the writers! The characters are flat, cardboard-cutout shadows of their former selves. Did I care when Doctor Lazarus was cut off from his homeworld? No, and why would I, when they completely dropped the storyline an episode later? The reboot is a shell of the former majesty of the Galaxy Quest series.
___________
-Grabthar's_Hammar
*STANDS AND APPLAUDS*
You said it better than I ever could. The new series is a travesty and you nailed it on the head. They should've just let the series die with some dignity…
inDIg0rain
The biggest problem with the reboot is how they COMPLETELY ignored the original series CAREFUL plotting of the relationship between Lazarus and Peter, in favor of shoving Peter/Tawny in our faces. It's so completely shallow, lacks any chemistry. Tawny was MUCH MORE GRACEFUL in the original version, when she worked with dignity. Now, she's an embarrassment to the NSEA! I hate seeing TAWNY when I should be seeing LAZARUS.
Peter and Lazarus' bond is what MADE THE SHOW. They forgot that, and they forgot the soul of the series.
___________
keep a little dream in your pocket . . .
Tawny Madison is best officer for me watching. She is navigator she is brave. Tawny is my favorite character. I like her new show and old show. New show is very good for Tawny Madison but I still like old show.
Go away trollie. Maybe you should put a little more work into your comments if you want people to take you seriously.
inDIg0rain
I LIKE TAWNY 2. I ALSO LIKE LAREDO. IF U WANT 2 KNOW Y THE NEW SERIES IS GOOD ITS 1 REASON: LAREDO. HE WAS JUST A LITTLE KID IN THE FIRST SERIES BUT NOW HES OLDER AND HES THE BEST CHARCTER. LAREDO AND TAWNY ARE GOOD PARTNERS.
Sorry, but Laredo and Tawny are supporting characters. They're only there to make the main characters look good, I.E. support them. They're boring. If the best defense of the new series is those two getting growth then you're basically admitting intellectual defeat.
___________
-Grabthar's_Hammar
LAREDO IS THE BEST PILOT IN THE NSEA!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS NOT BORING U NEED UR BRAIN CHECKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!! IF HE IS B ORING TO U THEN U MUST THINK EVERYHING AWESOME THINGS R BORING LIKE TAWNY IS ALSO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! Commander_Andreievich IS RITE SHE IS BRAVE AND A GOOD Navigator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
U WOULD GO ON A ROLLARCOASTER AND JUST THINK THAT IT WOULD ONLY B GOOD IF LAZARUS WAS THERE.
IF U JUST WATCH THE SHOE U WOULD SEE THAT IT IS A GOOD SHOW BUT ALL U WANT 2 DO IS TALK ABOUT HOW IT IS BAD BCUZ UR HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!! AND CALL N-E-1 THAT DOSE NOT AGREE WITH U A TROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM SERIOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT CALL GOOD PEOPLE TROLLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Commander_Andreievich IS A GOOD PERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oooooh CAPSLOCK and EXCLAMATION POINTS. We're soooo scared. What are you, 10?
Sorry I called your girlfriend a troll, but maybe you should give her some grammar lessons so she doesn't sound so stupid in the future.
inDIg0rain
Commander_Andreievich IS NOT STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR UR INFROMATON HE IS A BOY AND HE IS NOT MY GIRFLREND AND HIS GRAMMAR IS OK, U R A BAD PERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U R THE TROLL WHEN U CALL A GOOD AND SMART PERSON STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!! U R THE WORST!!!!!!!!!
AND LAREDO AND TAWNY R THE BEST CHARACTERS!!!!!!!!!!1 U ARE THE WORST AND SO IS LAZURAS, HE IS JUST BORING!!!!!!!!!!!
(User was banned for this post)
*
"Not using the lab today?" McCoy asks. He pulls up the chair next to Hikaru's desk, where Hikaru is hiding his face in his arms.
He shakes his head without looking up.
"Can't say that I'm sad to hear that," McCoy says. "It's nice to see you out here among the living."
Hikaru just shrugs. He never told the commander his real name. He never even gave him his email address. He never told him they went to the same school and that it's super important that they go to Galaxy Con, and meet there, and become best friends in real life. Plus, that's not even the worst part! That was the account that Hikaru's dad helped him make. He can still log into it, but all the links that should take him to forums when he clicks don't work anymore. Being banned is terrible. It's like you're not even allowed on the board anymore!
Mr. McCoy sighs. "If you're this bummed out about it, I can talk to the principal and see if we can get that suspension lifted."
Hikaru lifts his head - trying to figure out if Mr. McCoy is doing some weird upfront thing, but his eyebrows look normal. He even smiles! Hikaru smiles back, because being unsuspended would make it a little easier to never give up.
Usually he's in Panda class until the bell rings, but today is a special, short day, before the beginning of the long weekend, and Galaxy Con, so they have a different schedule. When he passes the computer lab to leave the room, Pavel suddenly stands up super fast! He runs to the door and grabs Hikaru's hand again, shaking it.
Pavel takes a deep breath, and finally does more than just look like he wants to say something, he actually says it! Super carefully and slowly, he says, "Hikaru."
Hikaru smiles and nods, and shakes his hand harder.
As he walks to Mrs. Rand's class, he thinks he might really be able to never give up!
In Mrs. Rand's class, they're doing a group activity where people stand up in front of everyone else and talk about a book they've read, and he feels squirmy and uncomfortable like he always does when he sees the normal lessons kids do in class, when he's not there.
"Alright, that's all the presentations for the day. We have five minutes before your vacation really begins so - who wants to share what they'll be doing this long weekend?"
Hikaru's heart jerks, and he sits up straight, hands flat on the desk in front of him. If he raises his hand, and he mentions the convention in his weekend plans, then there might still be a chance for Commander Andreievich to see him!
Jim Kirk is usually the first one to raise his hand.
"I'm going fishing with my dad," he says with relish, eyeing Hikaru out the corner of his eye, like he knows Hikaru can't tell anyone the truth, and that makes him happy. "We're going up to Merced and we're going to spend our whole vacation up there. We won't even bring food because we're just going to live off the fish. We're both really good fishers."
There are three more kids with their hands in the air, two of them are boys. Maybe one of them is Commander Andreievich, and he'll say his plans for the weekend, so Hikaru won't have to. Hikaru doesn't really want this, though, because Thomas and Richard are the ones with their hands up, and Thomas laughs when other students fall, and Richard eats glue.
"We're going up to Montana, because my grandma owns a ranch out there," Thomas says when Mrs. Rand calls his name. Hikaru knows Commander Andreievich is not Richard, and he knows he will have to talk about the conference if he has any hope of meeting the commander. But his throat is getting tight and his eyes are watering like they always do when he tries to talk. Hikaru's heart is pounding so hard he feels it in his fingertips, his cheeks are hot.
He lifts his hand to his shoulder then quickly brings it back down again. Richard is talking about a videogame. No one else has lifted their hands - Hikaru is running out of time, and he feels his eyes start to sting in panic.
"And when you reach the fourth level, like I'm gonna do this weekend, you unlock all these bonus characters-"
"Hikaru!" Mrs. Rand sounds startled and pleased, interrupting Richard to call on him. "You have something to share?"
Hikaru lowers his hand slowly. The entire class is staring. Richard doesn't even look upset about his story being interrupted, gaping at Hikaru like one of the fish Jim Kirk is pretending to catch with his dad tomorrow.
Hikaru gapes back, trying to bring air to this throat, then out his mouth, but nothing comes.
"Do you have something planned for this weekend, Hikaru?" Mrs. Rand asks, she looks hopeful and happy like adults always look when they think Hikaru might talk, and he tries, he opens his mouth again but the only thing that comes out is a little puff of air.
"Well!" Mrs. Rand says, clapping her hands loudly to bring the class's attention back to the front. "I'm sure we all have very exciting vacations planned!"
Hikaru's eyes are stinging again, and he crosses his arms, slumping down low in his desk. The last thing he wants Commander Andreievich to see is him crying.
*
"Jeez, these crowds get worse every year," his mom says. She's holding up the convention schedule, looking at the panels that Hikaru circled. "'Out with the New, in with the Old?' You really want to sit through a panel on that? They're probably just going to say a lot of stuff you disagree with, honey."
Hikaru knows that, but they have to go to this panel. If the commander comes - well, he might show up at this panel. He knows it's a stretch but it's the best option he can think of! They're late to the panel, though, when they get there the panelists have already started talking, and Hikaru stands on his tip toes to see if there are any kids his age in the audience, but doesn't see any.
"So I just want to see if there's a general consensus that the new series is, well. I see some kids in the audience, so, crap," a man with a beard is saying this.
"Yep. I think there's a lot of delusion going on with fans who have this loyalty to what the series used to be, and they just refuse to see that fundamental characters and elements of Galaxy Quest are getting swept to the side, for a more ensemble approach. And in the end it weakens what we all loved about the series."
"No!" Hikaru says, jumping up out of his seat.
"Excuse me-"
"You're just calling it bad! You're ignoring everything good about it!"
"Hikaru!" his mom says, reaching out to hold his arm, but doesn't tell him to stop.
"Well, we're calling it bad, and talking about what isn't good about it," says the beard, and they all laugh lightly.
"You can't just say the parts that you think are important are the only things that matter! There's more than one thing to like about a show!"
"Listen, kid, this is panel about opinions. This is our opinion, you're welcome to disagree-"
"No, you know what?" one of the other panelists interrupts him. This new one has a thin face, like a bird, and he stares at Hikaru like he wants to peck out his eyes with his long, thin nose. "This might make me the bad guy, but I can say from a completely objective standpoint that the show's quality has plummeted when compared to the earlier series. I mean, maybe if it didn't have the original series to compare it against, it could be a decent series. But Peter's character is completely warped, the friendship that's supposed to-"
"That is what you like when you watch the Galaxy Quest, but that is not only way!"
Hikaru whirls around.
It's Pavel! He's standing, with both of his hands in fists at his side, and Hikaru's jaw drops when they make eye contact. Pavel likes Galaxy Quest? Pavel knows English all the way? It takes him a second longer for it to click: Pavel is Commander Andreievich!
He wants to hear him say that a million more times, gah-lex-ee kwest.
"Once again, this is a panel specifically about our opinions, we're not trying to say there's a right or wrong-"
"I say you're wrong!"
"Okay, we're going to ask for comments to wait until the end of the panel."
Hikaru sits back down and his mom immediately grabs him, hugging him to her chest. "Hikaru!" she says, and can't seem to say much else, and Hikaru hugs her back but gets tired of it kind of fast, watching Pavel out the corner of his eye.
When Pavel and his dad leave early, Hikaru practically falls over himself to follow them! It's okay, though, because they didn't go far, stopping right outside of the doors, his dad spreading his arms as he talks. "See? What have I been saying this whole time, your English is just fine! You were so passionate, Pavel!" he says with a very thick accent. He stops when he sees Hikaru watching. "Ah! Who is this, then? Your American friend?"
"Hello! Hello, this is Hikaru, my son," his mom says, rushing out of the conference room and reaching out to shake Pavel's dad's hand. They talk together while Pavel and Hikaru smile at each other - Hikaru can't believe his luck! But it makes sense, now, because Pavel is one of the best people he knows in real life. He should've known he would like something as great as Galaxy Quest!
They compare schedules and Hikaru is not at all surprised to see that most of their selected panels are the same. He's also not surprised that this turns out to be the best Galaxy Con ever.
*
Episode 4x18 Discussion! Spoilers below!
So I think we can all agree - with the exception of a few notable scenes of Laredo and Tawny, of course! - that last night's episode was a complete crap fest. Waste of my time.
_____________
-Grabthar's_Hammar
Why even bother with the exception??? Laredo's actor is so STIFF it makes me uncomfortable to even watch him on screen!! Why do I continue to watch the show? I ask myself this every week.
inDIg0rain
I SAW THE NEW EPISODE WITH MY BEST FRIEND AND WE BOTH THINK IT WAS THE BEST OF THE SERIES!! WHEN TAWNY LERNED THE TRUTRH ABOUT HER DAD BEING AN ALIEN IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!! AND WHEN LAREDO CAME UP WITH THE NEW FLYING tactic IT WAS VERY SCARY BUT COOL TO!!!! WOW BEST EPISODE EVER!! I AM GOING TO WATCH IT A LOT OF TIMES BE4 THE NEW EPISODE COMES OUT!!!! IT WAS THAT COOL!!!1!!
Why aren't you BANNED???
inDIg0rain
This Tawny Madison episode was very good. When she cries I feel sad, like I am also sad. This was a good episode. I want more episodes like this good episode.
YES WHEN SHE WAS SAD IT MADE ME SAD TO!!!!! WOW THIS IS A GREAT SHOW!!!!!
ALSO THE END WAS SO FUNNY. I LIKE WHEN DR LAZARUS SHOWS HIS HUMOR SIDE!!
_____________
-Grabthar's_Hammar
Also Laredo learning new fly tricks was very excited. When Laredo fly the ship, I am excited. I hope there is more fly tricks in more episodes
that is a funny picture -Grabthar's_Hammar
Fly tricks?? Do you mean special effects??? And yeah, that's probably the ONLY redeeming aspect of the show at this point!! Only complete IDIOTS like you two could possibly find anything to like about it!! I have to ask, in all seriousness, are you over the age of 13?? If you are, and you aren't TROLLING, then you must LITERALLY be MENTALLY HANDICAPPED!
_____________
-Grabthar's_Hammar
(User was banned for this post)
What is troll?
*
It's been four whole months but Hikaru will never get used to seeing Jim in Mr. McCoy's office! He goes in there three times a week, ever since Hikaru told Mr. McCoy about what Jim said to him after their fight. He thought Jim would hate him forever for that but they're friends, now. Jim even apologized for the fight and the slush ball.
It is getting easier and easier for Hikaru to talk. Mr. McCoy says that if everyone had a friend like Pavel, then he wouldn't have a job anymore! Hikaru knows this is true because sometimes talking to Mr. McCoy made him feel better, but talking to Pavel always does, even when he just says one or two words.
"Now this one?" Pavel asks. He's holding up the next episode of the original series.
"Okay," Hikaru says. A lot of times when he talks it sounds like a whisper, but Pavel always hears him. Just like Hikaru always understand Pavel even if his accent is so thick that no one else can!
Hikaru only watched the whole original series once, with his dad. But Pavel and Hikaru decided to do a marathon and watch them all over again, because on the forums, they're reviewing each old episode!
They sit in Hikaru's living room, with a blanket fort over the television set, and a bowl of popcorn. They're not going to leave all weekend, but Pavel usually spends all weekend at Hikaru's house anyway. The fort makes it feel especially special though.
Pavel really likes the old episodes, but Hikaru has a secret: he thinks they're kind of boring! But he likes laying on his stomach beside Pavel in their pajamas, and falling asleep with the episodes play, so he doesn't mind watching them at all.
"Hikaru!" Pavel says, and grabs Hikaru's shoulder. "This is best part, okay? Watch!"
"Okay!" Hikaru says, and watches.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 7,200
Summary: 8 year old Hikaru tries to figure out the real life identify of Commander_Andreievich, a poster on his favorite internet forum!
Prompt: Contemporary AU: Chekov and Sulu are hopeless nerds who catch each other's eye at a Galaxy Quest convention.
"There's gonna be a new safety monitor!" Jim shouts this as soon as he makes it out the school doors, arms flailing as he runs toward them. "And he's in third grade."
"What!" Nyota says. She obviously doesn't believe Jim Kirk and Hikaru isn't sure he does either. Jim likes it when people are looking at him, and he'll balance books on his head, or make a farting noise in class, or lie, to make it happen.
"I just saw him in the office!" Jim says, pointing back at the school. "They were giving him a vest and everything. And I saw him on the playground during third grade recess yesterday."
He looks frustrated that they don't believe him instead of happy that people are watching him talk, and Hikaru decides he's telling the truth. Nyota seems to agree, crossing her arms.
"Well - that's not fair," she says.
"I know!"
There are a lot of rules for being a safety monitor, because being a safety monitor is a privilege. That means it's a special bonus and no complaining when it gets taken away because you were lucky to get it to begin with!
When you're a safety monitor, you get to leave class twenty minutes early at the end of each day, and you get a whistle, and a bright yellow vest, and you stand outside and help pedestrians cross the street. Pedestrians are people who are not wearing a yellow vest or a whistle, except firemen and police officers. Even parents are pedestrians, even Hikaru's mom.
The most important rule is that you have to be in fourth grade to be a safety monitor. Your parents have to sign a permission slip, and you have to have good enough grades, and an interview with the principal. The principal was the hardest part for Hikaru; the permission slip was for Jim.
Most kids want to be a safety monitor to get out of class early, but Hikaru really likes helping pedestrians cross the street. He always holds the kindergartener's hands. Also he likes the vest, and the whistle, which he only uses when Mr. Spock is checking on safety monitors on the other side of the school - Hikaru is careful about his whistle. Most of the other safety monitors have had their whistle privileges taken away, even Nyota.
Usually, he likes to pretend he's an officer on the space ship the NSEA Protector, helping innocents (which are a lot like pedestrians) evacuate their home before an attack from hostile aliens hits. Once they're safe, Hikaru will jump into his cruiser (his mom's minivan) and help take down the aliens before they can attack! He puts his face up against the backseat window and imagines that other cars and bushes and mailboxes are enemies that he's destroying with highly sophisticated technology, pressing buttons that will launch heat seeking rockets. Sophisticated means Hikaru, set that down right now, who gave that to you!
This is pretending only for his head, though. If he told anyone else they would laugh. Galaxy Quest isn't cool to the rest of the kids in his class. There's going to be a Galaxy Con next week and Hikaru knows he'll be the only kid his age there.
"Look! There! There's the third grader!" Jim says, and Hikaru and Nyota rush over to see.
"Oh. That's just Pavel," Nyota says, dismissively.
"Pavel from third grade," Jim reminds them, glaring at the third grader rolling out the miniature stop sign with the help of Mr. Spock. "Right, Hikaru? That's not fair, is it?"
Hikaru shrugs.
Little Pavel is from Russia, and he doesn't speak English yet. Hikaru and Nyota know him from Panda class, which is a special classroom some kids go to instead of the regular ones. Nyota was in Pandas for a week when she first moved from Tanzania, but then she adapted to the new school and was given a regular class schedule. Adapted means that she already knew English okay.
Pavel waves at them when he gets close enough, looking proud of himself and his whistle.
"I believe most of you are familiar with Pavel," says Mr. Spock. "He's joining your -"
"Isn't he too little?" Jim is crossing his arms like he wants a fight.
"Yes, special allowances were made," Mr. Spock says.
Pavel is beaming, oblivious, looking from Mr. Spock to the rest of them, and he keeps petting his bright yellow vest. Hikaru, who was only a little bothered by a third grader becoming a safety monitor to begin with, decides that it's a great thing Pavel is joining their corner. They don't really talk in class - of course - but he likes sitting next to Pavel, and sometimes when it's time to partner up, they read from the same book together.
When Mr. Spock leaves to check on the other corners, and Hikaru takes the stop sign handle from Pavel, ready to show him how to set it up securely, which means tightening all the screws and not taking any short cuts!
"Here," Hikaru says moving so Pavel can watch how he does it. "Like this."
And that's when he notices Nyota and Jim staring.
*
Hikaru didn't mean to stop talking. It just happened after his dad died. He was super brave when he talked to the police about everything, but after that it was like his voice dried up.
That was a year ago, and three months ago he had a breakthrough, which means he said good-night to his mom. But his therapist says he still has a lot of work ahead of him, and that means his mom still cries sometimes, and he still can't talk to his friends at lunch, and that he's still in Panda class.
He spends math and science with Mrs. Rand and the rest of the kids in the regular fourth grade class, but he's in the Panda room for the rest of the day.
Panda class is boring like regular class, but Hikaru likes it because sometimes they have special treats, like shutting off the lights in the room and watching a movie. Hikaru especially likes the class because it attaches to the computer lab, and he can use that to check his Galaxy Quest forums.
Hikaru is really good at the internet. His username is LAREDO9900, after the best character in the show. His dad helped him pick out the name and fill out his biography page, and they used to make posts together. Hikaru is kind of a big deal. On the internet.
There are two Panda teachers, Mr. McCoy and Mrs. Chapel. Hikaru likes Mr. McCoy the best because he lets Hikaru spend reading and writing and free time in the computer lab. At first he pulled a chair up beside Hikaru and supervised him while he read his forums, but after three weeks he said that he couldn't read anymore garbage about Galaxy Quest and that Hikaru could supervise himself.
Hikaru's mom calls Mr. McCoy upfront which means that he calls things garbage, and then winks to let you know it's a joke. Some of the kids don't like him, though, classes are quiet when he's in charge, and once he made Pavel cry. Hikaru didn't like him that day.
Usually Hikaru is alone in the computer lab, but sometimes Pavel is in there too, and sometimes other classes will use it, and sometimes they use it during Hikaru's reading time.
"Don't pout," Mrs. Chapel says when she sees Hikaru looking at the used computer lab. "Go get a book."
Hikaru sighs and picks out a book on sharks, which he reads between long stares at the computer lab windows.
He's in the middle of a fight about how fast the Protector can fly. Hikaru's Galaxy Quest novelization says it can reach three thousand times the speed of the light, but this person on the forum keeps saying that doesn't count because it comes from the book and not the TV show or a movie. Hikaru knows they just don't believe him. He looked up the exact quote last night and he's going to prove it today, as soon as he can get to one of those computers!
It's Mrs. Rand's class in there - his regular class. He can hear Jim talking, making some of the other kids laugh when he pretends like his computer mouse is a real one.
"Pavel, come on. Focus," Mrs. Chapel says, and Hikaru looks to the desks, where Pavel is also staring at the computer lab instead of studying the worksheets in front of him.
Hikaru wishes he could be sitting in the lab with Pavel. He wishes they could have recess together, too. He liked having him on the corner yesterday. He felt normal and quiet with Pavel, instead of weird and silent.
Finally Mrs. Rand's class lines up to leave the lab and Hikaru lifts the book, slouching to cover his face. Sometimes it doesn't embarrass him, being in Panda class, but sometimes it does, and that's usually when kids from Mrs. Rand's class see him in there.
Hikaru hurries to return his book, then into the lab, trying to figure out how much time he has left as he types in the address of the forum - it's long enough for him to check his favorite threads for updates.
The log-in page looks strange. After a second he realizes why, and Hikaru sits straight, eyes wide in excitement, all earlier plans forgotten - he's logged into someone else's account! Someone forgot to log off! What this really means hits him slowly: someone in Mrs. Rand's class likes Galaxy Quest, too! And they like the same site as him! Enough to post there!
This realization is so profound Hikaru is practically trembling, scrolling up and down the account page of Commander_Andreievich. Hikaru clicks on the recent posts link, feeling sneaky, like a spy, like he figured out how to hack into this account all on his own.
Commander_Andreievich doesn't post very often. Only three posts in the whole month! Hikaru usually posts at least ten times a day. Most of the posts are in the fancreation section, a place Hikaru finds boring, except for the fanart. Commander's most recent post is on a thread for someone's fanart:
Nice DRawing.
The drawing is of Lt. Tawny Madison. She's holding a phaser and has a serious expression on her face, like she's ready for a fight. Hikaru stares at it for a long time, feeling like if he figures out what Commander_Andreievich liked about it, then he'll be able to figure out his real life identity.
This doesn't work, though, he spends the rest of his writing and free time going through the Commander's posts, looking for one that he can reply to, but they're all very short and Hikaru can't think of anything to write that wouldn't sound strange.
He knows he has to impress the commander if he wants them to be friends, he's not going to ruin this chance to have a friend over to watch the episodes with him - or trade novelizations or action figures. He has to be patient. Meeting face to face is definitely the way to go.
His biography page is blank, too, with no clues to the commander's real identity, but Hikaru is still determined by the end of the day, and when he goes to sleep that night he's already sure he'll find the commander, and sure they'll be friends - a friend that won't be disappointed with Hikaru's problem talking, because they'll have the forums!
*
"Ooh, big day?" Hikaru's mom asks, and he smiles proudly. He's only worn his Galaxy Quest shirt to school twice before: picture day, and then when the Fire Chief came, and there was an assembly in the cafeteria about fire safety. Hikaru was the first one to raise his hand when he needed a volunteer, and got to hold the axe.
Hikaru got up super early today, dressed and ready for school before his mom even woke up! He spent all night imagining the adventures he and the commander will go on - the possibilities are endless! Hikaru doesn't know many of the kids in Mrs. Rand's class, and it could be anyone! Hikaru doesn't even care if the commander is a girl. Whoever it is has to be smart and nice, or they wouldn't be into Galaxy Quest.
"You know, that reminds me," his mom says. "I've got good news!"
Hikaru sits straight, he knows what it is immediately - she's got their registration tags for Galaxy Con! "They came in the mail this morning," she says, fishing in her purse for them, at a red light, then reaches into the backseat to give Hikaru his tag. Hikaru holds it with both hands, beaming. With the mystery of the commander, he forgot about the convention!
Galaxy Con ranks somewhere between Christmas and birthdays, and this year might be the best one yet, because maybe the commander will be there, too! Maybe Hikaru can wear the tag, too, to his classes. Maybe the commander will see it, and if he doesn't know about it already, he'll ask about it, and it will be easy for Hikaru to explain because there's a whole description printed on the back of the tag.
"Not-uh," says his mom when they reach the school and Hikaru gets ready to jump out. "You're not losing that in school, give it here."
Hikaru sighs and hands it over.
All through his first classes, Hikaru sits up very straight, to make sure anyone who looks can see his shirt, but no one says anything, not even during lunch or recess.
He usually spends his time jumping from the swings, but today he goes to the four-square and wall-ball court, where most of the kids play. It's fun, and he ends up forgetting about his shirt, until recess if over and it's time to line up, then disappointment hits.
His shirt failed - he leaves Mrs. Rand's class for the rest of the day.
By Panda class, he's telling himself that he should never give up and never surrender, but Hikaru's pretty sure that is way easier to do when you're fighting aliens or something is about to explode. It's harder to do it when it's just you, and you're just sad. But he tells himself that he'll try again tomorrow, and he slumps in the computer lab.
Pavel is already there, and he must still be excited from yesterday, he smiles so huge at Hikaru, like he as something to say. Hikaru smiles back, but of course he doesn't say anything. But still, having Pavel in the room makes it easier to never give up, he thinks.
Hikaru looks and looks, but there are no new posts from the commander.
*
Jim and Hikaru used to be friends, before Hikaru's dad died. After that, Jim started acting weird. Hikaru's mom says it's because Jim is troubled. Troubled means he stopped coming over to play and would sometimes be really mean at recess, calling Hikaru names, like crybaby, and one time he threw a slush ball at the back of Hikaru's head, and had to go to the principal's office.
But that's not all the time and usually Jim is nice. Hikaru knows today is not a nice day as soon as he gets outside. Jim is scowling, kicking a rock like a soccer ball, trying to hit Nyota's shoes.
"Is Pavel setting up the sign?"
"You mean dummy Pavel," Jim says. He's scowling.
"Pavel isn't dumb," Nyota says.
"Then why doesn't he talk?" Jim asks. "It's cause he's too stupid."
Nyota has her hands on her hips. "Hikaru doesn't talk, and he isn't dumb."
"Well, maybe they're both dumb. Too dumb to talk to anyone but each other!"
Hikaru grits his teeth. Pavel is still setting up the stop sign, and Hikaru hears him sniffle, but he ducks to hide his face so he doesn't know if he's crying or what. Pavel doesn't know English all the way yet, but he probably knows his own name, and maybe he learned dumb. Even if he doesn't, Hikaru finds himself getting so mad that he wants to shout at Jim, tell him to shut up his stupid face, but he doesn't. He just makes his hands into fists. He's used to Jim being mean to him when he gets troubled but it's not fair to do it to Pavel! Pavel didn't do anything!
"Shut up, Jim Jerk!" Nyota sounds just as frustrated as Hikaru.
"It's not like they can understand me! Right, Pavel? Say yes if you can understand what I'm saying. I bet you can't."
All the energy Hikaru has bouncing around in his throat and mouth, trying to get him to speak, suddenly goes right to his legs and arms. He runs forward and shoves Jim as hard as he can. Jim shoves him back, and they both end up on the ground.
"You can't fight!" Nyota gasps, hands at her mouth. "You'll get suspended! Stop!"
Jim rolls over and Hikaru realizes that he doesn't really know where to go from here. He had the upper hand, but Jim has an older brother and they wrestle all the time. Hikaru is an only child and is struggling to keep up, Jim forces Hikaru's face into the ground, and they flail at each other.
"Hey! You two-knock it off!" Mr. McCoy is running toward them, Pavel just ahead of him, leading the way. Mr. McCoy grabs Jim by the back of his shirt and hauls him up, off of Hikaru. Pavel and Nyota watch with wide eyes, and Hikaru sees the temporary stop sign left, abandoned, on its side. "The office. Now," Mr. McCoy says, shaking Jim's shoulder for emphasis. "Get moving, Hikaru."
He guides them toward the school and Hikaru is too embarrassed to look behind him where Nyota and Pavel are probably staring. He's probably going to lose his whistle privileges, at least.
"What the heck has gotten into you two?" Mr. McCoy mutters as they go, and he slams the doors open to the school so loudly that both Jim and Hikaru wince and scurry into the building.
They're left waiting in the reception area while Mr. McCoy talks to principal, and Hikaru feels bad for letting down his special Galaxy Quest shirt with such a horrible day. He didn't even find Commander Andreievich. And Jim called him dumb. And he made Pavel sad. Everything went so wrong. He hides his sniffle in his sleeve.
"Why do you get to cry?" Jim says, his voice is so sudden and so angry that Hikaru almost jumps. He doesn't understand the question because it sounds like Jim is almost crying himself. "You're not the only one whose dad died Hikaru. Some of us don't even have moms, either."
"Mr. Kirk." They both look up - Mr. McCoy is standing next to the principal, Mr. Pike, and they both have such serious expressions on their faces that even after their fight, Hikaru feels scared for Jim as he walks past both of them, into the office. The door clicks shut, and he feels like he'll never see Jim again.
He knows that his mom will be so mad, but he hopes that they called her, and that she'll show up soon. He's alone in the office, and he's scared and sad - and his cheek is beginning to hurt from where Jim pushed him into a rock.
The reception door opens and Hikaru looks up, expecting to see another teacher, maybe Mr. Spock, but it's Pavel, poking his head into the room. He bites his lip when he sees Hikaru, and closes the door behind him softly. He climbs onto the chair next to Hikaru and takes a deep breath, like he wants to say something.
He can't, and Hikaru can't, but Pavel takes his hand and holds it tight.
*
"Mr. Sulu," Mr. McCoy says the next day. He's being upfront again, mostly in the way he raises his eyebrows. Hikaru ducks his head and hurries for the computer lab, relieved when Mr. McCoy doesn't follow.
He has a three week suspension from safety monitoring, which makes him sad mostly because he liked seeing Pavel outside of class, and from how disappointed Mr. McCoy had looked about the whole thing. He's not upset about the fight, though.
He knows he's lucky that he didn't have his Galaxy Con privileges taken away, but his mom wasn't as mad as he thought she'd be.
Going to the Convention planning threads on the forum usually gets Hikaru excited, and he really needs some excitement if he's going to never give up, never surrender.
GOING TO SAN FRAN. CHAPEL HILLS CONVENTION?
Is anyone interested in getting together at the Chapel Hills's bar after the panels, around five or six pm? I'll be there either way of course. ;)
___________
-Grabthar's_Hammar
Count me in, Grabthar!!
inDIg0rain
Hikaru sighs. Last year, he tried to sneak out and go to a late night meet up, but ended up falling asleep waiting for his mom to get to bed. She doesn't like him to arrange to meet friends online who are way older than him. Besides that, last time he called to ask the hotel bar if kids could come in, they said no. That was the last convention he went to with his dad. His mom takes him now and she goes to all the panels with him and everything, but it's not the same. She only watched Galaxy Quest because his dad really liked it.
This isn't giving him much excitement at all.
He's about to go back to his usual posting threads, when a new comment pops up on the convention one.
Very Exciting
Hikaru gasps out loud, he types so quick he doesn't even think about sounding impressive or anything!
Commander_Andreievich R U GOING 2 THE GALAXY CON AT CHAPEL HILLS
-LAREDO9900
May Be
I Want to
Commander_Andreievich I AM GOING 2 GO SO MAYBE WE COLD MET UP. UR PICTURE IS COOL WERE DID U GET IT.
-LAREDO9900
Thank You I draw it
He is my character
LAREDO9900 I draw 1 for You
You want?
Hey guys, this is the mod, with a reminder to keep the discussion on topic. If you want to keep going OT you should probably message each other directly. Thanks.
-Mod
Commander_Andreievich WOW!!!!!!!!
-LAREDO9900
Mod SORRY…
-LAREDO9900
DOSE ANY1 KNOW HOW 2 MASSAGE DIRECTLY???!?!?!
-LAREDO9900
The mod messages him and shows Hikaru how it's done - that is the easy part. Carefully writing out his first message to Commander_Andreievich turns out to be way harder. He talked about having his own character, maybe it's a good idea to come up with a character of his own? He pretty much does, when he's playing in his own head! It takes him most of reading time to write it, but he's happy with his message:
Commander_Andreivich HOW R U? I WOOLD LIKE A DRAWING. I HAVE A CHARCTER 2. HES BIG AND HE WERES BLUE AND A SWORD INSTEED OF A PHASER. THANK YOU FOR DRAWING ME MY CHARCTER. 8) 8) 8)
Hikaru rereads it super slow and careful one more time before sending it, and decides to add:
PLEESE COME 2 GALAXY CON. :) ;)
-LAREDO9900
There's nothing to do but wait! When Pavel starts getting his stuff together to leave, Hikaru sighs, before remembering he doesn't have to go yet, because of his suspension! He can wait in the lab for twenty more minutes for a response.
It doesn't come, but Hikaru is still in such a good mood he bounces his way to his mom's minivan when she pulls up, and chases some of the dried, red and yellow leaves on their driveway, stomping them and listening to the satisfying crunch.
"You're in a good mood," his mom says, laughing.
Usually when Hikaru can talk, he doesn't think about it, if it just slips out of his throat super quick. But now, he's thinking about it, and he thinks he might be able to say something about his good news. It's just that good! He won't though, because he doesn't want to jinx it.
*
The new series - love it, hate it? Talk about it here!
The problem with the new series is the lack of spirit. They've got a bigger budget, sure, but what do they spend it on? Not the writers! The characters are flat, cardboard-cutout shadows of their former selves. Did I care when Doctor Lazarus was cut off from his homeworld? No, and why would I, when they completely dropped the storyline an episode later? The reboot is a shell of the former majesty of the Galaxy Quest series.
___________
-Grabthar's_Hammar
*STANDS AND APPLAUDS*
You said it better than I ever could. The new series is a travesty and you nailed it on the head. They should've just let the series die with some dignity…
inDIg0rain
The biggest problem with the reboot is how they COMPLETELY ignored the original series CAREFUL plotting of the relationship between Lazarus and Peter, in favor of shoving Peter/Tawny in our faces. It's so completely shallow, lacks any chemistry. Tawny was MUCH MORE GRACEFUL in the original version, when she worked with dignity. Now, she's an embarrassment to the NSEA! I hate seeing TAWNY when I should be seeing LAZARUS.
Peter and Lazarus' bond is what MADE THE SHOW. They forgot that, and they forgot the soul of the series.
___________
keep a little dream in your pocket . . .
Tawny Madison is best officer for me watching. She is navigator she is brave. Tawny is my favorite character. I like her new show and old show. New show is very good for Tawny Madison but I still like old show.
Go away trollie. Maybe you should put a little more work into your comments if you want people to take you seriously.
inDIg0rain
I LIKE TAWNY 2. I ALSO LIKE LAREDO. IF U WANT 2 KNOW Y THE NEW SERIES IS GOOD ITS 1 REASON: LAREDO. HE WAS JUST A LITTLE KID IN THE FIRST SERIES BUT NOW HES OLDER AND HES THE BEST CHARCTER. LAREDO AND TAWNY ARE GOOD PARTNERS.
Sorry, but Laredo and Tawny are supporting characters. They're only there to make the main characters look good, I.E. support them. They're boring. If the best defense of the new series is those two getting growth then you're basically admitting intellectual defeat.
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-Grabthar's_Hammar
LAREDO IS THE BEST PILOT IN THE NSEA!!!!!!!!!!!! HE IS NOT BORING U NEED UR BRAIN CHECKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!! IF HE IS B ORING TO U THEN U MUST THINK EVERYHING AWESOME THINGS R BORING LIKE TAWNY IS ALSO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! Commander_Andreievich IS RITE SHE IS BRAVE AND A GOOD Navigator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
U WOULD GO ON A ROLLARCOASTER AND JUST THINK THAT IT WOULD ONLY B GOOD IF LAZARUS WAS THERE.
IF U JUST WATCH THE SHOE U WOULD SEE THAT IT IS A GOOD SHOW BUT ALL U WANT 2 DO IS TALK ABOUT HOW IT IS BAD BCUZ UR HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE!!!!!!!!!!!! AND CALL N-E-1 THAT DOSE NOT AGREE WITH U A TROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM SERIOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO NOT CALL GOOD PEOPLE TROLLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Commander_Andreievich IS A GOOD PERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oooooh CAPSLOCK and EXCLAMATION POINTS. We're soooo scared. What are you, 10?
Sorry I called your girlfriend a troll, but maybe you should give her some grammar lessons so she doesn't sound so stupid in the future.
inDIg0rain
Commander_Andreievich IS NOT STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR UR INFROMATON HE IS A BOY AND HE IS NOT MY GIRFLREND AND HIS GRAMMAR IS OK, U R A BAD PERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U R THE TROLL WHEN U CALL A GOOD AND SMART PERSON STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!! U R THE WORST!!!!!!!!!
AND LAREDO AND TAWNY R THE BEST CHARACTERS!!!!!!!!!!1 U ARE THE WORST AND SO IS LAZURAS, HE IS JUST BORING!!!!!!!!!!!
(User was banned for this post)
*
"Not using the lab today?" McCoy asks. He pulls up the chair next to Hikaru's desk, where Hikaru is hiding his face in his arms.
He shakes his head without looking up.
"Can't say that I'm sad to hear that," McCoy says. "It's nice to see you out here among the living."
Hikaru just shrugs. He never told the commander his real name. He never even gave him his email address. He never told him they went to the same school and that it's super important that they go to Galaxy Con, and meet there, and become best friends in real life. Plus, that's not even the worst part! That was the account that Hikaru's dad helped him make. He can still log into it, but all the links that should take him to forums when he clicks don't work anymore. Being banned is terrible. It's like you're not even allowed on the board anymore!
Mr. McCoy sighs. "If you're this bummed out about it, I can talk to the principal and see if we can get that suspension lifted."
Hikaru lifts his head - trying to figure out if Mr. McCoy is doing some weird upfront thing, but his eyebrows look normal. He even smiles! Hikaru smiles back, because being unsuspended would make it a little easier to never give up.
Usually he's in Panda class until the bell rings, but today is a special, short day, before the beginning of the long weekend, and Galaxy Con, so they have a different schedule. When he passes the computer lab to leave the room, Pavel suddenly stands up super fast! He runs to the door and grabs Hikaru's hand again, shaking it.
Pavel takes a deep breath, and finally does more than just look like he wants to say something, he actually says it! Super carefully and slowly, he says, "Hikaru."
Hikaru smiles and nods, and shakes his hand harder.
As he walks to Mrs. Rand's class, he thinks he might really be able to never give up!
In Mrs. Rand's class, they're doing a group activity where people stand up in front of everyone else and talk about a book they've read, and he feels squirmy and uncomfortable like he always does when he sees the normal lessons kids do in class, when he's not there.
"Alright, that's all the presentations for the day. We have five minutes before your vacation really begins so - who wants to share what they'll be doing this long weekend?"
Hikaru's heart jerks, and he sits up straight, hands flat on the desk in front of him. If he raises his hand, and he mentions the convention in his weekend plans, then there might still be a chance for Commander Andreievich to see him!
Jim Kirk is usually the first one to raise his hand.
"I'm going fishing with my dad," he says with relish, eyeing Hikaru out the corner of his eye, like he knows Hikaru can't tell anyone the truth, and that makes him happy. "We're going up to Merced and we're going to spend our whole vacation up there. We won't even bring food because we're just going to live off the fish. We're both really good fishers."
There are three more kids with their hands in the air, two of them are boys. Maybe one of them is Commander Andreievich, and he'll say his plans for the weekend, so Hikaru won't have to. Hikaru doesn't really want this, though, because Thomas and Richard are the ones with their hands up, and Thomas laughs when other students fall, and Richard eats glue.
"We're going up to Montana, because my grandma owns a ranch out there," Thomas says when Mrs. Rand calls his name. Hikaru knows Commander Andreievich is not Richard, and he knows he will have to talk about the conference if he has any hope of meeting the commander. But his throat is getting tight and his eyes are watering like they always do when he tries to talk. Hikaru's heart is pounding so hard he feels it in his fingertips, his cheeks are hot.
He lifts his hand to his shoulder then quickly brings it back down again. Richard is talking about a videogame. No one else has lifted their hands - Hikaru is running out of time, and he feels his eyes start to sting in panic.
"And when you reach the fourth level, like I'm gonna do this weekend, you unlock all these bonus characters-"
"Hikaru!" Mrs. Rand sounds startled and pleased, interrupting Richard to call on him. "You have something to share?"
Hikaru lowers his hand slowly. The entire class is staring. Richard doesn't even look upset about his story being interrupted, gaping at Hikaru like one of the fish Jim Kirk is pretending to catch with his dad tomorrow.
Hikaru gapes back, trying to bring air to this throat, then out his mouth, but nothing comes.
"Do you have something planned for this weekend, Hikaru?" Mrs. Rand asks, she looks hopeful and happy like adults always look when they think Hikaru might talk, and he tries, he opens his mouth again but the only thing that comes out is a little puff of air.
"Well!" Mrs. Rand says, clapping her hands loudly to bring the class's attention back to the front. "I'm sure we all have very exciting vacations planned!"
Hikaru's eyes are stinging again, and he crosses his arms, slumping down low in his desk. The last thing he wants Commander Andreievich to see is him crying.
*
"Jeez, these crowds get worse every year," his mom says. She's holding up the convention schedule, looking at the panels that Hikaru circled. "'Out with the New, in with the Old?' You really want to sit through a panel on that? They're probably just going to say a lot of stuff you disagree with, honey."
Hikaru knows that, but they have to go to this panel. If the commander comes - well, he might show up at this panel. He knows it's a stretch but it's the best option he can think of! They're late to the panel, though, when they get there the panelists have already started talking, and Hikaru stands on his tip toes to see if there are any kids his age in the audience, but doesn't see any.
"So I just want to see if there's a general consensus that the new series is, well. I see some kids in the audience, so, crap," a man with a beard is saying this.
"Yep. I think there's a lot of delusion going on with fans who have this loyalty to what the series used to be, and they just refuse to see that fundamental characters and elements of Galaxy Quest are getting swept to the side, for a more ensemble approach. And in the end it weakens what we all loved about the series."
"No!" Hikaru says, jumping up out of his seat.
"Excuse me-"
"You're just calling it bad! You're ignoring everything good about it!"
"Hikaru!" his mom says, reaching out to hold his arm, but doesn't tell him to stop.
"Well, we're calling it bad, and talking about what isn't good about it," says the beard, and they all laugh lightly.
"You can't just say the parts that you think are important are the only things that matter! There's more than one thing to like about a show!"
"Listen, kid, this is panel about opinions. This is our opinion, you're welcome to disagree-"
"No, you know what?" one of the other panelists interrupts him. This new one has a thin face, like a bird, and he stares at Hikaru like he wants to peck out his eyes with his long, thin nose. "This might make me the bad guy, but I can say from a completely objective standpoint that the show's quality has plummeted when compared to the earlier series. I mean, maybe if it didn't have the original series to compare it against, it could be a decent series. But Peter's character is completely warped, the friendship that's supposed to-"
"That is what you like when you watch the Galaxy Quest, but that is not only way!"
Hikaru whirls around.
It's Pavel! He's standing, with both of his hands in fists at his side, and Hikaru's jaw drops when they make eye contact. Pavel likes Galaxy Quest? Pavel knows English all the way? It takes him a second longer for it to click: Pavel is Commander Andreievich!
He wants to hear him say that a million more times, gah-lex-ee kwest.
"Once again, this is a panel specifically about our opinions, we're not trying to say there's a right or wrong-"
"I say you're wrong!"
"Okay, we're going to ask for comments to wait until the end of the panel."
Hikaru sits back down and his mom immediately grabs him, hugging him to her chest. "Hikaru!" she says, and can't seem to say much else, and Hikaru hugs her back but gets tired of it kind of fast, watching Pavel out the corner of his eye.
When Pavel and his dad leave early, Hikaru practically falls over himself to follow them! It's okay, though, because they didn't go far, stopping right outside of the doors, his dad spreading his arms as he talks. "See? What have I been saying this whole time, your English is just fine! You were so passionate, Pavel!" he says with a very thick accent. He stops when he sees Hikaru watching. "Ah! Who is this, then? Your American friend?"
"Hello! Hello, this is Hikaru, my son," his mom says, rushing out of the conference room and reaching out to shake Pavel's dad's hand. They talk together while Pavel and Hikaru smile at each other - Hikaru can't believe his luck! But it makes sense, now, because Pavel is one of the best people he knows in real life. He should've known he would like something as great as Galaxy Quest!
They compare schedules and Hikaru is not at all surprised to see that most of their selected panels are the same. He's also not surprised that this turns out to be the best Galaxy Con ever.
*
Episode 4x18 Discussion! Spoilers below!
So I think we can all agree - with the exception of a few notable scenes of Laredo and Tawny, of course! - that last night's episode was a complete crap fest. Waste of my time.
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-Grabthar's_Hammar
Why even bother with the exception??? Laredo's actor is so STIFF it makes me uncomfortable to even watch him on screen!! Why do I continue to watch the show? I ask myself this every week.
inDIg0rain
I SAW THE NEW EPISODE WITH MY BEST FRIEND AND WE BOTH THINK IT WAS THE BEST OF THE SERIES!! WHEN TAWNY LERNED THE TRUTRH ABOUT HER DAD BEING AN ALIEN IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!! AND WHEN LAREDO CAME UP WITH THE NEW FLYING tactic IT WAS VERY SCARY BUT COOL TO!!!! WOW BEST EPISODE EVER!! I AM GOING TO WATCH IT A LOT OF TIMES BE4 THE NEW EPISODE COMES OUT!!!! IT WAS THAT COOL!!!1!!
Why aren't you BANNED???
inDIg0rain
This Tawny Madison episode was very good. When she cries I feel sad, like I am also sad. This was a good episode. I want more episodes like this good episode.
YES WHEN SHE WAS SAD IT MADE ME SAD TO!!!!! WOW THIS IS A GREAT SHOW!!!!!
ALSO THE END WAS SO FUNNY. I LIKE WHEN DR LAZARUS SHOWS HIS HUMOR SIDE!!
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-Grabthar's_Hammar
Also Laredo learning new fly tricks was very excited. When Laredo fly the ship, I am excited. I hope there is more fly tricks in more episodes
that is a funny picture -Grabthar's_Hammar
Fly tricks?? Do you mean special effects??? And yeah, that's probably the ONLY redeeming aspect of the show at this point!! Only complete IDIOTS like you two could possibly find anything to like about it!! I have to ask, in all seriousness, are you over the age of 13?? If you are, and you aren't TROLLING, then you must LITERALLY be MENTALLY HANDICAPPED!
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-Grabthar's_Hammar
(User was banned for this post)
What is troll?
*
It's been four whole months but Hikaru will never get used to seeing Jim in Mr. McCoy's office! He goes in there three times a week, ever since Hikaru told Mr. McCoy about what Jim said to him after their fight. He thought Jim would hate him forever for that but they're friends, now. Jim even apologized for the fight and the slush ball.
It is getting easier and easier for Hikaru to talk. Mr. McCoy says that if everyone had a friend like Pavel, then he wouldn't have a job anymore! Hikaru knows this is true because sometimes talking to Mr. McCoy made him feel better, but talking to Pavel always does, even when he just says one or two words.
"Now this one?" Pavel asks. He's holding up the next episode of the original series.
"Okay," Hikaru says. A lot of times when he talks it sounds like a whisper, but Pavel always hears him. Just like Hikaru always understand Pavel even if his accent is so thick that no one else can!
Hikaru only watched the whole original series once, with his dad. But Pavel and Hikaru decided to do a marathon and watch them all over again, because on the forums, they're reviewing each old episode!
They sit in Hikaru's living room, with a blanket fort over the television set, and a bowl of popcorn. They're not going to leave all weekend, but Pavel usually spends all weekend at Hikaru's house anyway. The fort makes it feel especially special though.
Pavel really likes the old episodes, but Hikaru has a secret: he thinks they're kind of boring! But he likes laying on his stomach beside Pavel in their pajamas, and falling asleep with the episodes play, so he doesn't mind watching them at all.
"Hikaru!" Pavel says, and grabs Hikaru's shoulder. "This is best part, okay? Watch!"
"Okay!" Hikaru says, and watches.