Let’s face it: costumes are the real reason to attend a sci-fi convention. Celebrities are okay. Talented writers and artists are nice to meet if they’re not terrible people. Panels, Q&As, and fan club meetings are great opportunities for great minds to hang out together. There’s also something to be said for wandering the dealers’ room for new hobbyist purchases, whether new items you’ve never seen or vintage collectibles you could never afford. My wife and I even attended an interesting lecture on nineteenth-century forensics, which drew comparisons between the original Sherlock Holmes stories and later historical developments in the field.

When it comes to Internet recaps, though, costumes are the main attraction. They celebrate our favorite characters, they showcase the creativity and inspiration of dedicated fans, they enliven the dullest moments of any convention, and they help distract us from garish hotel carpeting.

Among the best of this year’s bunch: a pink samurai, hanging out for a moment here with one of Indianapolis’ own Naptown Roller Girls.

Naturally, standard Trek characters were out in full force, such as Q and his companion from the Enterprise crew.

For fans of the original series, an old-school classic-Trek Klingon made a rare con appearance, courtesy of the local chapter of the Starfleet Command fan club.

Also patrolling the premises: Bukai the Dragon Ranger, from the Super Sentai sixteenth iteration, Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. Or, y’know, “the Green Power Ranger!” to you Americentric rabble.

For anyone who feels left out because they don’t recognize any of these costumes so far, I present…TV’s Velma! If I have to explain who she is, you should consider buying at least one screen-based object for your house or shack.

Friday night opening ceremonies included a color guard performance by assorted sci-fi personalities, as well as musical numbers and tributes and such.

If you didn’t bring your own costume, you could either buy shirts and accessories from the dealers’ room, or visit the very special NASA exhibit, which included a simulated astronaut’s uniform available for try-ons. You, too, could feel what it’s like to be among those brave pioneers who come as close to infinity-and-beyond as NASA’s shoestring budget will stretch nowadays. Unfortunately the suit wasn’t made for guys like me who are too tall to be horse jockeys. I couldn’t even wedge my head inside the helmet. My wife, on the other hand, fit just fine and totally stole my planned photo op. Good for her. Not that I’m bitter.

Also part of that NASA exhibit: a genuine moon rock from the planet Moon, the only object in the entire convention that had its own security guard on duty.

In addition to costumes and costume accessories, available products and goods in the dealers’ room included Trek action figures of years past, tons of Doctor Who paraphernalia, Japanese snacks, Trek pet toys, and these residents of the Island of Misfit Board Games. If I’d panned left, the shot would’ve included a game I once owned as a kid, The MAD Magazine Game. Good times.

We conclude here with an encore appearance by Messrs. O’Reilly and Hertzler from Part One, returning for the grand finale in a special souvenir photo taken with this writer and his aforementioned wife.

And a fun time was had by all, especially the two Klingons who were mesmerized by my Hawaiian shirt.

The End. Thanks for reading!