Klingon For A Day Star Trek Fans Boldly Go To The Spokane Valley Mall

At 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday, Admiral Kor of the Imperial Klingon Vessel bortaS’ stands half-dressed in his bathroom, a sponge in one hand and a jar of brown goo in the other.

The routine of securing his ridged Klingon scalp and blending in make-up takes almost two hours. It has to be convincing.

When he’s not in Star Trek attire, Ed Burton and his wife Dawn are an everyday Airway Heights couple. Well, almost everyday - except for a collector’s edition Star Trek plates, a shelf full of Star Trek movies and a honeymoon album rife with photos from their Star Trek cruise.

They met a few years ago at a Star Trek convention. Neither one wanted to get married. But it was a match made in the final frontier.

Now, in their spare time, they dress up as Star Trek characters and attend events like last Saturday’s gathering at the Spokane Valley Mall.

“We basically work for the betterment of the community,” Burton said, citing Klingons for Kids and the non-profit Wishing Star Foundation as charities for whom he’ll Trek-out.

Burton’s elaborate costume, right down to the painted plywood belt buckle and ironing-board-cover vest, is 10 percent material and 90 percent ingenuity. It took months to create and 30 minutes to put on.

“We’re into it a little bit, but we’re not as die-hard as some,” he said of being a Treker. “I know that underneath this makeup is still Ed Burton.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 4 Color photos

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Hannelore Sudermann Staff writer