A/N: Takes place about a year after the Galaxy Quest movie ends.
Matter of Perspective
"And...cut!" the director yelled, and everyone on the set relaxed, awaiting any command for another take.
"Levar! Is that it?" Jason Nesmith asked, from the chair of his character Captain Peter Taggart. This model was actually more comfortable than some easy chairs he had been in.
The director held up his hand to hold them while he reviewed footage on a viewscreen of the last take. He pulled his head from behind the viewing hood. "I'll probably need a few of you back for pickups in a couple weeks, but otherwise that's a season wrap folks!" he announced.
The cast cheered and made the rounds thanking the crew behind the scenes, and then retired as a group to the backstage dressing area. During the run of the original show, Nesmith had a trailer to himself while the others shared a common area adjacent to costuming. Now, by choice they all had small rooms that led out into a common area where they spent most of their time. Their adventure fighting General Sarris had not only gotten them a new run of their show, but also had united them in friendship and greater respect for their craft. It had been a joy returning to the show, and the conclusion of the first year with the new voyages was a cause for celebration.
"My fellow thespians," Alexander Dane announced as he started to remove his faux NSEA uniform of Dr. Lazarus "if you will allow me a brief interval to shed my Mak'tar persona and become a human again, I'll begin our evening as the host to what I promise you will be a delicious meal at a little restaurant I managed to stumble upon this year. I've been keeping it a surprise so none of you have had a chance to ruin the place yet..." Most laughed at the comment. "...but they shall no longer have that luxury. Our chariot shall arrive shortly and we'll be off!" he said with a flourish as he disappeared into the makeup department.
"He's in a great mood" Gwen DeMarco observed. As Lieutenant Tawny Madison, her mostly token role on the bridge had still inspired female fans; now as a commander she was second-in-command and had a more active leadership role. "I think that knighthood has done him good."
"It doesn't hurt that they changed the structure of the show so we all get spotlight episodes" Fred Qwan added. Now instead of playing beleaguered Tech Sergeant Chen and constantly complaining about the ship being pushed beyond its limits, he had a character with backstory and a love interest in Laliari. In the credits Laliari was played by Jane Doe, but in reality she really was named Laliari, an actual Thermian from their adventure who stayed behind after falling for Fred. She appeared human courtesy of an image projecting device that hid her true appearance, which was best described as resembling a multi-colored land octopus.
"I'm the one that needed a backstory the most" Tommy Webber added. "You all look about the same, although Fred sure looks a lot less Asian than he used to be" he joked.
"The network figured they didn't need a fake token Asian any more when they could work a few real ones in as occasional crewmen" Fred retorted.
"But the last episode of the old show I was a kid, and in the pilot for the reboot I'm an adult. I'm still convincing fans I'm the same actor." Tommy had played a precocious but talented kid named Laredo that became the Protector's pilot; in the two decades since the original show he had grown into an adult off screen.
"At least you have something to compare" Guy Fleegman snorted. "People ask me 'Did you ever watch the original show' because no one remembers that I was the first redshirt killed in episode 81. I got to say 'Commander, I…aaaarghhhh!' and that is it. Dead. I for one am grateful I got another tour of duty."
"Guy, you realize that we're actors, right? You're not really Security Chief 'Roc' Ingersol" Jason asked as he emerged from his room in street clothes.
"Uh, yeah, of course…I meant another chance to be with the cast" Guy said sheepishly.
"Good. This show had an asshole on it once, and that was one too many." Jason spoke of himself, and how he had been exceptionally egotistical and elitist to the rest of the cast before their adventure had set him straight. "Isn't Alexander out yet?"
"Remember how long the makeup used to take?" Gwen asked. "Even then…"
She was interrupted by Alexander emerging from the makeup department. "Ah, completely human again" he announced as he walked into the common area. He surveyed the group and found them all in street clothes. "Resplendent in our native attire, let us boldly go where…"
"Ah, come on Alexander, let's eat" Jason interrupted. "Save your speech for the first toast."
"Well put, mon capitaine" Alexander said with a bow. He glanced at his watch. "Let's be off!" As a group they followed the British actor as he led the way out of the maze of wires, walls and doors of the soundstage and into the studio alley behind the building. The sun had set, but their transportation lit the area.
"A bus limo?" asked Guy.
"No my friends…a party bus" Alexander proudly announced. The door opened and music could be heard playing from the inside. "It will be at our beck and call for the evening as we celebrate. Ladies and gentlemen, dinner awaits." He waved with his hand in the direction of the bus and they started to file into the vehicle.
"Should I do a security sweep first?" Guy asked eagerly as he moved toward the door.
"No Guy, I think we'll be okay on this vessel" Jason rebuked.
Shortly after they were all seated in the bus, trying to find out where the dinner location was.
"It's a surprise" Alexander said "and that's all I'm saying."
While this was happening Fred looked out the window and saw the chauffeur walk towards the bus. He walked with a most peculiar gate. Fred pointed it out to Laliari, who started to get excited.
"Uh, guys..." he started.
"It's not gonna be Japanese again, is it?" asked Gwen. "I just had that a couple of days ago."
"...um..." Fred continued. The chauffeur looked EXACTLY like Morgan Freeman from Driving Miss Daisy.
"No, it isn't going to be Japanese. Now quit guessing and you'll see when we get there. If I tell you then it wouldn't be a surprise, would it" Alexander said smugly.
The driver climbed into the bus, shut the doors, and immediately flew the bus straight up in the air, freezing the looks on everyone's faces.
"Should have done a security sweep" Guy muttered.