Disclaimer: I do not know if the actors in my story are in character or not. I have not seen very many interviews or real life footage of all the actors to know how they would act in certain situations. This is just my educated guess. If you don't like how an actor is characterized, please leave a review and I'll consider your information. Thank you and enjoy.
There better be a damn good reason that I'm in the studio on a Saturday night, Jerry thought as he entered the sound stage. Giltomas had called about an hour ago and informed him of an important meeting that night. He would have blown it off, if Giltomas hadn't mentioned something about docked pay and less producing jobs should he not appear. He glanced around the stage. The others were already there, but Giltomas was nowhere in sight. Cleavant Derricks paced around the four chairs lined up in the middle of the studio. A very pissed off Sabrina Lloyd and spaced out Kari Wuhrer sat in the folding chairs.
"So, anyone know why this little pow-wow was set up tonight?" Jerry asked as he took his seat.
"Damned if I know, but it better be a damn good reason or we'll be celebrating someone's untimely death," muttered Sabrina.
Jerry grimaced and decided that at this moment silence would be golden. Sabrina was obviously in no mood for friendly small talk. Kari wasn't much of an intellectual conversationalist and he really did not want to know why she thought they were there. And then there was Cleavant, who seemed like he had to make a decision that involved the fate of the world. Why wasn't he getting dizzy or tired from all that pacing? Jerry sighed and sulked farther into his chair. He missed a date with Sarah Michelle Gellar for this! Just as Jerry convinced himself to screw this meeting and go get Sarah, Giltomas entered the studio from one of the observation booths with a teenage girl. Great! He missed a date with Buffy for a PR gig.
"It's about time you got here," Sabrina blurted. "Why the hell did you call us here on a Saturday night? Do you think we don't have better things to do?"
"You'll get the answers soon. First, I'd like to introduce you to Jen O'Maley. She brought our special guests for this evening."
The teenager froze in her tracks and just stared at the four of them. Aw, how cute, Jerry thought, a deer caught in the headlights. At least she knows who we are.
"Is there any other reason besides a terrified fan that we are here?" Sabrina inquired again.
"Yes, there is. Bring 'em in Tauverson."
Giltomas' pretty boy assistant entered the studio followed by four other people. As they entered the light, Jerry's jaw almost hit the ground.
"Sliders, I would like you to meet the Sliders," Giltomas stated with a grandeur gesture.
Jerry, Sabrina, and Kari rose from their seats and meet the Sliders half way. Lined up across their doubles, the actors and Sliders stared at each other in disbelief. Now, this was different. Jerry just looked over this supposed double. There had to be a zipper somewhere or at least make-up. Jerry glanced down the line to see how the others where doing. Sabrina looked confused and furious. Kari was, well, she looked as vacant as ever, but at least she seemed happy. He couldn't really tell how Cleavant felt though. He didn't look surprised or confused, but sick. Something didn't seem right.
"This definitely ranks high on the weird-meter, hey Q-ball," Rembrandt commented, finally breaking the silence.
"I think I need to sit down," Cleavant mumbled and went back to the line of chairs.
The silence settled in again, only to be broken by Kari.
"So, the thingie about everyone having a twin is true. And I thought they were just pulling my leg," she chirped in cheerfully.
Jerry and Quinn chuckled as Maggie nearly fell over backwards.
"Um, not really. I'm your double from a parallel universe. Like in the show."
"Get out of here! No one told me this was factual! And I thought they were so smart for making this stuff up. This is so cool. Maybe we can go shopping later."
Quinn leaned in close to Jerry and whispered, "You are kidding about her playing Maggie, aren't you? She's a complete ditz."
"This was the first role she wasn't typecast for," Jerry snickered back. "At least you don't have to work with her."
"Shouldn't someone restrain Maggie before she throttles that girl?"
Jerry shrugged as he circled around Quinn. It's nice having a look-a-like. Who knows? Maybe in a year or so, there will be one on every street corner, like the Elvises in Las Vegas, Jerry mused to himself. This creature in front of him was truly remarkable. It looked and sounded exactly like him, although his hair was slightly longer. But there must be some trick to it. Maybe April Fools' Day had been moved without him knowing. However, as he circled, a gesture, movement, or turn of the head caught his eye and "It's like looking into a living mirror" rang in his mind. He stared at this identical person. It WAS like looking into a living mirror and it scared the shit out of him. He wasn't going to let anyone know this though. If this was a joke, he'd have fun with it. Jerry stood directly in front of "Quinn" and gave him a once over again.
"Excellent job with the clone, my job will be so much easier now that there are two of me." Jerry reached out, pressed his finger against "Quinn's" nose, and then withdrew it. "Quinn" just stared quizzically at the actor.
"Uh-oh. I'm sorry, but this clone is broken. That is so unacceptable!"
"Huh?" "Quinn" muttered, even more perplexed. Jerry smirked at "Quinn"'s confusion, as well as his audience's. But who is that giggling? Jerry glanced around and saw the girl, what was her name, covering her mouth in an attempt to suppress full-out laughter.
"So, do YOU know what's wrong with him?" The girl nodded. Jen, that was her name. "Well, would you care to explain the problem?" She nodded again, a wicked grin on her face. She walked over to Jerry, reached up, and beeped his nose. As soon as her fingers pushed down on his skin, he let out a loud "Meep!" Jen jumped back in surprise at the volume, but continued to laugh.
"See?" Jerry inquired Quinn. Understanding quickly dawned on the Slider's face, followed by a comical smirk. Jerry's light mood dissipated. The familiarity of the smile freaked him out. This stranger's face mimicked the expressions of his own face. This isn't real. They don't exist. It's just some big joke. But if it isn't, why are we so alike? I'm not him, am I? Trying to regain his jovial mood, he brushed the disturbing thoughts to the back of his mind.
"So, Quinn. What actually happened on that world where no one had clothes?" Jerry finally asked slyly.
Quinn blushed, but smiled wickedly. "You're the actor, don't you know what happened? Or didn't you read the script?"
That little smart-ass. "We never were allowed to film that ep. Something about being on primetime and not having enough energy or patience to do the strategically placed objects ploy." But man it would have been so much fun! "So, what happened? Inquiring minds want to know."
"I'm not one to kiss and tell, and anyway, the show will probably get back around to it. It's such a popular world."
Jerry tried to prepare a retort, but his attention was focused on Sabrina. She stormed away from Wade with an agitated, "That's it!" and was now heading for the studio door. Giltomas stopped her and Jerry could just overhear the mumbled conversation.
"Where are you going, Miss Lloyd?"
"I don't have to take any of this. You know that you guys are really sick. My mind is made up and I'm not going to let any dressed up, over paid stunt double change it. I'm through with this sci-fi crap and there is nothing you can do to stop me."
Sabrina shoved Giltomas out of the way and stormed out the door.
"What was that about?" Quinn inquired.
Jerry brushed the panic off his face as he turned to face his double.
"Um, you know, salary disagreements and all. Hey, it's showbiz," Jerry lied. If this really was Quinn, he wouldn't appreciate the idea that Sabrina and therefore Wade were leaving the show.
"Yeah, I see." Quinn glanced around the stage and then continued in a tentative voice. "So, where is the actor who plays the Professor?"
At a loss for words, Jerry's breath caught in his throat.
"Um, well, you see," Jerry mumbled. "John, well, he, it's hard to explain. During the third season, he just…"
"I'm sorry for asking the question. Just forget it. If you're not comfortable with talking about it, then just leave it be," Quinn blurted quietly while shuffling his foot around.
"It's not like that, it's just…" Jerry sighed and sadly continued. "John had creative disagreements with the writing staff. He didn't think the show was living up to its potential and that it was going down the hole. He tried to spruce up the scripts, but he still wasn't pleased. So, he quit the show and wrote his own death scene."
"So, the actor's still…"
"He's living in England now."
"Oh, I see."
Quinn just looked down at his feet. Shit, I shouldn't have told him, Jerry scolded.
"Listen, I'm sorry man. I shouldn't have…"
"No, it's fine. It's just showbiz," Quinn muttered. "I think I need to sit for awhile."
Quinn brushed past Jerry to join Cleavant and the now-seated Wade and Jen at the line of folding chairs. Jerry raked his hand through his hair and sighed. Damn, I didn't mean to hurt him like that, he thought as he headed for the windowed office near the sound stages. He really needed a quiet place to digest all this info.