What’s the Deal with White Aliens?

When Alex showed up in Ludos' corner with a cooler and a dead body, Ludos was at a loss for words. She didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything.

"We need to put this body on ice until the funeral or whatever," Alex said.

"What do you think, I have a morgue in my house?" Ludos said.

"Can you make one with your godly powers?" Alex said.

"Probably. I've never tried," Ludos said.

"Can you try?" Alex said.

"Ok, fine," Ludos said. She waved her hand, and a refrigerated mortuary cabinet showed up behind the couch. It had little touch screens on it that you could play games on.

Alex didn't think twice about it. He just figured she had to make something related to games to get her powers to work. He opened one of the drawers, gently laid the body inside, and closed the drawer.

Alex breathed a sigh of relief. That was a lot more work than he expected it to be. Sometimes doing the right thing was exhausting.

"Do you want to explain what all that was about?" Ludos said, looking at the mortuary cabinet she had just chilling next to her couch.

"Yeah. So if you don't keep a body cold, it starts to decompose, and it starts to smell. Usually they don't like that at funerals," Alex said.

"I know that! I meant, why do you have a dead body with you?" Ludos said.

"It's a long story," Alex said.

"I've got time," Ludos said.

Alex explained the mission to Ludos. He explained the encounter with the aliens, the surprise attack by the bats, forming a temporary alliance with the aliens, and the death of the alien leader's fiance despite his attempt to save it.

He also explained his reasoning for the leader's capture and imprisonment rather than execution.

"That's quite an adventure, but why did you bring the body here and not just bury it somewhere out there?"

"Dasrene was unconscious, and I didn't know what the alien customs are for taking care of the dead. I wanted to wait until I could speak to Dasrene, preferably with it behind bars. But Hermes took Dasrene to who knows where. Which is why we need to talk to Morcai," Alex said. "Where is Morcai?"

"Military strategy stuff with the gods," Ludos said.

"Can you take me there?" Alex said.

"Sure," Ludos said.

When they arrived, Morcai was explaining something to Thor, and Odin was nodding in the background like he understood everything that was being said.

"Right, and then we smash it," Thor said.

"No, we don't smash it. We keep it safe where they can't get to it," Morcai said.

"But if we smash it, they can't use it, and we don't have to worry about them stealing it back," Thor said.

"If we smash it, it might cause a dimensional collision or a worldwide cataclysm," Morcai said.

"So we don't smash it?" Thor said.

"No, we don't smash it," Morcai said.

"Ok, I think I get it now. Thank you, Morcai," Thor said, patting it on the back and walking away.

Chet and Bjorn were there. Alex nodded to them, and they nodded back. They seemed a little worse for wear. They were covered in cuts, and they had blood on their clothes.

Alex didn't particularly want to talk to them at this time though, so he walked directly over to Morcai.

"I'd like to organize a debriefing, and I want you to be there," Alex said.

"I can do that now," Morcai said.

Morcai spoke to the appropriate people and organized a debriefing. The people who were going to be present were Alex, Sophia, Morcai, Ludos, Athena, and Hermes. Alex and Sophia because they were on the mission.

Morcai for the alien perspective. Ludos because she was Alex's patron deity, and Athena because she was Sophia's patron deity.

Hermes because he was a messenger and could tell the people who needed to know what was discussed. That and he was an excellent orator and debriefer, if he did say so himself. Which he did.

"Ok, how does this work? Do Sophia and I go first, or do you ask us questions?" Alex said.

"I usually go first, Alex. Thank you very much. Now if you will let me speak, I will gladly do so," Hermes said sarcastically.

"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to debrief the mission participants, Alex and Sophia, on their mission through the portal with the purpose to retrieve the dimensional core before the aliens and return here safely.

"We will begin with an initial narrative where Alex and Sophia will tell us in there own words what happened on the mission."

Hermes gestured for Alex or Sophia to speak. Alex looked at Sophia, but she seemed to be waiting for him. He didn't know when he became the leader, but he wasn't going to argue.

Alex gave a detailed account of the mission, from start to finish, including the part where he stuffed a dead body into a video game capable mortuary cabinet.

Sophia filled in the blanks whenever he paused to take a breath or when she had a different perspective to his.

After they were done, Hermes spoke once more. "Now is the time where I, the debriefer, and other participants," he said, looking at Ludos, Athena, and Morcai, "will ask clarifying questions to fill in gaps or clear up confusion about the series of events."

"So," Hermes leaned forward over the table, "where were you on May 13th, 1962?"

"Not alive yet," Alex said, completely unfazed by Hermes' lack of seriousness.

"Same," Sophia said.

"Would you be serious?" Athena said.

"Be serious? Who do you think I am?" Hermes said.

"A very sad little man who can never pass up the opportunity to tell a joke even when it is inappropriate, unwanted, or frankly, unfunny," Athena said.

"Too real," Hermes said. "I'm done. I will not continue this debriefing until my sister apologizes to me."

"Are you doing this right now?" Athena said.

"I am," Hermes said.

"Fine. I apologize for telling you the truth you don't want to hear," Athena said.

"Apology accepted," Hermes said. "Moving on. No further questions, your honor. I yield my time to the other participants."

Morcai spoke up. "So the commander of the unit was a blue alien?"

"That is correct," Alex said.

"I confirm that fact," Sophia said.

More to itself than anyone in the room, Morcai said, "So there wasn't a white alien to lead them. Interesting."

Everyone in the room turned and stared mortified at Morcai.

"I beg your pardon?" Athena said.

"A what now to do what now?" Ludos said.

"What did I say?" Morcai said, suddenly looking very small and frightened in its 'I heart NY' t-shirt.