Was it really not alien, or just the conference?

Just the conference. And part of their banter, dancing around the real reason Jack was there.

Very engaging story and makes me want to know Mel and Jack's back story even more.

I have the beginnings of a sequel with more into their back story, so there will be more eventually. I just have more than one plot bunny to wrangle, and have to see what the muses most want to work on.