Page 51 of Swipe Right for Stardust

“Vanessa, stay back!” I called out, lunging for the device. Ice shards sliced through my suit, but I ignored the pain, focused solely on securing our prize.

I grabbed the generator just as a massive ice formation burst from the ground. It caught me in the chest, hurling me backward. I clutched the device to my body, using myself as a shield.

“Zarnak!” Vanessa’s scream pierced through the cacophony of shattering ice.

I hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from my lungs. Through blurred vision, I saw Vanessa racing towards me, heedless of the danger. With the last of my strength, I activated the containment field, encasing the aggressive ice sample within its protective bubble.

Vanessa reached me, her face a mask of fear and concern. “Are you hurt? What were you thinking?”

I managed a weak smile. “Securing our victory.”

She helped me to my feet, her touch gentle yet firm. “Don’t you ever do that again,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Vanessa’s eyes widened as she noticed the tears in my suit. “You’re exposed to the elements! We need to seal these breaches quickly.”

I nodded, reaching for the emergency repair kit attached to my belt. “There should be some quick-seal patches in here.”

Together, we worked swiftly to apply the adhesive patches over the worst of the tears. Vanessa’s fingers were nimble, pressing the edges of each patch to ensure a proper seal. As she smoothed the last one into place, her hand lingered on my chest.

“That should hold until we can get you proper repairs,” she said, her voice softer now. “How does it feel?”

I flexed carefully, testing the patches. “Much better. Thank you, Vanessa.”

As the ice settled around us, we stood there, breathless and exhilarated. The containment field hummed softly, our hard-won prize secured within. Relief washed over me, mingled with an overwhelming urge to pull Vanessa close.

I hesitated, uncertain of the boundaries between us. But before I could decide, Taffy burst from Vanessa’s pack, its body pulsing with a rapid succession of vibrant colors. The Cephalox’s tentacles waved excitedly, as if sharing in our triumph.

Vanessa laughed, the sound music to my ears. “I think someone’s happy we made it.”

I nodded, my eyes never leaving her face. “We all are.”

As we secured the sample, I took a moment to absorb our accomplishment. Against all odds, we’d succeeded. More than that, we’d worked together seamlessly, our strengths complementing each other in ways I’d never experienced before.

Unbidden, my mind began to wander. I imagined a future with Vanessa, exploring the far reaches of the universe together. The thought both thrilled and terrified me. What would happen when this race was over? Would she want to continue our partnership?

Hope and uncertainty warred within me as I helped Vanessa pack up our equipment. I savored these small moments of closeness, our hands brushing as we stowed away the containment field generator.

“So, what’s our next move?” Vanessa asked, zipping up her pack.

I felt a twinge of sadness, realizing our journey was nearing its end. “We should head back to the rendezvous point. With this sample, we’re in a strong position to win.”

She nodded, a hint of something – regret, perhaps? – in her eyes. “Right. Back to reality, I guess.”

Taffy chirped contentedly as it settled into the pack, seemingly satisfied with our adventure.

As we left, the full weight of my feelings for Vanessa hit me like a supernova. The realization left me breathless. She’d become more important to me than I’d ever thought possible.

I struggled internally, torn between the desire to express these newfound emotions and the need to focus on completing the race.

Silently, I made a promise to myself. Once the race was over, I would find the courage to tell Vanessa how I felt. Whatever came after, at least she would know the truth.

Just as we were about to set off, our com devices crackled to life. An SOS signal blared through the static, followed by Jake’s panicked voice.

“Help! Anyone... Silla’s hurt... We’re trapped...”

VANESSA

The static-filled cry for help crackled through our comms, Jake’s usually jovial tone replaced by panic. My heart hammered against my ribs as I processed his words. Silla was hurt. They were trapped.

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