Page 3 of Swipe Right for Stardust

“...can you believe the nerve of that Ethan guy? Strutting around like he owns the place...”

“...heard the Celestial Station has some wild nightlife. We should check it out later...”

“...wonder what kind of challenges they’ll throw at us. I hope it’s nothing too physical...”

I found a relatively secluded spot near a large viewing window, the vast expanse of space stretching out before me. The sight was breathtaking, reminding me of why I’d fallen in love with xenobiology in the first place. There was so much out there to discover, to study, to understand.

My moment of peace was short-lived. A muscular human male with short brown hair and a cocky grin swaggered up to me, a feline humanoid draped over his arm.

“Hey there, big blue,” he said, smirking. “I’m Ethan. This is Nala. We were just wondering – what’s your deal? You a bouncer or something?”

I reminded myself that patience was a virtue. “Actually, I’m a scientist. Dr. Zarnak Thal, xenobiologist.”

Ethan’s face scrunched up in confusion. “Xeno-what-now? Some kind of workout routine?”

Nala giggled, her amber eyes gleaming with mischief. “Oh, Ethan, you’re so funny. I’m sure it’s very... intellectual.” She turned to me, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “It must be hard finding clothes that fit, with all those... muscles. Do you work out a lot?”

I felt my fur bristle. “My physiology is natural for my species. And no, I don’t ‘work out’ beyond what’s necessary for my field research.”

Ethan snorted. “Field research? What, lifting heavy rocks or something?”

I closed my eyes briefly, counting to ten in my native language. When I opened them, I fixed Ethan with a level stare. “My work involves studying the intricate biological systems of various alien species and their environments. It requires a great deal of mental acuity and careful observation.”

Ethan’s eyes glazed over halfway through my explanation. Nala yawned dramatically.

“Wow, that sounds... really boring,” Ethan said. “Come on, Nala. Let’s go find someone more fun to talk to.”

As they walked away, I overheard Nala whisper, “What a waste of a perfectly good body.”

My reflection stared back at me from the window. My white mane seemed more disheveled than usual, my yellow eyes tired.

A flash of movement caught my eye, and I saw a young woman with flowing auburn hair making her way through the crowd. There was something about her that drew my attention – a spark of genuine curiosity in her green eyes as she took in her surroundings. Our gazes met, and I felt an inexplicable pull.

Before I could consider approaching her, she was swept away by the crowd. I shook my head, trying to clear it. I was here as a scientist, I reminded myself. This was an opportunity to observe and learn about interspecies social dynamics.

With renewed determination, I turned back to the room, ready to continue my “anthropological mission.” If I could survive expeditions to hostile alien worlds, surely I could survive a dating show.

Couldn’t I?

VANESSA

The opulence of the grand reception hall of the Celestial Station stunned me, a far cry from anything I’d ever seen on Earth. Shimmering holographic displays danced in the air, casting ethereal light across the faces of my fellow contestants. Above us, a star-field ceiling stretched into infinity, so realistic I almost believed we floated among the cosmos itself.

Panoramic windows lined one wall, showcasing the vast expanse of space. Pinpricks of starlight dotted the inky blackness, and I pressed my palm against the cool glass.

“Quite a sight, isn’t it?”

I turned to find a tall, willowy woman with iridescent green skin standing beside me. Her large, almond-shaped eyes blinked slowly as she gazed out the window.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” I admitted.

She smiled, revealing pointed teeth. “First time off-world?”

I nodded, suddenly feeling very small and out of place.

The room buzzed with nervous energy as contestants mingled. A muscular man with blue-tinted skin and tribal markings circled the room, his eyes darting from person to person as if sizing up the competition. Near the bar, a petite woman with feathers instead of hair chatted animatedly with a hulking figure whose skin looked like polished granite.

A small blue alien approached me. His markings pulsed with a soft light as he spoke.

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