Praying For The End of Time

On an alien planet where adults can't survive without being biologically bonded with their spouse, divorce is messier. Luckily, an experimental surgery has been introduced that can swap who people are connected with. However, dating is... complicated.

Long Description

For members of the genderless vesper species of planet ML-1021, marriage is a biological process. After they are married, two people join hands and a biological process takes place which permanently joins the hands together. Until recently, if anything separated them, both vespers died. A new medical breakthrough has allowed two vespers to become separated surgically, and as long as both are joined to new partners immediately. The hope that this procedure brought for many unhappy couples was quickly dashed as governments around the planet placed onerous restrictions on the procedure. The government demands high fees and requires participants to meet through a government sanctioned speed dating event. Unlike most speed dating, this is a high stakes event. If two people match but their spouses do not find someone new, then the two that matched can force the surgery to happen, causing the death of their former spouses. Additionally, participants will have paid the price for the surgery, regardless of whether they find a new partner or not.