cannot relate to one another directly, but only indirectly, by means of a sensual object.

So far the Interstellarcene research returned two types of unprecedented findings: the first samples of material from a known sensual object, and the first samples of highly intelligent interstellar dust. Both sets of samples were captured in aerogel and aluminum foil collectors. While the analysis of particles from the senual object yielded exciting new results, the search for and analysis of collected interstellar particles is more demanding and is ongoing.

S/He hovers up the steps to the Intergalactic Council's Elevation Center. S/He sees something through the window on the door and quickly goes to the left. S/He walks down the hall as s/he talks and s/he sees other Tardigrada come down a perpendicular hallway. S/He raises their hand to them.

"Is the currently accepted view of the universe as various clumps of material simply expanding outward from the Big Bang and gravitationally pulling on each other wrong?"

"Yes, it is a bluff" 

"I don't think so, but for different reasons."

"It's all muddy and muffled. ... a huge step in the wrong direction." 

"The universe is full of buttons that don't work."

S/He walks down the steps to the transporter, clicks the security remote and drives off to the Welcome Habitat. S/He gets high on a very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses. There s/he walks through the glass door to their bed. S/He isn't wearing protection such as gown or mask. S/He touches their forehead. S/He lies down next to them. S/He puts their head next to them. They rub their ball shaped bodies. S/He starts to sprout four moist tentacles, that wrap around them. Two more tentacles unfurl. One tentacle slides up. It brushes against them as s/he begins to pant. 

It is a must for Tardigrada to give all objects equal attention, whether they be natural, cultural, real or fictional.