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Amalgam Universe

A 2210-post collection

Challenge #04469-L085: When in Doubt...

A: are you sure this building is up to spec?

B: trust me I had the best engineers working on this project everything this geometrical perfect to ±0.003 tolerance.

A: I may be a lowly contractor, but the wall is 92° from where I’m standing.

B: I-impossible I had it tripled checked before installation!

A: there’s a mountain goat licking for salt around 90 m above us -- Anon Guest

Architect Blaine looked up. Sure enough, the beast in question was perched on an apparently vertical expanse. Sniffing and licking the otherwise plain concrete. There were distant specks further up that also had to be goats.

"NO! We used the best satellite and laser technology! This was computer aided in every single step. This is impossible!"

"So," said Contractor Arde, "None of you took out a spirit level at any time?"

Blaine sneered down their nose at Arde. "This is a work about the pinnacle of technology. A monument to progress! No need for stone-age tools at all. Computers! Lasers! Artificial Intelligence! Every ninety degree angle measured with the most advanced technology that humanity could concoct. No physical tools beyond the construction machinery. It was meant to be perfect... Perfect."

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Challenge #04467-L083: Wastenaught

"What are you doing with all that plant waste and old clothing you're shredding?"

I'm going to make homemade paper.

"Paper out of clothing and old plants??"

Yep, it's going to be a very pretty soft green. -- Anon Guest

The thing about space travel is that it's difficult to take everything with you. Since it is the longest possible trip from A to B, taking everything for the trip means even more fuel expended to push it all towards B. Or

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Challenge #04466-L082: Breakable But Better

In the early days, when humans were first officially recognized by the alliance, not a lot was known about them. Imagine the shock, and a little bit of fear, when injuries, including internal bruising, though no bleeding, and broken bones, not only didn't send the human into shock, but also didn't require full sedation or surgeries. And even more surprising was their recovery rate! -- New Guy

First, there were a few incidents. Close encounters, near misses, glimpses in unfamiliar territory. And

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Challenge #04465-L081: For the Greater Good

The planet's population was quarantined due to an illness outbreak. "Pure Life" groups kept trying to stop the Galactics and their allies from going in, even trying to use force, because "adaptation is the only way for a population to become immune." The humans with common sense laugh at them and plow through, saving it from becoming a dead world. -- Anon Guest

For every advance in science, society, and technology, there's at least one band of lunatics willing to oppose it

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Challenge #04464-L080: But My PyxtokGram!

It is a time of peril, so while others are doing preventative measures. Others are wandering in the most dangerous sorts, taking 'selfies' and going where they should not, just to see what it's like. -- She Who Knits

Emergency Response Teams are trained to deal with danger. They have to act quickly, lest the emergency turn into a disaster. On stations and ships, even the passengers know to get out of the way or get to safety. Preferably both.

Planetside is

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Challenge #04462-L078: Obligate Carnivores

The humans laughed in amusement as the galactic visitors learn of carnivorous plants such as sundews, venus fly traps, and pitcher plants, and giant ones such as the Attenborough's pitcher plant, which is nearly large enough to trap a small human. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I tried to find some size comparisons, but I couldn't find any that would imperil a toddler. A guinea pig, yes. Toddler, no.]

The package was large and in stasis. There were several warnings that alarmingly included

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Challenge #04458-L074: Methuselah Engineering

A: this is… a hydro-electric plant?

B: yep this brick steel concrete is built to last a century.

A: how old is it?

B: I say 100 years give or take a few decades.

A: wha- so in case of a fire…

B: the only steps I’m taking are [flipping] big ones. -- Anon Guest

It's generally a safe idea to run when one sees a Human running. The only exception being on an approved jogging track. Such cautions definitely hold

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Challenge #04457-L073: They Heal Slowly Too

Humans. Everyone thinks they're indestructible. But most don't see what I've seen. Like the ones here in this hospital recovering. Sure they saved their crews, but their bodies need a lot of repair, and rest. -- Anon Guest

The warning had gone out years ago, that Humans die slowly. When something causes their demise, it is either swift and messy - or clean, slow, and agonising. When the human is too hurt to complain about the pain, they're really in danger.

The

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Challenge #04454-L070: Statistical Outliers

Their planet was tidally locked. They'd never heard of life forming on a world that spun despite the gravity of their sun. Then they learned of worlds like the Earth, and a whole new perspective opened for them. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I have seen SO much speculative biology based on eyeball worlds. They for sure wouldn't be Havenworlders though]

Nobody from a Deathworld believes they're on a Deathworld until they see the alternatives. This holds true for worlds that should definitely

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Challenge #04451-L067: An Oft Repeated Mistake

They looked thin, wiry, but something in that hard expression said that the body's looks were deceiving. When the pirates tried to cause trouble for the colony, she only gave them ONE warning "I am a Marine". They learned the hard way what that meant. -- Fighting Fit

The pirate ship cruised in to the small colonial spaceport like they owned the place. For all anyone knew, they intended to own it shortly. They were arrogant in general and presumptive of their

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Challenge #04448-L064: Completely Unsupervised Chaos

You can't control chaos, don't even try. So what makes you think you can control the humans? -- Anon Guest

The Humans, as always, have a song that fits... even if it only fits slightly. There's a hold-up in the Bronx/ Brooklyn's broken out in fights/ There's a traffic jam in Harlem that's backed up to Jackson Heights/ There's a scout troop short a child/ Khrushchev's due in Idlewild... The meaning's been lost to the centuries, but it does contain the moral

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Challenge #04446-L062: Responsibility's Burden

Things go wring, any sentient being knows this. So emergency stuff is kept close. From the emergency safety pin to the list of beings who will come to your aid and make it 'go away. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I kept the typos in this prompt on purpose. I think it fits the mood]

Every cogniscent being should have a Handy Stash. That is, a stash of things that come in handy. The omnitool, the package of adhesive medical strips, gaffa tape,

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Challenge #04445-L061: Deathworlder Health and Maintenance

"Human, you said water boils at 100 degrees Fahrenheit?"

Yes.

"And your fever is almost 102."

Yes.

"Why are you not boiling in your on flesh?"

It feels like it, but our bodies are stronger than that, and it's what kills viruses the fastest. When it comes to kill or cure? Nothing beats our immune systems. -- Fighting Fit

Companion Kank boggled at the Ships' Human. "What did you do before advanced medical intervention?"

"Aw come on. I'm not in a lot

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Challenge #04441-L057: Do Not the Humans

This group of idiotic deathworlders did not listen when the Alliance warned them not to harass the humans. Why do some people have to learn the hard way? -- Anon Guest

"Listen," said the AI guide. "You're big tough Deathworlders, and wish to prove it. There's other Deathworlders, here, and the temptation is very strong to test how Deathworlder they all are. There's arenas for that."

The tourist group grumbled a little, but seemed to accept the limit on their usual behaviour.

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Challenge #04439-L055: Strangers in the Night

The way the human was staggering, I thought they were drunk. When they passed out to sleep, tests indicated they were merely severely sleep deprived. -- Anon Guest

There is one rule that covers all the space ways. Help others, for the trouble may one day be yours. In space travel, it was to always respond to a distress call. On more stable ground, the habit carried over to helping a stranger who clearly needed help.

Planetside, this meant paying attention to

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