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Amalgam Universe

A 2339-post collection

Challenge #05035-M286: Pistil-Packing Researcher

The human had a warning sign on their quarters: "Do not enter without mask". They had sealed their air vent and brought in their own supply. When one of the crew came in, they understood. The human was hand-pollinating a hybrid plant they were trying to develop, and was taking all precautions. -- BKF

Humans know they're dangerous when they're bored. Those knowing they were destined for long-haul travel got involved in long-term hobbies. Alternately, Humans who have long-term hobbies are destined for long-haul travel. It's hard to tell. They find each other nevertheless.

Human Keefe's hobby was botany. There was a bonsai that he coddled like a fussy child, and an entire lab's worth of strangely interesting plants.

Including carnivorous ones because some Deathworlders really like to rub it in.

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Challenge #05030-M281: Surprise Family

The marines had picked up an escape pod with a young deathworlder child. They looked up how to care for them, how to help ensure their scales were kept clean, taught them to read and write. The child was one of the best protected kids in their sector, and had a whole bunch of unties. -- BKF

They were supposed to be in the middle of nowhere. A part of the spaceways that existed solely as a transit point. Yet they also

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Challenge #05029-M280: Pest Control System Volunteer Maintenance

The young humans, carrying fur-brushes, began hunting all of the skitties in the small station. Their mission? Give them all a full brush-out. Needless to say, the skitties enjoyed the attention. -- BKF

There's a very Human saying - the devil finds work for idle hands. Translated from their ancient superstitions, it boils down to: "Don't let your Humans get bored." Humans have a knack for finding trouble before it gets lost.

Especially the younger Humans.

This particular band were allegedly part

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Challenge #05028-M279: Mistaken Protection

They leapt in front of an attacker to save a deathworlder. The attacker fled in terror at a giant snake striking at them. -- BKF

[AN: Cogniscent species must have tool use to get into space, so interestingly snake-like sneople it is]

The Edge Territories have been likened to a box of chocolates. First, you never know what you're going to get. Secondly - it's highly dangerous for a lot of people who exist in there.

Shissothi didn't think of Trading Station

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Challenge #05024-M275: Clinic Sub Rosa

I was asked by a person wearing red, yellow, and black what I wanted for patching them up. I stated that all I wanted was to run my clinic, and no longer be afraid to help those who truly needed my help. To no longer be punished for giving the care I trained years to perfect, to those too poor to go anywhere else. -- BKF

The words, First and foremost, do no harm, are written above my clinic door. Very few

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Challenge #05022-M273: Persistence Predators

Several Alliance members, and other species not in the Rim, challenge the humans to a 20 k race. The humans show why they survived to become the apex predators on earth. -- BKF

[AN: Alliance space is more than the galactic rim. Thanks to wormholes, parts of the Alliance linked by Hyperspace could be ANYWHERE]

The funny thing about Humans is - they don't look like Deathworlders. No horns, claws, fangs, or venom are on their side. They look like lanky awkward,

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Challenge #05021-M272: Honing All Weapons

Mr Sunshine teaches a person to defend themselves in a very dangerous polity. -- BKF

The hunter surveys what should be his prey. Timid and twitchy. Hunched as if to hide. Keeping close to the walls and the shadows, much like a mouse hoping to remain unobserved and thereby unattacked.

That sort of behaviour drew in predators like honey drew in flies.

Mr. Sunshine could tell that his host, Raf, knew that Sunshine was a dangerous man. It was all in the

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Challenge #05020-M271: Support Animal

A small havenworlder has a highly trained Saint Bernard as their mount, their protection, and their friend. -- BKF

Humanity had the same joke for large dogs for centuries: "Put a saddle on that thing," they would say, or, "Have you tried riding it yet?" And for centuries it got at least a sympathy chuckle. Until Humanity met species that actually could ride those things.

Tiny Havenworlders using enormous dog breeds as mounts and personal security became commonplace almost overnight. Often the

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Challenge #05018-M269: Far-Reaching Kindness

The therapists struggled to try to get them to care about their own life, at least a little. Their self-sacrificing, working to aid others to the point of detriment to their health had become starkly noticeable to say the least. Then Jay came in to talk to them, and soon left angry, and began hunting. -- BKF

Civilisation is relative, depending entirely on those naming it such. This is doubly so in the Edge Territories, where some species view their Ship's Human

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Challenge #05016-M267: Its Inventor's Voice

A human listens to a very strange, and ancient, device. A music player that uses cylinder shaped medium. -- BKF

If there is one truth in the Galactic Alliance, it is that the Archivaas will preserve, restore, and archive everything. Anything and everything Humanity made, at first, but then everything and anything that Humanity encountered. Documents, recordings, items, and sometimes animals.

Every kind of media and every means of experiencing it.

It's easy to get lost in their mega-complexes, so they take

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Challenge #05011-M262: DIY Entertainment

Unfortunately, the Ship's Human was bored -- InterNutter

Long haul missions are no place for an active Human. Nevertheless, every ship with business in the Alliance is better off with at least one Ship's Human. The best hope is to have enough enrichment strategies to keep their Human or Humans entertained between destinations.

The crew of the Pack Animal Pilgrim had never thought that a Human could get bored with the enrichment.

They had complete access to the Archivaas' digital library. All

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Challenge #05010-M261: Driving Purpose

So tired they could barely think straight, they forced themselves forward, just one more ridge, one more rise... until they collapsed against a beautiful white feline being talking to two individuals wearing bright colors and passed out. -- BKF

One more step. Just get there. Not far now. Lift one foot. Place it in front. Follow the path. Lift the other one. Place it in front. Look up. See the camp.

Goal in sight.

Tents and vehicles spread out in a previously

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Challenge #05002-M253: Found Wanting

I may not be licensed, but I will hold this child. They're crying, they need help. I don't give a damn about your rules. You're not licensed either, and watching a young child wailing in fear and discomfort without aid is cruel. -- BKF

[AN: I understand the spirit of the prompt, and am writing for that. With reference to https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04984-m235-post-trauma-trauma-comfort ]

Prentice Medik Jarl, do you understand the charges you are answering for today?

I don't, sir.

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Challenge #04997-M248: Bred For Business

The crew of the research vessel learns from the human how to train canines properly so the animals can help carry light, for the animals, loads, and help protect the crew when the human is unable to. -- BKF

[AN: Surprise, I know jack shit about dog training! Nevertheless, I shall make an attempt]

In centuries past, on a Deathworld appropriately named Terra, the Humans looked at the wolf and said something like, "That looks friend-shaped." The descendants of those wolves were

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Challenge #04995-M246: Herd of Ranching?

Some Alliance members want to experience what it's like on a ranch. Riding, herding, and the foods that are enjoyed there. -- BKF

[AN: Farming doesn't have to be a tourist activity, no matter how advanced the civilisation]

It's not that cattle farming is extinct. It's just that tube-grown meat is cheaper and more economical in space stations and long-haul vessels. Since most of Alliance interactions occur in those environments, it's simple to presume that cattle farming is a bygone art.

Nothing

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