Amalgam Universe

Challenge #03721-J068: Uncertain Failure Point

A Deregger world decides that literacy is the ultimate in keeping the populace in their place. Those that struggle to learn to read are segregated and given the WORST, most dangerous, the most horrific, jobs in the entire world. The CEO's learn quickly an educated population doesn't like being treated that way. The CEO's learn their own lessons, too late. The CRC, thinks teaching the populace to read was a FANTASTIC idea! -- DaniAndShali

Teach them to read so the CRC stays off your back, said the wisdom of Deregger philosophy. It came with the corollary that the peasants should only have access to approved propaganda. If anything from the offensive Alliance was to come in, it had to be touched up by editors within the polity.

It's amazing how a subtle change of phraseology can alter the way people think.

Nevertheless, knowledge crept in. The facts could remain, with minimal alteration, but what they meant... that could have consequences. Which lead, unsubtly, to literacy segregation. Those who could not read easily could not pass the tests that would get them more prestigious work, and wound up where they were less valued. They may not be easily able to read, but they were not stupid.

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Challenge #03720-J067: Important Standards

A highly arrogant Deregger decided to send to the "alliance scum" all of the "unwanted wastes of space." The elderly unable to work anymore, the "r-words" in their view who were not worth keeping alive, the disabled, the drug-addled wastrels, etc. Why? To try to swamp them with the "wastes of society" and prove that these individuals were too much for anyone to keep alive. It... backfired. -- Anon Guest

It seemed like a brilliant flash of genius to the Deregger community.

Challenge #03719-J066: Surprise Witnesses

They were hired to do an odd job. To make several young individuals disappear, but to make it look like these individuals were killed, when, in fact, they were very much alive. They had valuable information that needed to go get to the CRC, quickly, and be witnesses for the aftermath. -- Anon Guest

"We're theatre techs, not mercenaries," complained Techie Aed. "How are we going to live through this exercise." They looked to their team, who were also terrified.

"That's what

Challenge #03718-J065: Chalk Change

"Why in the name of the Powers are we doing this??"

"We're going to change the world!"

"By..... teaching a bunch of street-kids how to read and write?"

"Let me explain to you about what happens when you throw a stone into a pond again." -- Anon Guest

It was a world gone to hell. Polluted and lacking anything of worth, except the people. The CEO's had used the final 'D' of abominable business practices[1] and found somewhere else to use

Challenge #03713-J060: Motives to Change

He changed everything, for her. He went to B'Nar to have his appearance changed, for her. He got a different job to make her happy. He moved away from his home, for her. Then she said he wasn't enough, and left for another. He is going through intense therapy, because of her.

And she thinks she can just waltz back and get him to come back to her?

Her ways need to change, for HIM! -- Anon Guest

Of all the words

Challenge #03712-J059: Bootstraps Not Included

On the planet, the women disappeared, the CEO's replaced them with robotic women.

On the planet, the men and children disappeared, the CEO's replaced them with AI workers.

On the planet, the AI began to fade away, the workers began to stop working.

The CEO's demanded their people return.

The living, now freed, individuals shouted back "Use your bootstraps!" -- Anon Guest

"Nobody ever handed me anything on a silver platter," said CEO Zalmoxis Morong as he plucked a petit four offered

Challenge #03711-J058: Spirit of the Season

Making sure to follow safety protocols, a human follows the customs of their homeworld and culture, and, at the holiday, begins to deliver treats and thoughtful gifts to all of their shipmates. The other two humans do the same. Then, on the day of holiday, cook a large meal, carefully prepared, for everyone to enjoy together. -- Anon Guest

It was one of the humans' prettier holidays, they had to admit. The Ships' Human, Dzef, had spent most of hir time printing

Challenge #03710-J057: Handle With Extreme Care

"Don't do it."

"Do what?"

They look to the two vials in one hand, and two more in another.

"You know what."

"I want to know what'll happen."

Looks at the lack of safety gear.

"I WILL call your parentals!"

"Ok, ok..... I'll put the suit on first, sheesh!" -- Anon Guest

"What even are these?" asked Lab Tech Quinn as ze peered at the vials.

"Ordinary household chemicals," said Student Bop. In his favour, he began to shrink a little in

Challenge #03709-J056: What's it Feel Like?

They're 6 ft tall, they look like great, big, fluffy, plushie versions of lizards, due to their home planet being a rather cold place, and humans are absolutely sqee'ing in delight. To the humans, these creatures, Deathworlders like them, are so absolutely adorable it's almost painful! -- Anon Guest

They were called the Quetzaloq, and they were indeed feathered lizards. They met the Humans on a frosty world they were both looking at for resort capability. For an uncomfortable moment, ape met

Challenge #03708-J055: What it Says on the Tin

Only humans would be stupid enough to create a space-race track that went THROUGH an asteroid belt, and called it their "obstacle course section". Thank the POWERS the small racing shuttles had safety features! -- Anon Guest

[AN: Hollywood has mislead so many about what asteroid fields are like. So in order to enhance the reality of my imaginary future, I'm turning the obstacle course into a ships' graveyard]

Explaining the Manic Million to non-Humans was always the problem. Anything the Humans

Challenge #03702-J049: Ka Mate! Ka Ora!

Is it wrong of me to want a bunch of Havenworlders to perform haka? -- Anon Guest

[AN: Absolutely not! Just a reminder that this is not my culture and I am unfamiliar with the most of it]

Of all the wonders that welcoming Humans to the Alliance introduced, nobody expected cultural sharing. The Alliance soon learned that Humans were naturally inclined to share everything they loved and, in more than one occasion, some things they hated.

Everyone knew that exposure to

Challenge #03700-J047: Welcome to Heaven on...

I read your latest story while at work. My coworkers wondered what the cackling was about, but I couldn't help it, it was just too amusing. I saw the comment and I would like to second it. Would you do a story where the individuals actually arrive at, and participate in, the food eating competition?

It is from here - https://beta.peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-03637-i349-my-kind-of-battle -- The New Guy

Food! Glorious food! Daiv was anxious to try it. Gleaming piles

Challenge #03699-J046: With a Smile

Pirate once captured - "Those eyes... those.. horrible... eyes... I see them, even when I sleep!"

Security officer to the human - "What in the name of all the powers did you DO to them?"

Human, shrugging - "Nothing abnormal, honest. When I capture pirates, all I do is look them in the eyes as I put the restraints on them, and smile."

Security officer to their superior - "We're going to need some serious meds here, soon, and therapists." -- Anon

Challenge #03698-J045: Just Their Luck

Two good-luckers decide to come together play poker. The game lasts nearly a record length before they call it a draw. The watchers enjoyed it greatly! -- Anon Guest

[AN: I know fuck all about Poker. Also there's way more than two Luckers]

There are events that exist only for the spectacle. People gathered from all over just to see it happen live.

The Luckers were having a Poker match.

There were no prizes, because these were all Good Luckers. The favoured

Challenge #03697-J044: Mostly Harmless, I Promise

Tons of security rush into the domicile

"What's going on here?"

"It was reported you're building bombs!"

"Oh, I'm making bath bombs."

"Explosives to use while you wash??"

"No, fizzy little balls to add to a bath for aromatherapy."

"It was reported as a Bomb."

"The eavesdropper needs to learn to listen to the entire conversation." -- Anon Guest

"Explosives are not permitted in enclosed vessels," intoned the guard. "We still have to inspect the process and the product."

Human Liz sighed

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A 2196-post collection

Challenge #03721-J068: Uncertain Failure Point

Challenge #03720-J067: Important Standards

Challenge #03719-J066: Surprise Witnesses

Challenge #03718-J065: Chalk Change

Challenge #03713-J060: Motives to Change

Challenge #03712-J059: Bootstraps Not Included

Challenge #03711-J058: Spirit of the Season

Challenge #03710-J057: Handle With Extreme Care

Challenge #03709-J056: What's it Feel Like?

Challenge #03708-J055: What it Says on the Tin

Challenge #03702-J049: Ka Mate! Ka Ora!

Challenge #03700-J047: Welcome to Heaven on...

Challenge #03699-J046: With a Smile

Challenge #03698-J045: Just Their Luck

Challenge #03697-J044: Mostly Harmless, I Promise