Amalgam Universe

A 2288-post collection

Challenge #02645-G088: Getting to Know You

“Try not to read my my mind, I am running five jokes in my head, that will possibly offend you and make you laugh. Another part of my head is accidentally reminiscing about college and now internally screaming. My lizard brain want food. And the rest is upholding this conversation.”

“First off, how did you block my mind scan, and secondly - lizard brain?”

“Oh a part of the human brain can be traced back to a reptilian ancestor thus it is dubbed the lizard brain. Speaking of lizards...” a green creature crawled out of the human sleeves. “Her name is Shelby.”

“That does not explain the mind scan.” -- Anon Guest

As a survival tactic, telepathy is not one of the more common evolutionary stepstones. Those who have it, of course, think it's vital until they eventual fact that other telepathic species are very rare and other cogniscents don't know how to do Private Thoughts.

That's when they learn to adapt to tuning out the seas of mental babble, or at least shutting themselves off from it until they consciously scan other minds. The Melil are experts at this, having learned their lessons and returned to teach those at home how to protect themselves before they encounter the harsh truth.

Of the telepathic species, the Melil are the most widely-spread because of their practical approach to non-telepathic encounters. Nevertheless, there are still some encounters that surprise even them. Like having a Human block them upon first greeting.

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Challenge #02644-G087: One Person's Spice...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RG9TMn1FJzc

Imagine Aliens need a Substance (like Salt, etc...) so Bad. -Mike666

"Limestone," said the Human with a raised eyebrow. "You guys need calcium carbonate? For reals?"

"The calcium carbonate is an essential mineral for us, yes. For reals."

The Human shrugged, "Well, we need sodium chloride in special amounts, so yeah. I'll try to see if we have the pure stuff for you." There was some significant rummaging about in the storage boxes. "Yeah. I

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Challenge #02642-G085: The Honest Mood

Walks in

"tbqh idfk"

leaves -- Anon Guest

[AN: OP, I had to leave the link out because this is a mostly-PG exercise of mine and fetish-adjacent material is not safe for any minors who may have wandered in.]

Human Jor spoke in abbreviations. This caused some trouble for the crew she was Ship's Human for, but on the up side, she also provided a phrasebook. Simple words like "yes" or "no" became tonal grunts. Human Jor had a set of initials

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Challenge #02640-G083: Why is it So?

(Not related to the other "Why" but got me thinking) A young child begins the "Why Game" with another species. The parent offers them an out but they politely decline. Curiosity is an enviable trait and they will continue to answer for as long as the child asks... ...A small crowd of interested and amused people has begun to form, with some stepping in to field questions from their own specialties. A few humans encourage their children to join in as the

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Challenge #02639-G082: Slowly and Surely

I don't mean to be rude but... How/why did Havenworlders (in particular level 4 and 5 ones) develop cognizance? With no prey to hunt, predators to avoid, or environment to tame what made increased intelligence advantageous? -- Anon Guest

[AN: That's a good question. FTR Havenworld level 5 cogniscents are so far theoretical]

Picture... paradise. A perfect world for creatures to roam around and find what they need with few challenges in the way. Egocentric Deathworlders can't imagine how creatures in

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Challenge #02638-G081: Deadly Essentials

Humans aren't the only ones that don't do well when given everything. Even post scarcity every creature needs to be entertained, but what is needed to entertain becomes increasingly more elusive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m7X-1V9nOs

https://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Law%20Of%20Diminishing%20Returns -- Anon Guest

[AN: I have problems with Universe 25's design and that will emerge in the story below. The video actually covers elements of U25's issues at time mark 6:15]

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Challenge #02637-G080: The Right Tool

Logging for Records (date here) Video log shows a helmeted figure with an already darkened faceplate.

Shadow, Hunter, Last Scream, I've had a lot of nicknames over the course of my career. Most of them pretty accurate, I will admit. I am a stone cold killer and I have never failed to take down my target. But I'm not like the Pax Humanis guys, not by a long shot. My mind is as clear as a bell. I don't take pleasure in

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Challenge #02636-G079: Gone to the Dogs

A human explains to their havenworlder crewmates about how they used to compete into the internationally famous dog-sled race known as the Iditarod. And how much fun that was! :-)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IditarodTrailSledDogRace -- Anon Guest

"I think I understand the concept as a means of alternative transit," said Gorx, Havenworlder tourist. "I understand the competitive nature of Humans." It was hard not to understand that through the multitude of examples.

"So what's missing?" asked

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Challenge #02635-G078: Added Value is Free

The most sought-after beings in the Galactic Alliance are those describes as "creators" Creators of all sorts are in High demand all over. From those that create worlds with only the written word, "private and amateur" educators, that use the video sharing and promoting to spread their knowledge, to the engineers and scientists that look at a problem and imagine new and different solutions to solve them (gravity drive anyone?!?)

With Zillions of Citizens, there is always demand for content, and therefore,

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Challenge #02634-G077: Putting it Together

(Based on experience with Harm-OCD)

The new human on board came highly recommended. They left every area they worked in cleaner and safer than it was when they started, seemed to always find and fix issues before they ever had a chance to become a problem, were quick to talk down anyone that started to become angry or frightened, and even seemed to never have issues with Silly-Seasons. The only issue was that they refused to work with Havenworlders…

Anytime they were

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Challenge #02631-G074: Desperate Measures

You’re not wrong but I don’t want you to be right -- Anon Guest

Phryx stared at her Human companion. "Did you mean that to be confusing as it sounds, or are you having one of your verbal shortcuts again?" Verbal shortcuts were always a problem with Humans, especially on the Edge. They had ways of expressing themselves that were difficult to translate at best and needed a seminar to understand at worst.

"Oh. Right. Whoops. Okay. Brief version: Yes,

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Challenge #02630-G073: A Questionable Survival Mechanism

As the Galactic, not a deathworlder, but not a delicate havenworlder either, looked down at the infant human, they had to wonder...

"How does something so small and delicate grow into something so dangerous?"

The infant, seemingly in answer, smiled, then reached up and gently hugged the sentient holding it. Before releasing a truly noxious fart. -- Anon Guest

Every species not equal to a Deathworlder tends to look a lot like a Havenworlder to the Deathworlder in question. Some Deathworlders are

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Challenge #02629-G072: Impossible Consequences

Human Dave was an interesting individual. His pack bonding ability is astounding even among his fellow Humans. The downside being where ever Dave goes chaos ensues. Even humans with high restraints have hard time controlling themselves. There are few Humans around Dave that are able to, in human terms “keep a tight leash on him”. I was able to ask one of them about more information about Dave. Saying that him and two other take shifts restraining Dave but whenever the day

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Challenge #02628-G071: The Last Lie

https://steemit.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-02005-e181-one-line-to-cross

https://steemit.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-02156-e327-they-ll-be-back

https://steemit.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-02524-f334-an-appeal

The "Last Lie" is a recurring trend and well-known trait in the Amalgam universe. Yet, I haven't yet read a story where the "Last Lie" has come true. It seems that our human protagonists always manage to cheat death.

That being said, I think it would be interesting to see a (or a group of) Havenworlder(s) discovering what the Last Lie is the

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Challenge #02627-G070: When You Assume...

Considering the cultural difference between western people and eastern people, how would aliens react to someone from Asia?

Asian people tend to be less touchy-feely, more reserved and quiet than someone from America for example.

How would aliens react when the shy-looking, timid Japanese girl, who joined their ship as a chef, turns out to be a master of martial arts and make dinner from the would-be pirates because they belittled her? Or how loud she gets when she's properly drunk... --

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