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Flash fiction fresh from my fingers to your mind!

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.

"Also, you have heard or will hear about the Humans. Do not antagonise the humans just to see if they're so much heated excrement. You will lose." The AI paused to examine the tourist's faces. "And I also recognise that this warning has increased the odds of you trying. Listen. If you try, you will be paying for your own medical treatment that results from the attempt."

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Challenge #04440-L056: Put Your Muscle Where Your Mouth is

They claim to be a cleric of Tyr, but they certainly don't seem to believe in the concept of justice. So how can you be a cleric of something you don't actually believe in? Simply put, you're not a true cleric. -- Anon Guest

[AN: Possibly in reference to this: https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04426-l042-not-made-for-you ]

Powers of the Divine come from devoted worship to the god in question. The magic and how it effects the work depend not on the deity,

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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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Challenge #04438-L054: Connecting the Dots

No matter how hard you try to hide it, historical truth, no matter how uncomfortable, will come to light. It's better to teach it to your young, now, than for them to resent you later. -- Lessons

There had always been a war. Which meant that everyone had to support the troops, be grateful for what they got, and buy war bonds to finance the inevitable victory against the real forces of evil.

Forces that were undermining society from every angle. Threats

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Challenge #04437-L053: The Buildings Left Intact

They sat along side the road, shoulders sagged, clothes ragged, all desire to even live... gone. What good is all this power, this magic, if they cannot save even a single, innocent, child from dying? There is a soft purring at their feet, a gnome next to them patting their knee, and an elf comes up, holds out their hand, and states "You did your best no matter how good you are, you cannot save everyone." -- The New Guy

Semephis glared

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Challenge #04436-L052: To Save a Monster

As you stare into the distance you spot the dim glowing eyes of the monster. The same one that murdered your family, and slaughtered friends. Hatred seeps into your veins as you gaze into its eyes, into that pit filled with malice and hateā€¦ or is it sorrow and regret?

You should really stop looking at that damn mirror. -- Anon Guest

There was something wrong with the dark in this place. Jay liked the dark, it helped them feel safe. But

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Challenge #04435-L051: Sure You Can Play Piano...

"Yes, we're technically dead. Yes, the [de-regger corp] has used a new process to animate our corpses to squeeze a few more years of work out of us before we decay beyond economic feasibility of repair. Still, at least we get to see our families again." -- Tor Libram

CRC Agent Tiel entered the mine and was greeted by a monster from so many games. Half their body was replaced with mechanical parts. There was something amiss with the hue of their

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Challenge #04434-L050: Acclimatisation Process

Human, you've been working non-stop for 8 of your hours straight.

Don't worry, I'm almost done.

When do you rest?

Usually after about a 12 hour day or so.

What?? -- Fighting Fit

"I said, usually after--"

"I heard you," Companion Yrin interrupted. "I am attempting to comprehend. You work for four shifts[1] in a row? Without a break?"

Human Nik looked up, but did not stop tweaking the mechanism under his hands. "It's called a work ethic. Where I'm from,

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Challenge #04433-L049: Ancient Aliens Realism

They read the briefings. Conquering that planet was going to be SO simple, their technology was so.. primitive! Then they went to land on the Earth, and realized that the gravity there was a lot stronger than they had been told. -- Anon Guest

What a ridiculous solar system! Only one habitable planet with macroscopic life, and that was mostly mammalian. Some were marginally intelligent, but they honestly hadn't progressed much past bashing the rocks together. They had spread further than the

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Challenge #04432-L048: In Living Memory

The old soldier sat on a piece of wreckage that was, once, a weapon. The large machine long have gone silent for years. Sitting with the galactic at their side they said simply, "To answer your questions, we humans don't fear war. What we fear, is what we become when we fight in one." -- Anon Guest

"I was a teenager when these were in action," said the old soldier. Ze sat overlooking the circular valleys below Muzzlend Cafe. It was quite

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Challenge #04431-L047: Fifty Ways to Go No Contact

Vernita Nemec: Private Places (0:37)

An excerpt from an installation for The Second Coming, a show by Carnival Knowledge at Franklin Furnace.

Listen to track 3:

(https://www.ubu.com/sound/tellus_2.html) -- Hudson

[AN: Transcript for the hard of hearing - a soft woman's voice says "I wanna talk to you about something. (pause) I found something in your drawer, and I'm very upset by it. (pause) I don't know quite what to think. (pause) But... um... I

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Challenge #04430-L046: The Romance of History

Conventions, meet beings with the same interest,, spend time together ,have fun buy merchandise, -- She Who Knits

There was a time, long lost, when every building was a work of art. When clothing was made to make the body look good no matter what shape it was. There was a time when romance meant something. There was a time when everything looked so pretty in the paintings.

People love to try recapturing those romantic times.

...though without all the messy bits

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Challenge #04429-L045: Yes You Have To

What's a human to do when the researchers they're supposed to be protecting get so caught up in their work they lose all sense of danger? This is getting frustrating! Hey, all you, I know it's weird for the HUMAN to be saying this but... safety first for once?? -- Anon Guest

They say curiosity killed the cat. It also works on silly fluffy Havenworlders who are equal parts rambunctious kittens and Rikki Tikki Tavi[1]. Only without any teeth and claws

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Challenge #04428-L044: You Get What You Give

For those who constantly have bad dreams, this gentle hellkin sells charms you wear that turns even the worst dreams good. But, be warned, don't be unkind to this soothing soul. Or you'll have bad dreams for a month. Don't worry, they never make the curse permanent, they're too kind for that. -- Anon Guest

Respite worked as they walked, though some of it didn't look like work at all. The spindle-spinning did indeed look like work. So too did the herb-gathering

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Challenge #04427-L043: Army of Kind Hands

We don't say we're of the light, we don't say we're of the darkness. We won't kill, unless we are absolutely FORCED to. Each time we have to, it breaks our hearts to the core. We are an army who goes in to save lives, not take them. And we have one Mantra. What would Wraithvine do? -- Anon Guest

They carried weapons. They wore armour. They marched in time as they made their way from place to place. They had regimented

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