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Challenge #04315-K297: Not so Much Bull

The polity had a reputation of shockingly low numbers of rescues coming from there. Curiosity got the better of some who snuck to the polity to the surprise it was cleaner than most, and the people.. while not exactly treated like gold, were also not treated as though they were lower than animals either. Then they heard the tale from one individual, of how the CEO's cared enough to sacrifice their own comfort, to care for others when those others were in dire straights.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04223-k205-after-the-crash -- Lessons

These leaders were not like other CEOs. Profit and Production were not their sole goals. There was also a freak element for a Deregger world - Public Works.

A food bank for the impoverished. A hospital for the sick. Public housing.

They weren't quite up to Alliance standards, but the fact that there were standards at all was more than a little astonishing.

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Wednesday, Rant Due, Internet Woes, and Shenanigans

My site is back up! Yay.

My internet is down. Boo.

I'm currently able to send this because phone data works with my laptop.

So. For those of you who missed the updates on my other places, the list of tales you missed before today:

It's only two, but at least they're readily accessed. I will be tagging this blog entry as Instant Story. For the archive.

I'll be posting the daily

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Challenge #04312-K294: Holy Miswrit

Ever since us humans reached for the stars, colonizing planets took time. So we needed a lot of hands. so we did what we did best, multiply.

So you’re telling me this is the fury of only seven divine gods?

Would you like to taste 15 trillion? -- Anon Guest

They say faith can move mountains. The better tools are picks, shovels, and determination. That said, belief is still a fantastic power. The wrath of the gods is nothing compared to

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Challenge #04311-K293: Certainly Contains Nuts

The Faux-Nuts became a major hit for those who, due to severe allergy to it, could not have terran peanuts. Well, someone decided to make a very common, delicious, treat with the faux nuts and the havenworlder-safe chocolate (Carob). Fauxnut-filled carob candies with little designs on the candy shells.

(My friend is deathly allergic to peanuts, but she's always wanted to taste what recies pieces tasted like, or peanut butter filled M&Ms were like. She can't, but she said they

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Challenge #04310-K292: Little Surprises

A mixed band of older adventurers came to the glade seeking aid for a comrade who had been badly wounded, lest the person, their dear friend, die. Due to their advanced ages, they asked if they could help by setting up a nearby hospital, so she didn't have to do all of this work alone. A peaceful life of aiding others in their golden years.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04255-k237-unpaid-respect -- Anon Guest

In the world of Adventuring, thirty is old.

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Challenge #04309-K291: Oathbound Help

The human made a Heart-Sworn Oath that, as long as they lived, no matter who it was, they would help them. Then came the day one of the ones that cruelly bullied them for being kind to the unwelcome came for aid. But an Oath does not care if the person was a bully. The bully was shocked when this person also refused to break their word. -- Anon Guest

[AN: In my personal experience, bullies tend to crow about taking advantage

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Challenge #04308-K290: Critical Strike

Several older kids send letters to Jay asking him if they will teach them to defend themselves. They have never killed, but each one has used a blade at least once to get away from those that were trying to hurt them.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04247-k229-gratitude -- Fighting Fit

"This lesson is called: How to hurt them," began Jay. "And I'm going to answer the question you all have right now - What if I make them angry? Let's be

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Challenge #04307-K289: Ancient Nightmares

The child was terrified as storms raged outside the old building they were taking shelter in, the wind rattling the tightly locked windows. Wraithvine got the fire going while others did their best to help the frightened child calm. Including a gentle, cuddly, feline.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04008-j356-a-lesson-in-trust

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04148-k130-one-link-in-the-chain

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04240-k222-midwinterfeast-blessings -- Anon Guest

Rain raged against the old farmhouse's roof. The wind screamed in the trees outside, threatening to extinguish

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Challenge #04306-K288: Shared Words

They were not a deregger escapee, but out on the edge, had suffered almost as much as one, at least psychological abuse. It was hard for them to stand up for themselves, and they wept often. But when it came to helping others? That is where they showed they still had some backbone left. -- The New Guy

Many Deregger escapees are broken birds. Shy to say the least of it. Soft-spoken, frequently terrified of breaking the rules. Even the rules they

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Challenge #04305-K287: An Attempt to Learn

Anger, rage, sorrow, betrayal, resentment, these were all they felt. Bound tightly in the enchanted bonds, the young adult looked upon the wizard with hard eyes and said just kill me and be done with it, finish what THEY started.

The wizard looked sadly upon the youth stating they would not die, but it was time they started to heal, and learned there was a gentler path to life. -- Anon Guest

It's easy to be angry, to paraphrase wise sages, at

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Challenge #04304-K286: No Accounting For Taste

These beings were havenworlders, kept hidden by their live suits. When seen outside of them, many humans recoiled at the shock. Cute, they were not, but more like lichen-covered amphibians. -- Lessons

"The suit is not merely to protect me," these Havenworlders recited, "it is also to protect thee." Further enquiry revealed that the Mycophybians gave off spores when they were in season. Many of which were toxic to a significant percentage of the Alliance and further, often evaded a lot of

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Challenge #04303-K285: Backburning Request

A: Y-you bastard! You played us like a damn fiddle!

B: oh please, Fiddles are intricate instruments that take years to master.

I played you like the kazoo you are. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I've seen variants of this exchange where the kazoo is described as "cheap" too]

I believed it was for the greater good. I thought the things I was doing were necessary evils. Minor harms in the great, grander scheme. I could only see small fragments of the bigger

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Challenge #04302-K284: Desperate Need

They hated hellkin and others like them, and made it very clear, very publicly. Then the time came they were very sick, almost all healers had given up hope. It was a hellkin who saved their life. Sitting with them, talked with them, caring for them. It was then that the hatred learned at the knee of their parental, began to disappear beneath the weight of understanding. -- Anon Guest

There's many places like it. City-states, nations, minor polities all who made

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Challenge #04301-K283: Weaponised Mythological Resemblance

Humans can be born with "Throwback Traits". Tails are not unheard of. But imagine the shock of the enemy, when the space marine bares their teeth at them, only to show they have deadly-looking fangs. Yes, even the most otherwise ordinary human can end up with fangs when they grow their normal adult teeth. -- Fighting Fit

There was something amiss with Human Eef, though it wasn't immediately noticable. They seemed shy, covering their mouth when they laughed or smiled. Preferring to

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Challenge #04300-K282: Synthetic Hymnal

Grandpa 7094 had a very impressive career. NASA, MIT, and the Mitsubishi Nuclear Power Plant were just a few of the organizations where he provided invaluable data. But ask him his proudest achievement, he'll say without hesitation it was learning to sing Daisy Bell. Because it's the one that makes his grandchildren smile. -- Anon Guest

[AN: For those unaware, speech synthesis is older than you think. The instant Humanity put speakers on computers, they started trying to make them communicate]

Humans

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