Amalgam Universe

A 2280-post collection

Challenge #04257-K239: The Deadly Solution

The Alliance had come together long ago because of the threat of the cognisant eaters known as Thranityr. More specifically, the Vorax. With the befriending of humans, the danger was slowly fading away. But you know what they say of "There's always a bigger fish?" On the horizon, heading fast toward them, another enemy appeared. Hard scutes, large teeth, cranky, also cognisant eaters, and were not all that interested in covo. Worst part was? Their weapons were pretty bloody advanced, they were intelligent, and didn't believe in "rules" or "fair play". Of any kind. -- Fighting Fit

[AN: You don't get a civilisation without rules. Just like you don't get cool weapons without physics, and you don't get physics without education and mathematics. So thinking this over, these guys are ape-level critters who stole everything from someone else]

The Alliance called them The Devastation. They entered a solar system, took everything they could grab, ate everything they could bite, and left. There were more of them when they hit the next installation. At first, they wiped out planets, then they learned that stations, too, held life. Then they came for the ships.

There was no communication from them. No warning but the sightings of the alien vessels. The Devastation didn't stop even if one of their ships was 'eaten' by a Hungry Caterpillar. No matter how many perished in the counter-attacks, there were always more of them. Some swarmed into, and kept, ships they encountered. Some tried to tow space stations, cutting them free when there was nothing worth taking from them any more.

They left no bodies in their wake.

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Challenge #04256-K238: Eyes That do Not See

Illness had rendered them blind. They had been told, after escaping their polity, the mediks here would make sure they could see again. But in the meantime.... "I wish I could still fight. That way, no one could hurt me again."

A soft voice nearby said. "That's not a problem, even unable to see, you can still learn to defend. Don't worry, I'll help you." -- The New Guy

I had learned how to use a stick to get around, in association

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Challenge #04254-K236: Cat Fishing

They were trying to reach into a vent after a lost tool. A skitty ran up and bit their arm. They pushed the skitty away and tried to reach again. The skitty attacked that arm again with teeth and claws. They backed up away from the skitty. Several sparks came from the vent. That skitty saved them from a lot worse injury. -- Anon Guest

Working on an old station has its charms. It has hazards to match, too. There's spaces that

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Challenge #04253-K235: Peas For a Goober

It was as dark green as a soybean pod, but the little "peas" inside tasted ... like terran peanuts. Yet it didn't contain any of the chemicals within that was the cause of the allergy so many had to that legume. A safe peanut that those with allergies could try??

One of the scientists, a being with a nasty allergy to the nuts, threw caution to the wind and tried one, medicine at the ready just in case. There was no reaction. --

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Challenge #04252-K234: In a Prickly Spot

They call themselves Holly, and we're best friends. I know they're a very advanced AI, but to me, they're still a person. They're in a body that looks like a lovely, silvery, mostly-human-shape the bosses chose. Once we're able to, Holly and I are going to escape this place. And we'll be able to choose our lives for ourselves. Holly wants to captain a ship of their own, and I plan on being at their side for as long as I can.

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Challenge #04251-K233: Tiny and Deadly

The Gravity (aka Gravy) Drive pushed itself to its maximum. Its hull was damaged, the family within, several were hurt, and it was not going to let them down! Blaring every alert it could, it raced as fast as it could, perhaps recklessly so, toward the nearest base that could help it, and its loved ones. -- Anon Guest

Of all the critical damage a ship can suffer, one of the worst is debilitating damage to their Hungry Caterpillar object defense system.

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Challenge #04250-K232: So Many Evildoers...

Jay is... "on assignment", as it were. Mr. Sunshine was in a different assignment. Target one was gone, target two? They entered a side room to find four young boys, all taking lessons on being "good CEO's." None of them could be over the age of 9. Jay made sure the kids got to someone who cared for THEM, not just their future prospects. -- Anon Guest

Four kids looked up from their desks. Each desk was bolted to the floor, as

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Challenge #04247-K229: Gratitude

Letters, several of them, are sent to Jay. Who sits with Lillicoon reading them. From those he saved, without needing to raise a blade.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04151-k133-flying-free -- Anon Guest

"I've got mail," said Jay, looking in confusion at their datareader. "Why would anyone send me mail?"

Lillicoon had to smirk. "You mean besides my own reasons?"

Jay fumbled and short-circuited for a solid minute before her gentle laughter gave him the clue that she was playing with him.

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Challenge #04244-K226: Downtrodden Uplifted

It was a havenworld. The inhabitants? Almost all Uplifts, former slaves that had been freed, and their therapists helping them recover. The protectors? Three, 2 - person teams of Pax Humanis members that worked on 8 hour rotations. When dereggers come to try to "claim a prize"... they find that it's not the claws of an Uplift they must worry about, but far deadlier fangs. -- Anon Guest

Gengineering should never be used to make toys. The more you think about that

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Challenge #04241-K223: A Study of the Alien

One of us does not speak, together, we speak as one. They do not recognize us as intelligent, until we work together. We are tiny, but we are strong. Worry not large one, we will save you. Worry not other large ones, the smaller ones were already healed. -- Anon Guest

We did not understand the invaders, when they came. They did not understand us, either. They thought we were animals and, to be honest, we thought the same of them. They

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Challenge #04239-K221: The Secret of Sillies

Researchers from around the Alliance had been trying to get a bead on WHAT the cause for the human's sudden impromptu-parties called Silly Seasons. What they found astounded them.

The Alliance is very safety conscious, as well as conscious of absolutely anything that could cause offense. Leading to almost everything, save for human areas, to be mostly bland, soft, inoffensive grey. Simply put, the frequent outbreaks in some areas were humans being completely, and utterly, out of their heads with boredom. --

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Challenge #04236-K218: Blood Paid for Blood

It was a major firefight. Mr. Sunshine, Jay, and an individual that teamed with them were running hard, firing back. A group of teens rushed in to distract the pursuers. The three escaped, the teens lost their lives. Now it's time for revenge. And rescue the families. -- Anon Guest

[AN: If a member of Pax Humanis gets into a firefight, they're doing it wrong]

"I said cut the red wire! It's always the red wire."

"I'm colourblind, damnit!"

Mr Sunshine, focussed

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Challenge #04231-K213: Feathers of Justice

Pax Humanis had VERY few in among them that were not human. Fewer still that could be mistaken for a Havenworlder.

Which made this killer's ability to "hide in plain sight" save for the leg bands when not on a job, even easier. The targets always seem to expect a human hunter.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04079-k061-judge-jury-and -- Anon Guest

Indigo was what the CRC referred to as a Justice Killer. They sought to balance out the wrongs they had experienced

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Challenge #04228-K210: Not So Dead End

"I am here to end you."

I'll work, I'll atone, I'll do whatever you ask of me, just please, I don't want to die.

"Live by the rules you gave those you harmed, and give all those you harmed YOUR life and go through therapy and be monitored."

Alright, I agree. -- Fighting Fit

[AN: This prompt was cut down for brevity]

Kamiron was going to live. He was also going to live to regret his choices, too. He had to live

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Challenge #04223-K205: After the Crash

A DeRegger CEO's ship went down. Most of the crew survived, but few were without injury. The CEO and his sons were unhurt.

Shockingly, despite how poorly the people were treated aboard ship, as literally unseen servants, the CEO and his sons began to take care of the injured to avoid infections and help pain. Why? They actually DID appreciate the work, they.. just were not good at showing it. -- Anon Guest

Of course the executive suite survived, all occupants relatively

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