Amalgam Universe

A 2347-post collection

Challenge #05020-M271: Support Animal

A small havenworlder has a highly trained Saint Bernard as their mount, their protection, and their friend. -- BKF

Humanity had the same joke for large dogs for centuries: "Put a saddle on that thing," they would say, or, "Have you tried riding it yet?" And for centuries it got at least a sympathy chuckle. Until Humanity met species that actually could ride those things.

Tiny Havenworlders using enormous dog breeds as mounts and personal security became commonplace almost overnight. Often the dogs were adopted long before any of those Havenworlders ever met a Human.

But there's always someone who wants to spoil it for everyone.

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Challenge #05018-M269: Far-Reaching Kindness

The therapists struggled to try to get them to care about their own life, at least a little. Their self-sacrificing, working to aid others to the point of detriment to their health had become starkly noticeable to say the least. Then Jay came in to talk to them, and soon left angry, and began hunting. -- BKF

Civilisation is relative, depending entirely on those naming it such. This is doubly so in the Edge Territories, where some species view their Ship's Human

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Challenge #05016-M267: Its Inventor's Voice

A human listens to a very strange, and ancient, device. A music player that uses cylinder shaped medium. -- BKF

If there is one truth in the Galactic Alliance, it is that the Archivaas will preserve, restore, and archive everything. Anything and everything Humanity made, at first, but then everything and anything that Humanity encountered. Documents, recordings, items, and sometimes animals.

Every kind of media and every means of experiencing it.

It's easy to get lost in their mega-complexes, so they take

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Challenge #05011-M262: DIY Entertainment

Unfortunately, the Ship's Human was bored -- InterNutter

Long haul missions are no place for an active Human. Nevertheless, every ship with business in the Alliance is better off with at least one Ship's Human. The best hope is to have enough enrichment strategies to keep their Human or Humans entertained between destinations.

The crew of the Pack Animal Pilgrim had never thought that a Human could get bored with the enrichment.

They had complete access to the Archivaas' digital library. All

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Challenge #05010-M261: Driving Purpose

So tired they could barely think straight, they forced themselves forward, just one more ridge, one more rise... until they collapsed against a beautiful white feline being talking to two individuals wearing bright colors and passed out. -- BKF

One more step. Just get there. Not far now. Lift one foot. Place it in front. Follow the path. Lift the other one. Place it in front. Look up. See the camp.

Goal in sight.

Tents and vehicles spread out in a previously

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Challenge #05002-M253: Found Wanting

I may not be licensed, but I will hold this child. They're crying, they need help. I don't give a damn about your rules. You're not licensed either, and watching a young child wailing in fear and discomfort without aid is cruel. -- BKF

[AN: I understand the spirit of the prompt, and am writing for that. With reference to https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04984-m235-post-trauma-trauma-comfort ]

Prentice Medik Jarl, do you understand the charges you are answering for today?

I don't, sir.

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Challenge #04997-M248: Bred For Business

The crew of the research vessel learns from the human how to train canines properly so the animals can help carry light, for the animals, loads, and help protect the crew when the human is unable to. -- BKF

[AN: Surprise, I know jack shit about dog training! Nevertheless, I shall make an attempt]

In centuries past, on a Deathworld appropriately named Terra, the Humans looked at the wolf and said something like, "That looks friend-shaped." The descendants of those wolves were

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Challenge #04995-M246: Herd of Ranching?

Some Alliance members want to experience what it's like on a ranch. Riding, herding, and the foods that are enjoyed there. -- BKF

[AN: Farming doesn't have to be a tourist activity, no matter how advanced the civilisation]

It's not that cattle farming is extinct. It's just that tube-grown meat is cheaper and more economical in space stations and long-haul vessels. Since most of Alliance interactions occur in those environments, it's simple to presume that cattle farming is a bygone art.

Nothing

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Challenge #04994-M245: Complex Organic Processes

You have the answers you were seeking, but can you handle what you have learned? -- BKF

The pursuit of ethical food sources has to stop somewhere. There is a line that should not be crossed, no matter what. Unfortunately, Humans do not like lines, drawn in sand or otherwise. A barrier that must not be crossed is a challenge to their egos, or something of the sort.

So, when Humanity was told that there was no purely ethical nourishment, they established

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Challenge #04992-M243: Noncogniscent Haptic Therapy

A great way to help a bunch of students preparing for Final Exams in school? Rooms full of cute and fluffy to cuddle with, talk to, and, in doing so, de-stress enough to handle Exams. -- BKF

Much has been done to improve education within the Alliance. Reduction of class sizes, multiple teaching methods, the reduction of varying crisis factors. Nevertheless, exam time ends up putting many students into a mental spiral where their best effort could be better, and doing it

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Challenge #04991-M242: Remember the Fairy Bread

Several of Sensei Twii's students plan a surprise birthday party for hir! -- BKF

"How old is ze anyway?" asked Lynn. "I tried searching, but nobody has an accurate number."

"I think there's a few one-way wormholes involved and temporal confusion[1] in there somewhere." Jem laid out all her research on her datareader. There was a lot of conflicting information. "We could ask, but... That would spoil the surprise."

"We couldn't get the small fire permit anyway," sighed Keit as he

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Challenge #04989-M240: Incorrect Theory in Practice

It's a beautiful evening, camping is going well. Nice fire, yummy food... now if only the mosquitoes weren't such a pain in the tail! Thank goodness for repellent! Need some? -- BKF

"I'd love just one that flakking works," grumbled Companion Xia. "I altered my diet to change the taste of my blood. I'm wearing the repellent bracelets, and the cream, and the spray." They sighed, swatting at a whine in the air. "And I'm still too delicious for my own good.

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Challenge #04988-M239: Trafficking Hazardous Materials

A coughing fit spreads throughout the ship. They find out a deregger smuggled in several pollinating plants instead of the seeds in stasis pods they said they had. -- BKF

It never would have happened if the scanners weren't down for maintenance. Later analysis would reveal that there was sabotage on them to manufacture a maintenance flaw.

It's amazing what malicious people can do with magnets, thumb drives, and a complete disregard for anyone's safety.

Slow Cruiser Vessel, the Idle Hours, took

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Challenge #04986-M237: Friendly Filter on Reality

They found a way to help a young who is dealing with severe social anxiety be able to get out a little at a time. A set of augmented reality goggles that gave everyone a friendly capybara look. And if crowds get too loud, it muted the noise to a soft muffle except, of course, for anything that might be dangerous. --BKF

When the demolition crews were carefully pulling the place to pieces, they called it Rabbit Warren Station. Not that it

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Challenge #04984-M235: Post Trauma Trauma Comfort

Sometimes you just need a teddy bear. -- Knitnan

Triage is a simple formula. Help is focused intensely on those whose condition could be improved by it. Those who would mend on their own and those who would fail no matter what were the ones left to bide. In triage, few are available to pick up or comfort a crying child.

Dar, youngest survivor of the Pelichant Incident, understood none of this. All they knew was that they were frightened and all

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