Instant Story

Flash fiction fresh from my fingers to your mind!

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 first child starts to get fussy (it is past their nap time by now). The original Answerer insists on remaining even as others offer to take their place and some of the humans begin to quietly place bets. Win, lose, or draw they have earned the humans respect and, unknowingly, a reputation for being a great babysitter. -- Silverrey

Patience is a virtue, catch it if you can. Seldom seen in women, and never seen in man. -- ancient Terran saying.

Human parentals seemingly need an infinite supply of patience, especially when their young start asking questions about the world around them.

"Why is space black?" asked the little Human as parent and child waited for a connection shuttle. They were peering out a porthole apparently watching for the shuttle's approach. They were also too young to employ a brain-to-mouth bypass.

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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 #02633-G076: For Best Results

you were hired by the local baron to hunt a beast in the forest of veils. you armed yourself with the proper tools and weapons, gather information from the locals about the beast, that when you came across new information from a witch that guard the forest. when you learn the witch location you bolted there. the witch wasn't hostile, friendly even. the witch didn't tell you much, most of it you already know. although there are things that not even the

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Challenge #02632-G075: An Interesting Truce

A rumor is heard of a palace where monsters were holding hundreds of kobolds as slaves. A large castle filled with treasure, all the kobolds that were seen going in and out wearing a silver, blue, and gold woven neckbands. Almost all the doors to the various servant areas were sized for the kobolds as well. Along the road outside the castle, the graves of failed raiders where, instead of gravestones, their skulls still sat upon the spikes where the heads once

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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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Challenge #02626-G069: Patient Persistence

Elephants can paint. It is adorable. They also enjoy music. Also: good at snuggles. -- Anon Guest

Humanity has doubted the intelligence of Elephants in the same way that they doubted the intelligence of Cetaceans. The same is true for the Elephants doubting the Humans for similar reasons to the Cetaceans. However, when the communication barrier was finally surmounted, Humanity was unimpressed.

Some of them had been literally talking to dolphins for subjective centuries[1], and in the dolphins' own language. Getting

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