The four humans, on leave from the ships they work aboard, are sitting around a table with four boxes that simply read Dangerous Nuts High Scoville. Once known to humans as "The Death Nut Challenge". Grinning, and razzing each other, they're about to each see how much spiciness they can handle when a level 3 Deathworlder, full of arrogance, pulls up a chair and demands to join them. After all, these squishy, weak-looking, apes are eating what is just five little nuts, then so can they! The Deathworlder finds out, these squishy apes have far stronger stomachs, and either deadened taste buds, or a lot more pain tolerance!
https://deathnuts.com/product-category/deathnuts -- Lessons
[AN: These death nuts can kill two ways, including peanut allergy]
Norg the Mighty held himself up to his full bulk and puffed out his plumage as the Humans laughed. Stupid balding apes. They looked too fragile to be holding a contest like this. "What?" he demanded. "I can do anything you squishy apes can do!"
"Uh, these are peanuts, coated in Carolina Reaper capsaicin, mixed with pure cinnamon and some other food grade dessicants. You allergic to any of that?" The Human warrior placed an epi-pen on the table, flicking her plumage like a challenge. "We're ready if you are. Allergies don't count. Only the spice does."
The other Humans at the table chanted, "Spice! Spice! Spice! Spice!" as they thumped the table. This was a challenge Norg could not back down from. He walked up to the table without any outward sign of fear. It was just food. What could possibly go wrong?[1]
"Needing the epi is not a wuss-out," said another warrior. "Reaching for the sour cream is."
"Eat five, stay alive -without wussing out- you win. To get to round two."
Another chant of, "Spice! Spice! Spice! Spice!"
There were a few Mediks in the corners, their urgent care kits clutched to their chests in anticipation of imminent disaster. Ha! Let them fear. Norg knew he could beat these squishy apes at their own game.
Their leader announced. "Five at the table. Five to eat. Let's see who's strong and who is beat."
Norg joined the chant, "Spice! Spice! Spice! Spice!" and opened the box.
The smell alone made his nictitating membrane shut in pure self-defense. He could tough this out. Two of these Humans were the child-bearing ones. Didn't they know they belonged at their home-nests?
"One! Spice! Spice! Spice!" Together they all plucked a nut from the box and popped it in their mouths.
I can handle this. It's only chemical heat, thought Norg.
...and then he woke up in an ICU drawer.
There was some... sludge in his mouth and an urgent message in front of his eyes telling him not to swallow.
Those weak-willed healers and their obsessive cautions. I am tough! I am invincible[2]! He closed his maw around the stuff and swallowed.
It was like swallowing rocks, and the intense burning returned for a brief handful of seconds before he passed out from the pain.
When he awoke in the ICU drawer for a second time, there was a brace holding his maw open, and a Cogniscence Assessment Test waiting for him to fill before he could continue to the entertainments.
The Alliance was full of wise-asses.
[1] The Universe has ways of punishing people who ask questions like that.
[2] And saying things like this.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / punsayaporn]
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