Location: Atlantis, Golden Tower
Depth: 490

Solution to Mashup

by Charles Steinhardt

Answer: FLOWER

Each clue is two crossword clues weaved together:

7a.COMMONDETAILRare and uncommon alternativeWorkers for a specific task
8a.ANIMATEDPROTOCOLLike children's showsCode of conduct
9a.BARRIERSCHANGINGFences or hedgesCausing a metamorphosis
10a.EITHERMARTHAFlexible person's answerFirst first lady
11a.PLEASEBRIGHTMagic wordIntelligent or radiant
13a.CASUALRECIPELaid-back dress codeColonel's secret, perhaps
14a.RIVERSSETTLEColorado, Ohio, and MississippiAvoid a trial
15a.HAVINGROBOTSIn possession ofCheapest factory 'workers'
18a.BURNERPATROLStovetop featurePoliceman's assignment
20a.GERALDROGERSMid-70s chief executiveCanadian telecom
22a.ACCEPTSTRINGAgree to offerOnly object, in theory
23a.DISPATCHREFERRALHaste or communiqueCommon doctor request
25a.EXPENSESRELIABLEBusiness deductionsTrustworthy and bankable
26a.EASILYIMAGESWithout any troubleThey might be graven
    
1d.COOLERMETHODBig house nicknameMarlon's popular system
2d.PAIDHOURSettled the billEleventh or happy
3d.INDUSTRYGOVERNORMotto for UtahHead of state?
4d.FATHERNORMALVader famouslyAs expected
5d.CONNECTORSINSTALLINGLinks, e.g., between dots?Putting software on your machine
6d.GENERATEVITAMINSProduce as in electricitySupplements: A/C, for example
8d.POSTALTAYLORRelated to mailLord's partner
12d.ADVANTAGESSUPERVISORUpper hands in tennisSchool boss or court official
14d.LEARNERSSWITCHEDType of permitChanged places with
16d.ARTISTICTHREADEDSkilled at painting, possiblyLike some nuts
17d.CHORUSSCREENGroup of singersPass play
19d.LAYERSARTISTOnions have someMunch or Meat Loaf
21d.RENTALLOCALENational offeringEvent venue
24d.SWAPANDYOne for one exchangeToy story child

These two answers can be weaved together, using half of the letters from each word and discarding the other half, uniquely to fill the grid.

M
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The indicated numbers can be filled with the unused letters discarded in weaving the answers together, and those unused letters spell ONE AS A TIME SNAIL OR ERSTWHILE TRAVELS, crossword clues for FORMER (ONE-TIME OR ERSTWHILE) and SLOWLY (AS A SNAIL TRAVELS). These can also be weaved together uniquely to produce the answer, FLOWER.