Tevun-Krus #103 - Androids

Neutered Nutrition - A Story by @Lamplighter1890

Neutered Nutrition 

by Lamplighter1890

Armond completed the required post-awakening steps and was finally going to get something to eat. He had been in the Post-Awakening Orientation Room, the Health Assessment Room, the Clean Epidermis room, and now the Cellular Revival and Nutrition Room. His body wasn't responding like normal, as he felt like he was "moonwalking," but other than that, he felt fine.

Oh, except that he was hungry.

The Attendant said it was "good" that he was hungry, as it was on the "positive side of normal." He found it comforting to be on the positive side of things, after all, that's why he spent the money to be cryogenically frozen for 500 years. He was sure that society would work out its problems and avoid the predicted dystopian future.

"Mr. Armond... Mr. Armond."

"Ye - yes, I'm Armond," he replied.

"Mr. Armond, welcome to the Cellular Revival and Nutrition Room. Are you prepared to Nutritionalize?" asked the attractive attendant.

"If that means eat, you betcha! I'm starving."

"Hmm, the term "starving" no longer exists, as the condition of starvation has been eradicated."

"Oh, OK, I get it, well then I am really, really hungry and am ready to... Nutritionalize."

"Very well, what is your preferred food grouping?"

"Chicken Fried Steak, because lady where I'm from, Chicken Fried Steak IS a food grouping!"

The attendant made a notation on her holographic clipboard. Armond thought that her attitude seemed bureaucratic: clearly, some of the undesirable aspects of humanity survived.

The attendant motioned towards a section of the room that slowly illuminated with soft blue lighting, revealing a large display case containing a number of 8" silver tubes.

"Mr. Armond, please proceed to the Nutritional Selection Optimizer, where you will find a variety of nutrition, all designed to meet the needs of your immune, restoration, and adaptive physical needs. Please select the nutritional items you want to consume."

Armond walked over to the Nutritional Selection Optimizer and looked over the "selection" of nutritional items. The dozens of silver tube-like containers were all free of writing, pictures, or symbols.

"How do I know what is what?"

"I don't understand what you mean?"

"Well, how do I know what tastes like what?"

"Oh, there are no differences in taste, all nutritional selections are the same to human taste buds."

"Then why the heck did you tell me to make a selection? Why not just give me a plate with a tube on it and say Bon Appetite?"

"Every selection contains the same nutrition, but each tube is an individual item; therefore, your nutrition is still a matter of choice."

Armond scowled and opened the tube. He looked into the end, smelt it, then squeezed it, and a tan paste came out. He licked it and found that it tasted like, well, nothing.

"Hey, is this it? I mean, is there any other food available?"

"Mr. Armond, this is the food that is produced on Earth. Stimulation of taste or smell is unimportant, as the goal of producing nutritionally supportive food products for all persons has become the human species primary objective."

Armond looked at his tube of "food product." He looked at the attendant.

"Say, Miss, ah... can you deep fry this?"