A deregger rescue with tons of issues keeps "losing their meals" each time they eat anything other than bland nutrifood. Not on purpose, their body's just that messed up. The Gyiik temple are determined to find something the person can eat without losing it, by the powers! But this is one tough case, even for them. -- Anon Guest
Gyiiks react in horror when they discover the existence of no-flavour Nutrifood. Given that the product is a scientifically-calculated balance of essential nutrients, vitamins, and assorted chemicals, such a thing should not be possible. Given the vitamin C and salt requirements, it should at least taste of something, even if that taste is "terrible".
Further, horrified investigation has revealed that no-flavour Nutrifood has special additives to nullify anything that could possibly stimulate a taste bud. Previous victims had likened it to imbibing thickened water.
Debate still raged regarding whether it was worse at any given temperature.
The very existence of this substance was, to the greater Galactic Alliance, a war crime. A crime against cogniscent rights. A crime, according to the Gyiiks, against the very concept of food.
Worse and worse, there were people for whom it was the only thing they could keep down.
This had to be fixed.
There were Mediks on hand monitoring the latest volunteer. She sat at a brushed steel table on a cushioned stool, because both reminded her of the conditions she used to live in. The running theory was that too much unfamiliarity was causing an intense psychosomatic reaction. The food was merely the tipping point.
Today, that theory would be tested. Bit by bit. Aspect by aspect.
The first serving on a metal tray had portions of brown slop, green slop, and white slop. Each were Nutri-food, but segregated by protein, vegetation, and carbohydrates.
"Ooh. I did move up," said Nise, the volunteer. "I been promoted." The spoon was simple, stamped aluminium. Replete with sharp edges because the Deregger world never wasted expense on the working throng.
Nise worked on the familiar brown-grey goop first. Its only flavour was 'salty'.
There was cooled, boiled water in a tin cup to drink. One thing at a time.
So far, so good...
Maybe they could work their way up to other flavours.
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One thing about that nutri-food that "was so bland that it was pretty much designed to kill even the sensation of taste" That would, I bet, be gentle enough for people who were very, very sick and, due to being sick, was unable to eat anything else while their systems recovered.
A potential crime against the nature of food itself, turned into medicine. Heh, that would definitely be a way to "stick it" to those that were using it to keep their population obedient. Be a great way to help people dealing with a nasty norovirus. Blarg!
It probably did begin as medicinal... and then vile people weaponised it. Because of course they would.
True enough. Anything designed to be for the good will, sooner or later, be weaponized to do harm by those to whom cruelty isn't a bug in their thinking, it's a feature.
And it's so profitable 9_9