"A sorrow's crown of sorrow is remembering happier times." PG Wodehouse.
The year is 2099 AD. The great agricultural crash happened in 2049. While the world focused on AI, technology, and automation, the science of cultivating and harvesting food was lost. Now, there are only 200 farmers in the world, and they have formed their own monarchies, handing out fresh produce to their loyal subjects. Serving a King or a Queen was not something everyone desired, as the rulers were often vicious. They demanded their subjects be in chains, never speak and perform horrendous acts on IV commoners at the ruler's bidding. Most of the world, however, lived as resistors who relied on IV Infusions to live and get nutrition.
Nikki felt a rumble in her stomach; other people in the hospital room threw her dirty looks as they clutched their stomachs. Her neighbour gulped and looked at the vending machine. There was an enticing piece of toast worth 1 million dollars. There were other expensive items like an apple, but he ignored them. He would have to be the Sultan of Manoxo to afford the $10 million apple. He had seen rich royals eat fruit online, so he knew it was something beyond delicious.
He let out a sigh at the same time as Nikki.
"Bread?" Nikki whispered. "Yes, and apples," said her neighbor. Nikki's eyes went round. "No, just apples in general, I'm not rich, I mean I am Rich in that my name is ironically Rich." "Ah, my great-grandmother used to have apples. I have several videos of her eating them." Rich raised his eyebrows and licked his lips. "Do you ever wish our ancestors had just dried off the food and left it underground as buried treasure?" "Don't say the F-word," Nikki hissed. "Sorry about that." The F-word was banned in a world where very little of it existed.
Rich's shoulders slumped. "My mates went foraging last month and found some blackberries. My mistake was that I ate one of them, and now I'm sick. I need to get my taste buds removed."
Nikki pursed her lips and shook her head. "My mother always told me the dangers of food, it's like a drug. She had my sister's taste buds removed very young." Nikki leaned in closer before continuing, "I don't know why she didn't get my taste buds numbed, but yesterday my boyfriend gifted me 2 cookies." Rich shrieked, "2 coo-" Nikki shushed him.
"Is your boyfriend rich or is he a ..." Nikki squirmed in her seat. "I found out that he is 5th in line to the white throne in Asia." "Wow, and he's dating a commoner, not a sugar Duchess or Vegetable princess? They could make meals." Rich and Nikki stared in the distance, remembering the fantasy movies that showed whole meals being cooked.
"Ageusia surgery for Nikki Singh! Please enter the doctor's chambers." Rich's head turned quickly. "Why are you doing this? You could convert to a subject and EAT."
Nikki shook her head. "I can't succumb to F. It is a drug. I can't be in chains. I'll be a free commoner than a f- eating subject." She burst out crying.
