A familiar flavor

Before tasting it, you weren't sure what it was, but the Odyssey's food storage included a variety of fruit-flavored energy drinks as well as protein drinks which tended to be flavored like milk, chocolate or vanilla. Being completely famished, you'd be satisfied drinking any of those right now, so you began to guzzle the liquid through the tube-like top of the cylindrical alien container. Meanwhile, the Grey doctor resumed monitoring one of the 3D images above a nearby console which was tracking the liquid pouring from the bottle into your mouth and down your throat.

You quickly realized several things. First, the design of the container's top was unlike anything you'd drank from before; instead of having to suck on it to get the liquid to flow, once it was past your lips, it automatically pumped the fluid directly into your mouth. The sudden input nearly caught you off-guard, but you instinctively began to swallow to keep up with the flow rate. Next, you were puzzled that the drink didn't seem to match the flavor of any of the expected fruity energy drinks or various protein drinks. With the liquid coming in so fast, most of it was hitting the back of your tongue where it detected a slight bitterness. From some that swirled around to the sides and tip of your tongue, it tasted slightly sweet, but also somewhat salty. The flavor seemed familiar, but you weren't entirely sure where you'd tasted it before. Also, it seemed thicker than any energy drink or most protein drinks. Whatever it was, it didn't taste the greatest, but it wasn't bad either.

By now the container had pumped out at least half its contents, and you were struggling to swallow fast enough to keep up. You briefly considered pulling it away, but due to your intense hunger, your body was telling you it needed to consume this even faster. Glancing over at the 3D image, you saw the liquid continuing to pour downward. By now quite a bit of it had reached a spherical cavity in the area that your stomach once occupied, but which now held some type of alien power source. As the fluid continued to fill the chamber, you had a new sensation like adrenaline flowing through your body. Suddenly, you felt very alert, and for a brief moment it almost seemed like time began to slightly slow down around you. Were you moving faster? However, the effect was short-lived, and things seemed to move normally again.

By now the container had been emptied, yet you were still trying to figure out the flavor. As you set down the cylinder, you asked, "Can I see the food container? I'm curious what flavor this was."

The Grey tilted his head slightly. "We're testing your power converter, and you're concerned about the flavor of your meal?" the alien said with more than a hint of sarcasm in the delivery. Then he looked back toward the image to monitor the progress and seemed to ignore you.

"Well, is it working?" you asked. If the Grey doctor didn't want to discuss the food, they could at least give you an update on whether this thing in your belly was working correctly.

"Yes. It seems to be functioning within the defined parameters. At the current rate of consumption, it appears you will need to eat a similar amount every four hours. Accounting for your sleep period, you'll need four meals per day. Is that approximately how often your species eats their meals?" asked the Grey.

"Pretty close. It was closer to five hours apart on average, and usually I'd only eat three meals a day, but I think I can get used to this."

"The test has been a success. Now regarding your food, at this rate of consumption, the amount we recovered will run out quickly, but we are working to synthesize an equivalent." The alien motioned with his finger, and a large panel opened beside another set of controls. Then he reached in and pulled out a dark-colored cold storage container that no doubt had come from the Odyssey. However, this type of container wasn't usually used for food. Next, the alien activated the release mechanism and the container opened. The Grey reached in and pulled out a series of small plastic bag-like containers which seemed to be labeled. "Here are the food containers," he said and then handed several of them to you.

As you read the first label, you suddenly were overcome by a wave of nausea. If you'd had an actual stomach, your reaction probably would have expelled everything you just consumed. Instead, it just made you feel really dizzy. The label read:

Year 3 Day 72 - Odyssey Active Crewman: T. Harrison - VR session 1 - Semen Collection