“Yes the town was equipped with only basic necessities. Cities have it all, and the food source is fully automated. So there is an over abundance of food now,” Grass says.

I jump up, “Well what are we waiting for, lets get,” I enter the elevator and wait for the others.

They get up slower and stroll to the door. I want to yell at them to hurry, but I hold my tongue. They get in and the doors close.

When the door opens I run out of the building in a hurry to see the line. I am so glad the door is automatic and based on your speed, or I would have done a face smack.

I see the line heading in the opposite direction we came. I hop on each foot alternately. I swear that they are taking their time. They walk out looking confused.

“Well hurry up, this is going to be awesome,” I say and hurry along the yellow line. I am looking forward to food. I don't even try to wait for them.

The line stops at a building on the next block, around the corner. This building's door takes up two silver strips. I tentatively walk up to the door and they both open. I expected to smell food, but no smell came out the door.

I walk in a bit deflated. There are tables of various sizes scattered around the room, with chairs. It reminds me of a nice restaurant without the bus stations. There are no other doors in the room.

Other than everything looking black and glossy, I could imagine this is a fancy five star restaurant on earth. I look around to see where to order, but all that is in the room are the table and chairs.

“Okay got me, how do I get the food?” I ask.

“At the table like with any other memory link. This is totally automated. This one was designed without waitstaff. There are others around, but this one doesn't require the need for people to run it.” Grass says.

“Oh, okay, makes sense. I guess I better wait for my party,” I say and turn around.

“That would be polite. They are just about here.” As Grass finishes, Tieth and Cliff come through the door panting.

“I really wish I knew how you run so fast. I could have beat my brother every time,” Tieth pants.

“I call it super charge. The energy I get from eternal stone devices sticks with me,” I reply turning around to find a seat.

I found a large round table that will seat all of us and sit down. “When you catch your breath, have a seat and we will wait for Berg and Peth. If I know Peth she is in no hurry.”

They come over and sit down. Cliff says, “She always told me never to rush. Life will pass you by.”

“Wise woman. But just between us guys, I don't always listen,” I say and Peth and Berg walk in just as I finish. “Oh you all made it. Have a seat,” I motion to the empty chairs.

Peth gives me a 'I heard that' look and sits down. I try to think of what I want before I activate the computer. Then I remember that they have had nothing to eat but algae.

“I just thought Grass. They have only eaten the cube pills. Do you have a suggestion that will not tax their systems.”

I hear Grass growl, “Sorry about that, had something in our throat.”

I laugh, “Yeah right, grass have no throats. She being a pain?”

“Yes every time you or someone at town asks a question, she gets worse. I don't know if she likes us talking to you or anyone.”

“Could be, but I bet it is that she is testing you. You are going to be responsible for everyone on every planet the main controls. This would I think be the best time to test you. When most are sure to be safe.”

“We thought of that, but she still is a royal pain. When we get her out of there she is going to get a file full and more. We've already started one to bombard her with.”

I laugh, “You go for it. But I hate to distract, but I don't want to over-tax our beginners.”

“Ah yes our apologies. We suggest a nice garden salad with either a vinaigrette or white cream dressing. We do warn that the white cream dressing may settle strange on your stomach, so keep that in mind.

The vinaigrette dressing should not upset the tummy, but the texture of the oil may seem strange to you.

The salad itself should not mess your system up, since you are accustomed to plant digesting in your system. But be prepared for the texture, it will be strange to you. And we will remind you to chew up the food thoroughly.

As for the well accustomed host, we suggest a prime rib with a mushroom sauce. A side of baked potato with sour cream and bacon bits. Real of course. If you are feeling gutsy we suggest some chives on the potatoes.”

“Sounds delicious to me. What about you all?” I look at the others.

They start to shrug and go to a nod. Peth says, “I do not know what food is other than what we have always had. But if Grass says it will be okay, I will try it. Can I have it without the dressings?”

“Of course my lady and very wise. And the gentlemen?”

Berg looks at Peth then says, “I will have mine like her.”

“Of course sir,” Grass says.

“Um I want mine with the white cream dressing. I know Sasa would take a chance and this is for her,” Cliff says and slowly gains confidence by the end.

“Of course sir, in honor of Sasa,” Grass acknowledges.

“Um I don't know. I'm not good at deciding,” Tieth says.

“Not a problem sir, if you like we can put both on the side so you can try both,” Grass suggests.

“That sounds great, thanks,” Tieth says.

“No problem sir.”

“And I feel gutsy garcon,” I say.

“Definitely sir. It will be up momentarily,” Grass says.

“What is garcon?” Tieth asks.

“That is a word used for someone serving you at a restaurant. In English we have several words meaning the same thing, depending on where you are from.”

“Why would you have to call one thing different things?” Peth asks.

“On earth there were several groups of people living separate from each other. Each called things different names. As these groups got together and began to merge, the names were kept despite being a name for the same thing.

Now that was an off the top of my head explanation. So it might be lacking. But I hope it gets the idea across.”

“You mean not all from earth speak, the English?” Peth asks.

“Oh no, not at all. There are almost as many languages and dialects as there are people in your town,” I say.

“You say you don't have memory. So how do you all communicate with each other?” Peth is trying real hard to grasp it all.

“Sometimes we don't. It's really hard to get what you want across when two people don't understand each other. But despite the problem with communication we all find ways around it.

In most cases there is a translation. Unlike memory which translates pretty much instantaneously. On earth we have another person listen to one talk, and then translate to the other language for another. It is tedious, but it works.”

“Interesting. Sounds like the lack of memory makes it very different for earth,” Peth says with sympathy.

“At times yes. But to us that is what makes life interesting. Finding the answer to a problem is more interesting than having the answer given to you. I'm sure your way past ancestors went through it all to, before memory,” I say and Peth nods.

The center of the table opens up. A black plate with a salad on it rises, then slides in front of Peth. As it reaches Peth, another plate with steak and a baked potato rises and slides to me. Then Berg gets his. The next plate rises with two bowls and slides to Tieth. The last plate rises with what looks like ranch dressing and slides to Cliff.

Silverware melts out of the table next to each plate. I notice that everything is still made of the eternal stone. It crosses my mind that it is eternal and never ending.

“Are you saying I am older than the other guys?” I ask.

“Yep by several years,” Grass returns with a bit of a smirk.

“Ooh okay. Well dig in.” I grab my knife and fork and begin eating. I eat the first piece of steak and notice that there is a bowl of au jus sauce. “Oh my god Grass, you are the ultimate prince,” I say as I dip my prime rib.

“Thanks, we try,” Grass responds with pride.

I dig my teeth into the meat. As I close my mouth around the bite. I feel my saliva kick in. the flavor explodes in my mouth.

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The dripping au jus caresses my taste buds. Each bite is almost useless as the meat melts into pieces, in my mouth. Each succulent bit releases more and more flavor.

I take my time with each bite, savoring every tiny burst of flavor coming from the tender prime rib. At the end I swallow and feel it slide smoothly down. It gently lands in my stomach as I feel it scream in excitement.

I realized I had my eyes closed and opened them. All four are watching with captive fascination. Even Peth has let her guard down, fascinated at watching me.

“Um sorry, am I disturbing you?” I ask.

“Not at all. I never saw someone enjoy food like you just did,” Berg says. I think Peth is rubbing off on him. He is losing his ruff edge.

“You make me want that,” Tieth nods.

“Oh don't worry, I'm sure you will get to try it eventually. Grass agrees that we don't want to shock your system.”

“Agreed,” Grass says. “You may have some difficulty with the salad. Your system is only used to the process of algae.”

I look at the table and notice the four have a glass of water. But next to my plate is a wine glass. “Is that?” I point at the glass.

“Nothing like you have ever experienced. Yes it is a wine. But the alcohol’s effects are processed out. But we understand that it cannot be tasted. Plus that is over two millennia old.” Grass answers.

“Oh my god I am in heaven.” I say as I gently take the glass and swirl it. The look is perfect. I sniff the top of the glass. The aroma has no scent of grape. I cannot even place the fruity floral smell.

I take a slow sip. I let the sweet dry wine glide over my taste buds. I gently roll the liquid in my mouth, letting it touch every crevice of my mouth. I swallow as gently as I can and let the liquid coat my throat. It hits my stomach with that wonderful burn.

I opened my eyes again not realizing I had closed them. The four are still looking at me with fascination. I don't think any of them have moved.

“Um sorry again,” I say, a little embarrassed.

“Don't be, I like watching you eat,” Tieth says.

I look at each of their plates and realize none of them have taken a bite. I sit the glass down and look at Tieth. “Then I guess it is my turn to watch you,” I say leaning on the table.

Tieth looks down at his plate with a bit of fear. He slowly grabs his fork. Obviously they have never used utensils before. I do not say anything. All etiquette can wait till later.

He stabs at the lettuce like a wild monkey attacking an adversary ant. “Now just dip it in one or the other dressings to try it,” I say.

As he dips the lettuce in the vinaigrette, I can see his hand shake. “Relax, it wont bite you. It actually tastes good. This type of eating just adds variety to your tastes,” I say trying to be encouraging. Which I think failed because the closer it got to his mouth the more he shook.

Finally he closes his mouth around the fork and pulls it out. At first he looks like he is about to puke, but then he begins to chew.

At first there is just fear in his expression After about four bites, his face relaxes into uncertainty. After a few more bites his expression changes to enjoyment. After the piece of lettuce is nothing but mush, he swallows.

Bewilderment fills his expression. He puts down the fork and puts his hand on his stomach. “That is a strange feeling. But I like it.” he says as he grabs his fork and begins again.

“Just remember that you will have to drink liquids too. The stuff you eat this way does not have your needed water intake.”

I forget about my food and watch them. Cliff takes a drink first. I don't know if it was a stall tactic, or to help his nerves. As soon as he puts it in his mouth he starts chewing vigorously. He swallows as he is going for his next bite.

Berg waits for Peth. She takes a small piece of lettuce and chews it tentatively, like she was dissecting its effect and flavor in her mouth. She then swallows with the look of a scientist examining a specimen.

She swallows and sits for a moment in contemplation. “I find the chewing a bit slow, but not irritating. There is what I think you call flavor. That is something new to get use to. The feeling on the stomach does seem more satisfying.”

“Do you have to analyze everything?” I ask.

“No, but see no need not too,” she says matter of fact.

Berg then goes after his, but trying his best to imitate Peth. Although once it hit his stomach, all was lost and he digs in like the rest.

“Grass, do I want to know what this prime rib is?” I ask.

“No,” Grass says bluntly.

“Good enough for me,” I say and resume my eating again.

After two glasses of wine I feel it going through me. “Um Grass I see a situation in the making,” I say.

“Just go to a wall, other than the outer wall. The computer will know what you need.”

I get up and walk to a side wall. As I get to the wall, a door opens. I walk into a small room. I try to picture the most exotic and fancy bathroom I have ever seen and realize this surpasses it.

I can't even describe what it looks like to me. Everything I think a bathroom needs, it has and more. As I step away from the door it closes and I do my business.

After we finish we all just sit and moan. I don't see how a large salad can fill a person, but it did these four. As I sit enjoying the full feeling, I notice a smell.

I lean down and sniff, “Um I think we need a good cleaning. Any suggestions, Grass and maybe some new clothes.

“You can clean up and get new clothes at the same place. It looks like they tended to clean up before getting new attire,” Grass says.

“Sounds wonderful. As soon as I can move, we will head out,” I say and relax farther into the chair. I notice none of the others are in any hurry either.

Eventually I start to shift and get up. Peth rises as though she was just waiting on me. The others shift and moan as they get up. It sounds more like a bunch of tortured victims then full customers.

We get outside and the yellow line heads on down the street. We follow the yellow line at a much slower pace. I feel my stomach is stretched way out of shape. It has been several days since I have eaten. I'm sure it had to shrink some.

I have given up trying to figure anything out about the city. I just follow the line down the street to the building it points at. I might suggest to the re-designer to give this city some character. It's almost like a very large mausoleum.

As always the building looks like all the rest with the silver strip. I enter the building. Inside and find myself in a small room with a tall desk in the center. There are four doors on each of the other three walls.

“Welcome to the dressing room of Grass. We hope you like our assortments,” Grass says from the desk. “When you are ready to try some things on, just choose a door and head on in. Once in, just take off your clothes and wait for the cleaning.

Your old clothes will be washed away to be recycled. Then choose from our selections on which wall you choose. And again enjoy yourself,” Grass says.

“Neat sounds like fun. I really need a shower,” I say.

“You're going to love this,” Grass comments.

I choose a door and head in. I see the others walking to a door also. I enter the room and the door closes.

“Remove old attire please,” the computer says.

I strip down and just drop my clothes on the floor. I was going to put them on a stool, but there is nothing in the room. After I am finished I stand waiting.

“Please close eyes for wash,” the computer says.

I close my eyes and almost jump. From every direction I feel a fine spray hit me. I spread my arms and legs to allow the water to hit every part of me.

After a fine mist shower of about a minute the water stops. I am about to open my eyes when I feel an even finer mist. In my hands I can feel bubbles. It only lasts for about ten seconds.

When it stops, it feels like someone is messaging every part of my body, and I mean everywhere. I wanted to open my eyes to see what is massaging me, but I did not want to get soap in my eyes.

After a few seconds of the message, I feel the fine mist like the first spray. It starts from everywhere, then would direct itself to rinse every part of me.

The spray stops after a couple of minutes and I feel a burst of air. It comes from everywhere, then comes in different directions till I am dry.

“Complete, you may choose your attire,” the computer says.

I open my eyes and the room is empty except me. I go to the wall in front of me and touch it. Types of clothing are listed. To my left is types of shirts and to my right is pants

I choose dress shirts. Then it has stripes, solid or design. I choose solid. A color wheel appears. I choose yellow, but after seeing the shirt I realize it is way too bright. Below the shirt is a word back. I press that.

I choose light blue. I then choose long pants. I see a list of names I do not recognize. “Which one is jeans, Grass?” I ask, then the screen changes to a pair of jeans. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” Grass responds.

I notice in the center, just below the other clothes, is the word undergarment. I press it. The word vanishes and I see top, bottom, top and bottom. I press bottoms.

The set of clothing shifts up and to the left. In the center are different types of shoes. I choose boots. Another list appears with different types of boots. I choose heavy. Then choose ankle high.

Then it shows lace or auto latch. I choose auto latch. The clothing shifts around to the center of the wall. Each article is in the appropriate spot. I notice a pair of white socks added.

“Is this your final selection?” the computer asks.

“Yes.”

The wall clears and I stand in the room waiting. Within a minute a shelf slides out with the clothes I chose on it. I get dressed. While I was dressing the wall became reflective. When I finish, I look at myself in the reflection.

I don't know how it did it, but the clothes fit perfectly. The shoes were easiest and the funnest to put on. I slide on the boot and I can feel the inside shift as the top closes like Velcro, but without actually pulling the Velcro to latch it.

As I shift in the boots, they keep pace to learn the most comfortable fit. How a thin boot can do this, I don't know. I shift around looking at myself in what looks like the most expensive brand. I guess I should say the finest craftsmanship of clothing.

After admiring myself for several minutes, I exit out the door. It's odd how I have gotten so used to the silver strips so fast. I would swear I knew of them all my life. I don't even realize I notice them. I just walk in the right spot.

As I step out, I see Peth by the counter. She is wearing a white formal gown. On each shoulder is a small ruffle. The bottom flows with her every shift. The waves of the cloth flow like the ripples of a pond. She definitely would be the bell of the ball.

“As gorgeous as you look, is that practical?” I ask quickly.

“More practical than the other clothes I have worn. The outfit closet has never had the selection they do here. I had not realized the possible different variations of fashions there are,” she says.

“If you say so. But you are a looker,” I say trying my best to pull my eyes off her, but failing miserably.

I am finally able to pull my eyes away, “Are the others still attiring?”

“I know the translator does have trouble with translation sometimes, so I expect you mean dressing and not sleeping,” she replies softly.

“Don't you just love that computer? But yes you are correct.”

“Yes they are still dressing. I know Berg does take a while to get dressed.”

“Funny, on earth it is the females that take longer,” I say.

“How is that funny?” she asks.

“Okay not funny as in ha, ha, but ironic,” I explain.

“Can I get a chair?” I ask.

A block slides out of the floor. I flop down still trying to recoup from the meal. We wait there for what seems like eternity.

Berg comes out first, in a brown t-shirt and dress pants that are also brown. He looks like dry dirt. The t-shirt with dress pants just looks odd to me. He steps over to Peth.

A few seconds after Berg, Tieth walks out. His shirt is black and his pants are long and dark blue. The material is like nothing I have ever seen.

It looks like fish scales, but flows like cloth. As the scales shift, you see a strange deep glint. The ones on his pants seem to create their own light from deep within. A bit hypnotizing at first.

About ten seconds after Tieth, Cliff walks out. His shirt is bright yellow. As he moves the cloth seems to be getting caught on something and being pulled. It gets to about one inch away from his skin and snaps back.

His pants are a dark blue. As I watch I see the pants move like water. I swear one actually peaked and created a white cap. I then realize that it is not just dark blue, but it has some flowing green.

I guess I jumped to my attire too quickly. I would never have thought that clothing could look, or act like that. I guess the Oranians had more clothes and styles then I would have thought. You just can't tell it with all the black.

“Okay we are fed, washed, and dressed. What next?” I break the silence.