The Prince and the Programmer

by Cassandra Pierce

  “I said come in,” Tergus reminded him, his voice sharper this time. Jasno swallowed and realized he’d been dawdling just inside the threshold. He saw Avo hovering just behind Jasno. “Avo, you may go.”

  “Yes, your Highness,” Avo agreed. He bowed and backed away. The door swished shut between them.

  Jasno inched forward alone.

  “Apologies, your Highness. I didn’t want to disturb you.”

  “I sent for you, remember? Therefore, by definition, you could not possibly be disturbing me.” Tergus waved a hand in front of him, simultaneously dismissing the subject and motioning Jasno closer. “I take it you made sufficient progress in my foodsynth lab? Hyrzon was not too much of an impediment, I hope.”

  Jasno bowed. “I have prepared an excellent meal for you. There are three complete courses plus wine and dessert. I trust you will not be disappointed.”

  “I hope not. It has been a long and tiresome day and my stomach demands attention.” He grinned, sliding one hand along his thigh, and Jasno had the feeling other parts of him desired attention, too. Did he suspect how willing Jasno was to provide it? “Do you like the music? I thought it would provide some ambiance for dinner.”

  “I’ve never heard anything quite like it before,” Jasno admitted. He wasn’t sure if he actually enjoyed its weird, plaintive quality or not, but it did create a dramatic atmosphere.

  “That does not surprise me. It’s a traditional instrument from Despina, my home world.”

  “It is quite striking, your Highness.”

  “Very well, proceed. I am eager to sample these alleged delicacies.”

  “Straightaway, your Highness.”

  Jasno went to the wall unit and punched in some of the new codes he’d programmed and memorized. First to emerge from the mouth of the synthesizer was a tray of exotic appetizers—small pastries, mostly, filled with a variety of polymer-based meats, seafoods, and vegetable concoctions he’d read about in the antique recipe book. As he carried it across the room, he felt a twinge of nervousness. He trusted his instincts, and his skill with the formulae, but when serving someone whose tastes were as undoubtedly sophisticated as Tergus’s, it was hard to be totally relaxed.

  He watched as Tergus chewed one, swallowed, and then selected another. His face showed no expression at all as he went through the entire tray, nor did his manner give any indication of what he thought or felt about the various treats.

  Did he hate them? Or was he simply indifferent to the flavor—which might be worse, in some ways.

  Finally he looked up. His eyes were unreadable.

  “Those,” he said slowly, “are the most incredible things I have ever tasted. The pink ones were especially sweet. What are they called?”

  “Shrimp puffs. In the old days, some developed an allergy to them and could not enjoy their flavor. That hazard need no longer concern us, thanks to foodsynth technology.” Jasno’s face relaxed into a smile. “Don’t be too sure you will never taste anything better, your Highness. I have more to come.”

  “Indeed?” Tergus leaned forward eagerly as he handed over the empty tray. “What’s next?”

  “The wine, perhaps. It’s a blend of earth grapes and igweff fruit from Colony IX, with just a hint of Mwuxullian spices. I designed the flavor specially to cleanse the palate between especially rich courses.”

  “Very well. Bring it.”

  The wine, too, prompted Tergus to emit more murmurs of appreciation. At one point he even closed his eyes and tilted his head back, as if simply reveling in the sensations. Jasno had expected him to enjoy his creations, but this surpassed his wildest hopes. By the time he served the main course, a thick stew flavored with the essences of seven hybrid vegetables and roots and topped off with the closest imitation to genuine otophi flesh any synthetic had ever reached, Tergus was almost moaning with satisfaction.

  “I have one last treat for you, my lord. A dessert so succulent it can bring tears to even the most jaded gourmet’s eyes.”

  “No—enough.” Tergus held up a hand to stop him from returning to the synthesizer. He patted his midsection with the other. “I am sure you do not exaggerate its merits. Yet I have never been so full or so satisfied. Let’s leave it until later. Then, perhaps, you will share some with me.”

  “Share?” Jasno didn’t think he could possibly have heard right. “But that would be unheard of, your Highness. I am at best your servant, at worst your prisoner. And you…you are a prince.”

  “Is that what you think? Nonsense! You are my guest on this ship. Your origins are of no concern to me.” Tergus reached up and closed his hands around Jasno’s wrist, holding him in place. “The circumstances of my birth made me a prince. Yet I, too, am a man, like any other. Especially in my natural state. I could prove that to you, if you would like to see for yourself.” Slowly, he tugged Jasno closer.

  Jasno swallowed hard. He knew from the way Tergus’s brows lifted that he had also heard the gulping sound. “I…I was not expecting this, your Highness.”

  “Do I displease you?” It wasn’t a trick question as far as Jasno could tell. There was something imploring, perhaps even insecure, in Tergus’s expression…as though he were genuinely afraid of being rejected.

  “Of course not! You’re probably the most perfect man I’ve ever seen!”

  “Oh?” Tergus paused. His fingers loosened on Jasno’s wrist. His features twisted into a scowl. “More perfect than Prince Darex, for example?”

  The question took Jasno completely by surprise. He struggled to hide his confusion as he licked his lips, which suddenly felt bone-dry. “Er…I don’t know, my lord. I never thought of it that way.”

  “Darex is a handsome devil, is he not?” Tergus’s expression darkened, and he looked away. Only then did Jasno understand the significance of his being kidnapped in Darex’s place—a case of mistaken identity. Slowly the pieces of this odd puzzle drifted together in his mind. Tergus had indeed planned a seduction that evening—the seduction of Prince Darex. He was determined to enjoy one despite the absence of the person he had planned to entertain. Tears rushed to Jasno’s eyes. No matter what his culinary skills, Jasno himself was a poor substitute—in every sense of the word.

  “He is pleasing to the eye, no question,” Jasno managed to croak. He berated himself for feeling jealous—what right did he have to involve himself in whatever sort of royal relationship Darex and Tergus shared? Tergus could never see a man like him—a servant, a mere foodsynth technician—as anything more than a brief diversion in between his more socially appropriate encounters. All members of royalty indulged themselves that way, from what he understood. It would never change, and Jasno wasn’t even sure it should change. Strictly delineated social roles kept the galaxy running smoothly, or so he had always been taught. The ruling class found love with one another only, though they could take their pleasure elsewhere when the urge struck them, and that was the way it should be.

  Still, the momentary fantasy that something more could possibly exist between him and Tergus than the roles of servant and master had been appealing, even exciting. Maybe in the future he could call up the memory of that fleeting thought and try to feel that exciting little rush of emotion again.

  “He is more than just pleasing to the eye,” Tergus said, his mood plummeting lower by the moment. His whole face looked different now. He might almost have become a different person. “He is pleasing to my heart—or at least he was, before he broke it into more pieces than I can possibly ever hope to mend.” He moved aside on the daybed and patted the edge. Hesitantly, Jasno perched there.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, my lord.”

  “I shouldn’t be confiding any of this in you. It isn’t for you to worry about. I suppose I just needed someone to talk to, and for obvious reasons I could not confide in any of my yacht’s crew. You are different. You are from the outside. I feel I can trust you not to judge me.”

  “I’m flattered you would choose me, your Highness.” Jasno s
wallowed. The proximity of Tergus’s body was making him feel warm and fidgety. “And I certainly have no right to judge you.”

  “You have the right. I simply think you are not that sort of person. You seem to listen…and you seem to care.”

  “Perhaps it comes from years of serving others, my lord. I am adept at listening.”

  Tergus rushed on, making Jasno wonder if he was even listening to any voice but his own. “I appreciate your sympathy, but there’s no real reason you should care. I admit I was foolish to get caught up in his games. And Darex does love his games. Gravity-free wrestling is only one of many he indulges in. The rest involve others’ affections—and he is very good at them, no question.” Tergus gritted his teeth as if biting back a painful memory. “We were at school together. I’m not ashamed to say that he became my entire world. My studies, my own interests, my future—none of those meant a thing to me as long as he was beside me. Have you ever felt like that about anyone, Jasno?”

  “No, my lord. But then, I have spent little time in the outside world. My days have been filled with work. I have had no real experience outside of my duties at the port.”

  “Hm. Well, to tell you the truth, I was a bit like you in that I was completely inexperienced in such matters. Perhaps I gave my heart too easily, but I thought at the time that Darex was the right person. I still think so, in some ways. Sadly, he does not see things that way.”

  Though the conversation made Jasno uncomfortable, he realized that Tergus was waiting for him to respond, so he forced himself to ask, “And how does he see things, your Highness?”

  “Please call me Tergus. We are speaking as friends just now. But to answer your question, he sees me as someone he had some fun with at one time, when we were both a bit younger. Whether he was happy with me is a question I never dared to ask myself until it was too late. He does not see me as part of his life now, or as part of his future. He prefers to entertain himself and seek new experiences rather than return to the past.”

  Jasno recalled Darex’s behavior in the royal box at the gravity-free arena. He supposed that was the sort of thing Tergus was talking about. Privately, he marveled at Darex’s attitude. Having a man like Tergus offering his love was a gift he could not imagine any sane person turning down.

  “Of course, my opinion is that his fears are baseless,” Tergus went on. “Of course, quick and torrid affairs are stimulating and flattering. He simply doesn’t see the advantages of a strong partnership, one that will last through the years and bring greater pleasures in the long run.”

  Jasno nodded. Every word sent fresh pain stabbing through his chest. But again, what right had he to take offense? With or without Darex, there would be no place for him in Tergus’s life, even if he was willing to share his bed from time to time while he waited for Darex to come around. “I see.”

  “In the end, he left me for the first pair of sweetly rounded buttocks that sashayed past him. My spies tell me that relationship didn’t last too long, though. None of his ever seem to. That is why I cannot help but think that he could learn to be happy with me—if only he would give himself the chance.”

  “And that is why you sought to…invite him aboard? You intended to give him that chance tonight.”

  Tergus nodded. “I thought if I could bring him here, where we could talk things over and be together, away from all the other distractions that dominate his life, we could resolve our difficulties. I hoped things might be as they were in the beginning…when I was happy with him and he with me. As you know, things did not go as I had planned.” Reaching up, Tergus stroked Jasno’s hair. A smile fluttered over his lips. “Mind you, I am glad for the way the situation did work out. Meeting you was a fortunate accident, assuming there is such a thing. Some philosophers believe every event that happens does so for a reason, even if we cannot divine it at first.”

  Jasno blushed. Tergus was staring at him again, clearly waiting for him to say something. He blurted out the first thing that came to mind “I suppose that is possible, though it seems hard to believe.”

  “Well, that’s the point, don’t you see? We may not understand the ways of fate and the larger universe, but everything is already mapped out for us. For example, my plan to abduct Darex went awry, but that may have been specifically engineered by whatever powers move the stars so that I would have the opportunity to sample your excellent dishes.”

  “I’m glad I could bring you some happiness, then. Even if it was not the sort you were expecting.”

  Tergus’s hand sought his and enfolded it again. Jasno allowed himself to enjoy the warm pressure from those perfectly formed, long and sensitive fingers. Another memory he could one day pull out of his mind and console himself with, he figured.

  “You are wise beyond your years, Jasno. You have indeed eased the pain in my heart tonight—with your delicious food and now with your thoughtful words. I will reward you well. I promise you that.”

  “I don’t doubt your generosity, your Highness, and I am grateful. But I assure you I require no special reward for trying to help you find peace and pleasure in life.”

  “Well said. You are possessed of a noble heart, no matter what your station in life.” Tergus tilted his head in curiosity. “Where do you come from, anyway? You appear to carry the genetics of those from Earth. Who were your parents?”

  “I fear I know nothing of them. I was a foundling, left at the port by a woman who traveled on after giving birth to me. No one knows who she was. I was brought up as a ward of the port’s governing body, as all the foundlings there are, and placed in a child-rearing institution. When the time was right, I was apprenticed to the foodsynth department. My skill comes from many years of experience.”

  “Skill! What you have is a master talent, nothing less. I intend to help you develop it. You have no one to return to at the port, then? No one you will miss?”

  “I am afraid not. Given the circumstances of my departure, I fear I can never go back there. It is likely I would be punished for abandoning my post.”

  “Nonsense. That was hardly your fault. I can work that out for you with the authorities—if you want me to. But I would rather you stayed on and worked for me. You will prepare all my meals in the future.”

  Jasno brightened. The thought of never returning to Port Equinox did not trouble him in the least. “I would be honored, your Highness. But what of Hyrzon?”

  “He is old and needs to retire. He can return to my father’s palace and live out his twilight years there. He dislikes space travel anyway, and my father likes bland synthfoods. It is a perfect match. I have much bigger plans for you.”

  “Oh?” Jasno’s heart quickened.

  “Yes.” Tergus rose and paced the room, rubbing his palms together. “You recall what I said earlier about understanding the ways of fate?”

  “Of course.”

  “Well, I have an idea about what your purpose here might be, after all. It fits perfectly, now that I think about it. Perhaps those old philosophers were onto something, after all.”

  Jasno frowned, listening intently.

  “So here’s my plan. Darex likes his games. Very well, we will give him a few to remember. I will host a private anti-gravity wrestling tournament in my own royal arena. I can offer Mal Jar a prize purse he will not be able to resist. If Mal Jar comes, his biggest backer, Darex, will come too. And once he is there, you will help me win him back.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes. Thank you for putting the idea in my mind. I’m amazed I didn’t think of it before. What Darex needs is a taste of how wonderful a settled home life can be—literally.” Tergus grinned as he stood in front of the foodsynth panel.

  “I…think I understand,” Jasno said. He’d done his job too well, he realized with a sinking feeling.

  “I’ll give this some more thought later. For now you may return to your quarters and rest. We will plan everything tomorrow.” He crossed to the control panel beside the slider and summoned Avo. “I’ve
arranged for you to have your own quarters. I trust you’ll find them comfortable. Avo will show you the way. And thank you again, Jasno. You have given me new hope. In some ways, that tastes even better than your excellent food.”

  “My pleasure, your Highness,” Jasno said. He followed Avo down the corridor in abject dejection.

  Chapter 5

  “This is wonderful,” Avo said after swallowing down a large spoonful of broth. “I wish I were a prince so I could have my own dishes individually prepared, too.”

  “I suspect you would find the duties of a prince onerous, however delicious the food. I know I would.” Jasno smiled, enjoying the expression of pleasure on Avo’s face, now permanently free of the helmet. Over the course of the past few days, Avo’s duties had gradually evolved from serving as a guard to an assistant in the synth lab. For the most part, Hyrzon left them alone, which allowed Jasno to give Avo his new creations to sample and comment on. Already he had doubled his store of formulae, some of which he had been able to memorize. The rest he had stored on memory cards he kept in a special box Hyrzon had reluctantly provided. Hyrzon himself had no need of such boxes, having not developed any new dishes in years. Jasno had discovered a storeroom stacked with empty ones and a good many unused memory cards as well.

  “I wouldn’t care. Plate after plate of delicious food, strong wine to wash my cares away, and live gravity-free wrestling in the royal arena would make up for any inconvenience as far as I’m concerned.”

  “If you say so.”

  Avo reached for a piece of spice cake and enthusiastically gulped that down, too. “More jixi nuts,” he suggested.

  “You think?”

  “I do.”

  “Anyway, I already reprogrammed the mess hall synthesizer. Haven’t you noticed an improvement?” That particular task had been easy enough to accomplish, since the mass-produced menu resided on the same server as Tergus’s private dining choices. When he had seen Hyrzon’s haphazard programming there, he knew why Avo had complained about the crew’s food earlier. Some of the dishes were little better than the raw polymers Darex had complained about back on Port Equinox.