Base C

It has been two weeks since he became Devon. He discovered a lot of things about this world.

For instance, he learned that he was situated in one of the billion planets of the Oubi Galaxy known as 204D. This world was further divided into 26 bases, respectively named A to Z. 

Devon once asked his father about the base and learned it was the territorial division of different species. It allows a territorial designation of favorable spaces where certain creatures could easily propagate.

Base A contains the most vulnerable species, while Z has the most dangerous ones. Humans were allocated to live in Base C, Camati.

He also heard that Camati possesses superior technology, not that he has visited the other bases yet. In Devon's eyes, Camati was the peak.

The base's inhabitants figured out how to utilize machines as part of their lives, especially artificial intelligence. They designed virtual worlds, robots with emotional awareness, spatial storage, space transportation through teleportation or spaceships, and more.

The gravitation was not a constraint on his planet. Varied species have traversed other planets, and galaxies beyond the universe to gather information and establish a diplomatic alliance with other extraterrestrial beings.

One of the major traits of Camati is its ecological integrity and biological diversity. Devon found this profoundly unexpected, especially with the staggering technological achievements of the base. In most cases, technology is prioritized at the expense of the environment.

But Camati said it could handle both.

The clear unpolluted water, fertile land, fresh air, and abundant natural resources. Their base was such a masterpiece. There were even creatures he had never seen, like the one he saw yesterday.

While doing his usual sunbathing routine, he saw one majestically swimming in the air. It was humongous with its sparkly scales, like a siren, with a terrifying dragon-like visage. The beast could cover up the sky effortlessly.

He was told that the beast was the guardian of Camati, Lanov. It protects the Base C against the other base and invaders.

However, his father was visibly terrified when he chatted about this creature.

Devon dismissingly reasoned, "Maybe, it was from the reverence or something."

In any case, he was very fortunate to live in such a place. Knowing there were 25 other mysterious places to discover, he couldn't help but get excited.

"What I should do or where I should go once I was healthy enough to roam around." He excitedly asked himself. But, of course, he will start exploring Camati first. Devon finds his base weird sometimes.

Dad, the stranger he met when he woke up, told him a great deal about his adventures. He admits all of it enchanted him. It ignited his passion to travel even more.

"Devi." A voice was heard behind him. "Come here and eat your breakfast. Don't just focus on watching the windows." Dad was setting up the overbed table.

His hands were busy, but his mind was focused on Devon. "You need to eat properly to gain the weight you lost."

Even though Devon is 20 years old, he physically looks like a 13-year-old kid. His body was underdeveloped despite the high-quality nutrient solutions given to him.

The man who Devon spoke to was his father. He was not skeptical about it at all. He already guesses because little Devon looked almost the same as the man.

He has shoulder-length white hair tied with a red ribbon at his back, sharp and intelligent-looking blue eyes, a tall nose, and thin pink lips, which look appealing with his fair skin.

The man could be his brother if not for his stated age. He said he would be 85 this year. Surprisingly, the people of Camati could live up to 300 years.

Daddy Pane looked like the adult version of Devon but with a sturdy and healthy body. His slender body made Devon conscious of his body's terrible state.

Devon unconsciously flexed his right arm, "Where are you hiding, guys." But no lump showed up in his biceps.

A chuckle was heard beside him. He found his father was already by his side and observing his weird actions. Behind them, the food on the table was elegantly prepared.

Pane tilted his head at him and gave him a knowing look, "You will gain muscles like I have once you've eaten the breakfast I have painstakingly prepared for you."

"I sure wish I could." Both of them stared at the scenery on the balcony of his room, enjoying the fresh air of urban life.

Devon could take soft foods now.

Before, Pane disapproved of his request to eat real, solid foods. He hated the texture of the nutrient solution, but his father believed it could supply him with complete nutrients.

But with his persistence and making use of his inherent charms, his father finally consented.

Devon wanted a taste of a home-cooked meal, but he almost regretted this decision.

When he first saw his father's homemade food, he almost gagged from the sight and smell. But as a good child, he persevered and ate a spoonful. He could not vomit it, especially when Pane was monitoring his reaction.

He remembered commenting, "Thank you for the meal. But, Dad, I particularly like the recipe from this book. I would love to eat your version of those foods I've seen in the pictures." Swiftly sending him a five-star rated cookbook.

A curious Pane responded, "Why? Is it bad?"

"No, Dad, it's okay." Devon maintained a harmless smile on his face. "Here, have a taste." He gave half of his portion to his father.

Pane ate a spoonful and immediately barfed everything on the plate as if he'd tasted poison.

Devon gracefully used his handkerchief to remove the stain on his face.

"How did you finish this?" Pane worriedly asked, but soon after, he boastfully smiled. "Thankfully, I am wise enough to have Lime inspect the lethality percentage of this food, so no one is going to die." He trashed the food into the bin.

"You checked it?" I teasingly asked.

Lime is our little robot responsible for housekeeping and other technology-related matters with artificial intelligence. When Devon first saw him, he almost died from cuteness. Lime may be little, but he could do everything.

Now, he's Devon's self-proclaimed best friend.

He recalled Lime initially disagreed with his plan to eat a meal cooked by his father. The robot requested to prepare it himself. But he didn't agree.

He wasn't disdaining Lime's love-filled food, but he wanted to try his father's to feel the essence of home.

Back then, he advised, "It's okay, Dad. You just need to master the art of mixing compatible foods. I'm expecting your food for dinner!"

And Devon once read in a book that a mother would usually cook food for the family, but he does not have a mom.

When he asked Pane about her, he would rigidly reply with, "She's somewhere out there." And he interpreted the words as "Mom passed away, so don't ask."

Now, he only has his dad and Lime, so he could only ask his father to make his inconsiderate request. Fortunately, his father was generous enough to fulfill his whims.

But that was all in the past, exactly one week ago. Pane was once a bad cook, but now, he could eat mouthwatering meals cooked by his father. Devon bragged to their only audience, Lime, that his father's skills could be compared to a high-end hotel chef.

However, he would not forget a pleasing memory and sometimes lightly tease him with his dark past. His hilarious reaction would even make it funnier.

"Dad, can I go outside once I am healthy enough?" Devon randomly asked as he began engulfing his meal.

Pane straightforwardly responded, "We will talk about it once you gain 20 kilograms." 

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In the study room, Pane was scrolling through the cookbook his child sent him. But his mind was elsewhere, thinking of Devon's unusual state.

Typically, a person who has been in a coma for a long time would have a hard time adjusting. But Devon was unlike anyone else.

He was able to be in contact with reality instantly and re-establish his friendly relationship with Lime. Some people would isolate themselves, but not him.

Pane concluded, "He has high psychological stability."

Devon also has excellent muscle function, especially those parts used for eating. He switched from ingesting nutrient solutions to eating solid foods in a span of two weeks. For someone who has never used their moved for 10 years, it is a feat to coordinate muscles fluidly.

But he is Devon, so these things weren't really that unusual. Indeed, Devi truly stands out from the rest.