Pain throbbing through his vein as he tried to breathe in. The air was so dry it hurt. There had been no wind for hours. Nux thought he should consider this the end of his useless being.
He had ran out of food days ago. Yesterday he also ran out of water. Maybe there were still some canteens left, but he had no strength to reach for them. Either way, Nux knew he wasn't getting out of here. He sighed and closed his eyes, thinking of what he had done for almost three weeks, and the event that changed his life.
He somehow survived the crash. He could still feel his voice murmuring 'Valhalla' as he made the war rig crashed. He hoped for what he had been waiting all along. Finally, the gate of Valhalla would have opened for him. Now he could rejoice and celebrate. He would no longer be called a mediocre. He had finished his ride without botching it.
But the truth was, Valhalla's gate was still not open for him. He was still not good enough to be accepted. So he found himself flat on his back out of the destroyed war rig. Every parts of his body hurt, especially his legs. He felt like he was rammed by three war rigs.
Nux had been believing that he would finally made his arrival at Valhalla inevitable. It seemed that he had been wrong all along. He had more chances than other War Boys could have received, yet he screwed them all. Such pathetic.
However, Nux didn't let himself laid there for long. He dragged himself up, slowly and painfully. He still remembered Capable. She was so sweet, and kind. She listened to what he said, although he hadn't said much to her. If he wasn't going to be accepted to Valhalla, at least he should try to get back to the Citadel. Get back to her. He knew Capable would accept him. He was sure that after his betrayal, no War Boys would want him back. Slit's words still stung him as Nux replayed the memory of his former Lancer in his head. He had heard how angry Slit was. He had heard Slit shouted Valhalla while he tried to make his way out. All he saw was fire. Slit had already gone to Valhalla, and Nux wasn't there to witness him.
After gathering things he could find, Nux dragged himself away from the broken vehicles. He still saw the sandstorm coming even with only one eye open. So Nux dragged himself to climb up the mountain and found a nearby cave. He settled in and hoped it would protect him from the storm.
The cave did protect him, but the sand that flew in only made his wounds worse. Nux wasn't sure how long he had been out. When he woke up he didn't feel any better. So he decided to eat and drink, before getting back to sleep.
Three weeks went on like that. He woke up. Everything hurt. He ate and drank, then getting back to sleep. Woke up again to pee, if needed, but most of his time was spent for sleep.
He got weaker and weaker every day. The first week he could still walk, the first half of the second week he barely could. The second half of the second week he had to crawl if he wanted to get around. And the third week he could barely move, let alone crawling. Everything hurt. It seemed like sleep is the only way to escape the pain. He was definitely dying soft, and nothing was going to change that.
Nux took in another painful breath. His end was near, he could feel it. He didn't know how long he will still be alive. Maybe days, or just an hour. Right now even death was welcomed. Anything but the pain and the throbbing in his legs.
He thought he heard a soft voice of someone whispering as he close his eyes. Maybe someone just found him. Maybe, just maybe. Would they think he is still alive? He thought. Of course He didn't know the answer of that question. Maybe they just walked pass the cave and didn't see him at all. Nux wondered and tried to listen to more voices as he drifted off to another dreamless sleep.
"This one is still alive,"
"Damn, he is so lucky to survive with these wounds. Ugh, they're so ugly as shit."
"At least he is unconscious."
"Hey, what the heck. Do you think bringing him back is a good idea? This shit is going to die soon - probably in a few hours."
"But he is an omega."
"He is useless. Male omegas are useless."
"He is not! And I am an omega! Do you want to fight?!"
"Whoa, whoa, quit it you two."
"I don't think bringing him back is a good idea. This shit won't survive."
"No, we're not bringing him back."
"We are bringing him back."
"No…"
"I said; we are bringing him back!"
Nux heard voices as he was drifted in and out of conscious. His eyes were still close. Some parts of his body wanted to wake up, but the other parts were too tired. He also couldn't recognize those voices at all.
Maybe they are War boys I hadn't met before? But their words didn't make sense. And an omega? Who is an omega? Surely it's not me. Every male omegas were disposed after they were born. Who are these people? He though, feeling dizzy. They are not Buzzards either, those bastard would have killed me as soon as they see.
He heard an engine revved, then someone murmured something about a painkiller. Something covered his face as Nux felt the ground under him moved. No, he was moved.
Someone injected something into his left arm, the pain was nothing when compared to the pain he was feeling from his legs. But what they injected into him sent him into a deep dreamless sleep.
Something touched his lips, forcing it opened. A drop of water on the tip of his tongue and Nux immediately parted his lips. He heard a gasp from his left, followed by a happy voice from his right. Water was poured slowly into his mouth and Nux swallowed it all with his eyes still close. His consciousness was returning to him bit by bit.
"There ya go, he's up."
"Finally, I was so afraid he was not going to make it."
"Ngh, this one is stronger than we have thought. Even his scars won't destroy his beauty."
Voices murmured in agreement and Nux forced his eyes to open slowly. At first everything was blurry. He blinked and everything become clearer.
The first thing he saw was a hand holding a small wet cloth. After a hand came the face of a young male teenager with bright red hair, liked Capable's. The teenage boy was smiling. Nix sniffed the air; the boy was a beta.
"He opened his eyes!" The boy announced, and then there was a hand touching his shoulder. Nux immediately turned to his left. He saw an old man with white hair but bright eyes. The old man was holding something in his hand, a bottle full of green liquid. This old man was also a beta.
"Easy boy," The old man said, slowly bringing the bottle to Nux's lips. "This is a medicine. You have to take it. It will make sure you won't get an infection."
Nux felt like fighting back, the medicine smelt awful. However, he had no choice. He was almost too weak to move by himself, so all he could do was swallowing the liquid. Its taste was even worse than its smell.
"Good," The old man smiled, putting the bottle away. "You're lucky to survive. At first I don't think you will be able to make it. Some of them even started digging a grave for you." The teenage boy chuckled, before he started cleaning Nux's right arm with the cloth in his hand.
"Where am I?" Nux asked, surprised at how hoarse his voice was. "How did I get here? How long have I been out?" He added, looking around. It seemed like he was laying one a bed made of hey, inside a pavilion. There was a table with many strange bottles on his right, behind the old man. An old lantern was beside the teenage boy.
"You have been sleeping since they got you here, almost a week. You are at Oasis." The old man smiled, "The scouts brought you here. They had been arguing all the way that bringing you back was wise or not. Well, I'm glad they did bring you here. Not many omegas could survive such injuries for so long. You must be a strong one."
"Wait," Nux stuttered, "I… I'm a beta."
"Ngh, your scent is nothing near beta." The old man laughed. "Don't worry, we are not forcing omegas to suddenly mate with alphas. We are not that barbaric."
"No, it's impossible." Nux said, trying to get up but his arm refused to move. In the corner of his eyes, he saw the teenage boy listen to their conversation carefully. "Every male omegas are killed at birth. There is no way I am an omega." He insisted, remembered the Organic told him Immortan Joe wanted only workable War Pups. Even if his own wife gave birth to a make omega, he would have it terminated just the same.
"But you are," The old man looked confused, "Your scent is an omega's scent." He added.
"My scent?! No way!" Nux gasped and snarled, confused even more. "I am a beta, just like you." He snarled at the old man.
"Your scent are really omega." The boy beside him said. Nux quickly turned to him. "Really, I swear. You are an omega." He added, looking concern at Nux's gaping mouth and wide eyes.
"That's… impossible." Nux shook his head. The adrenaline had him able to quickly sit up, and to groan as pain shot through his body. He looked down at himself. There were bandages all around his torso and his left arm. Luckily that his right arm seemed to have only scratches.
Nux looked down at his lower half which was covered by a blanket. He saw the outline of his legs, confused at how his left one seemed to be a lot shorter than his right. Curiosity settled in and Nux moved his hand to yank the blanket off, only to be stopped by the old man and the boy.
"Hey," The old man grabbed his hand, holding it tightly. "It might not be wise to open the blanket right now. Your left leg was heavily infected and broken, I had to remove some of it to save your life." He paused, waiting for it to sink into Nux. "Also, your right leg wasn't in any shape for you to walk either." The old beta quickly added.
Nux's heart dropped. Am I a cripple now? Is this true?
"Let… let me see them," Nux whispered with shaking voice, forgetting about what they had talked earlier. He would deal with their opinion of him being an omega later.
The old man gave him a sympathy look before moving his hand away. Nux looked down at his covered legs and gulped. He took a deep breathed and pealed yanked the blanket off.
His right leg was still intact and covered by bandages. There was a large one wrapping on his thigh. His calf looked just fine, covered in only ugly bruises and scratches. Small bandages covered his ankle and his foot. Overall, there was no wound that his body couldn't heal. However, his left leg was another story.
His left thigh were covered in scratches and bruises. Some of the skin was torn off. The area above his knee had a large ugly bruise decorated it. Below the knee were a small bandage and another ugly bruise.
Nux's eyes continue to travel down. He stopped when he saw that half of his lower left leg was gone. His left leg ended around one palm span below his knee. White bandage covered the stomp that was left. His left leg hurt like hell when he tried to move it. And the pain had him yelping and hissing.
"Whoa, don't move your legs just yet." The old man immediately grabbed the blanket to cover Nux's lower half again. And Nux just realized that, apart from the bandages covered his wounds, he was naked. "Don't want you to bleed." He said, urging Nux to lay down.
"I…." Nux tried to say something but he couldn't. His world had turned upside down. He was alive. He had been rejected from Valhalla. He had lost a part of his left legs. He's a cripple now. And these people also thought of him as an omega.
"I'm not an omega." Nux ended up blurred out. "I'm really not! There is no fucking way I'm an omega. Every male omegas were killed since birth!" He shouted, panting while the pain made him felt exhausted and light-headed.
"You have said that before," The old man sighed and moved to grab a dark brown bark back behind him. "This is a Toran's bark. Do you know what it can do?" He asked, holding it in front of Nux.
"No," Nux shook his head, confused. "I-I have never heard of Toran before."
"Alright," The old man nodded, holding the bark in front of Nux. "We use Toran's bark to test the blood. To separate alphas, betas, and omegas from each other. If you're an alpha, the bark will turn blue. Green for beta. And red for omega. I guess this is how your people use to separate the new born babies." The beta moved to grab a needle from the bag nearby. "But," he added, "Toran's bark isn't 100% correct. In case that you're a late bloomer omega, or alpha. If you're not presented yet, the Toran's bark will still show that you're a beta."
"Are you saying that I am a late bloomer?"
"Yes," The old man nodded, "Just smelling you is enough to tell you are an omega. However, in case you really want to know what you are." The old man picked the tips of his finger with the needle. He let his blood dropped down on one corner of the bark. That corner immediately turned green.
"See?" The old man said, showing Nux the bark. "Now your turn." He said, holding his hand for Nux. Nux gulped and held out his hand. The beta gently picked the tip of his finger. And Nux gasped as his blood made one corner of the Toran bark turned red.
His head span. Nux had to stop himself from whimpering. This is impossible! He screamed in his head. I was rejected from Valhalla. I have been such a pathetic War Boy, sick and useless. And now this! He felt his vision getting blurry again. This time it's not because he felt dizzy, but tears. He had never felt such useless before.
"Whoa, whoa, don't cry." The two betas were alarmed. And they suddenly dropping their thigs to whip Nux's tear away. This only made Nux felt more pathetic then before.
"Hey, being an omega doesn't mean you are useless." The boy said as he whipped Nux's tear with panic showed in his eyes. "My older brother is an omega too. He is nothing near useless. He is a commander of a scout group." The boy's words sparked hope in Nux. But it's not enough for the former War Boy's tear to stop. "I have many omega friends. Trust me, they are nothing near useless." The young beta didn't give up on Nux, and it seemed that his effort paid off as Nux slowly turned to his head to face the boy.
"Really?" Nux asked, his voice was shaking. The young beta quickly nodded.
"Yes, no need to be worry." The boy said, whipping away Nux's tear. "Everything is going to be okay. Trust me."
"I…" Nux stuttered, but he finally nodded. He inhaled deeply, trying to whip the tear away himself. In the corner of his tearful eyes, Nux saw the old beta moves to grab an old dirty blanket.
"Knox, take this to the laundry unit. And go tell your grandmother our patient is up. Tell her to cook something soft and easy to eat." The old man said, handing the blanket to the boy.
"Yes Grandpa," The young beta nodded and walked out of the pavilion. Nux got a chance to see outside the pavilion. He was quite surprise to see many pavilions outside. And some women walking around.
"He is such a good boy." The old beta said as Nux turned his head back to him. "By the way, I forgot I haven't told you my name yet. My name is Patro, a doctor, or Organic. I don't know how many tribes call their doctor as Organics."
"My name is Nux." Nux said softly, looking at Patro. The beta smiled back at him.
"That boy is Knox, one of my nephews." Patro said, "I'm so glad he decided to become a doctor, just like me. His older brother has already succeeded in the scout unit. His name is Kadaz. He is going on a patrol now. But as soon as he comes back, I will get him here."
"Omega?" Nux titled his head as he asked, "The one Knox said; he is an omega?"
"Yes," Patro replied, looking proud. "We couldn't be more proud of him. I can't wait for you to meet him."
"I-I…" Nux stuttered. He wasn't sure if he wanted to meet other people around here yet. This place clearly had less to nothing like at the Citadel, both people and culture. Well, talking about places, he still did not know where he is. "Where am I?"
"Oasis," Patro replied, "Actually this place doesn't have a name, but we just called it Oasis." The old beta walked to open the curtain that covered the entrance of the pavilion. Nux looked out and saw many pavilions outside, also people walking around. Men and women, dressed in dark clothes. Some carried weapons while other carried vegetables around. Beyond the rolls of pavilions, Nux could see high mountains surround them. He might be in a valley somewhere.
"Oasis," Nux tried to say the word. It felt foreign on his tongue, but not unpleasant. "How far from the Citadel?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, but I have no idea where the Citadel is." Patro replied, closing the curtain and sat down beside Nux's bed. "You will have to ask the scouts that took you here. They said their found you in the canyon. They thought you are a black thumb. Our garage still needs more recruit."
"I am a black thumb." Nux replied, smiling. Knowing that he was going to be useful here, if he choose to stay.
The curtain was suddenly yanked open. Knox was there with a smile on his face and a plate on his hand. On the plate was a bow, full with something that made Nux's stomach growls.
"Here," Knox set the plate on the table near the bed. "Grandma said that tonight we are having soup and roasted beef. She think soup is better for him. By the way, most scouts are already back. I will go see if the group who brought him here is back." The boy said and immediately walked out. Besides him, Nux heard Patro sighed.
"He can be too energetic sometimes." The old beta moved the table closer to the bed, so Nux hadn't had to move much. "Eat when it's still warm." Patro said, gesturing toward the soup.
Nux nodded and slowly took the spoon in his hand. He hardly had eaten soup before. Normally the War Boys had only roasted meat and dried fruit. Only in the feast, the celebration [mostly Immortan Joe's celebration of new babies or pregnant wives], that War Boys would have a chance to eat soup, fresh vegetable and soup. He had heard that only the Imperators and up would have fresh fruit in their normal meals. Also, rarely did the War Boys would be treat with herbs and medicine when they got ill. The Immortan wanted to save the herb and medicines to his wives.
"The place I came from, we have no such thing like this." Nux subconsciously said it out loud as he savored the soup. It was so warm and delicious. "Normally we had only dried fruit and meat." He said, seeing Patro frowned.
"That is not a healthy diet." Patro said. In his hand was a bunch of herbs that he was separating into smaller bunches. "Eating vegetables helps keep some sicknesses away."
"We don't have enough of them to feed everyone." Nux replied, "The Immortan wanted to keep them for his wives. When we are sick, we go to the Organics. They might give us medicines, but mostly they just hook blood bags for us."
"Blood Bags?" Patro frowned, "You mean, people?"
"Yeah," Nux nodded, "Strangers, wanderers, whoever we can capture. Or unlucky enough to wander into our territory."
"Sound like an evil empire," Patro shrugged, "No offends." He quickly added.
"It's okay." Nux replied, feeling empty. "It's all in the past now. I-I didn't hope to survive the crash."
"Well, at least I'm happy you survive." Patro smiled back, patting him on his shoulder where there was no bruise. "Eat and then sleep."
"Right," Nux nodded and continued eating. He finished his meal quickly and laid down. Not long after that, he was drifting to a dreamless sleep again.
"…how long will he be able to walk again?"
"Not sure, might take weeks."
"Hmm, I see."
Someone was discussing quietly not far away. Nux groaned and cracked his eyes open. At first he saw nothing but darkness, then he remembered where he was. Nux blinked and started to see the silhouettes of things in the pavilion. He tried to sit up. However, before he could support himself with his elbows, someone held him down.
"Shh, you shouldn't be sitting up." The voice sounded so familiar. Nux almost remembered this same voice grunting and yelling when they were on the Fury Road. On his left was a silhouette of a man, an alpha.
Impossible. Slit is in Valhalla. He thought, shaking his head. But even his scent is so familiar. His memory protested, gnawing at him to get a better look. This one smelt so familiar with his lancer, Slit.
"Water." Nux decided to groan out. Maybe this stranger might light up a candle or something. He might be able to see his face.
However, without lighting a candle as Nux hoped, the alpha shuffled with something behind him before a canteen was gently pressed to Nux's lips. One of the alpha's hand was secured behind Nux' head, supporting him. Nux opened his mouth and drank. Water was always welcomed.
When he deemed he had enough water, Nux pushed at the alpha's hand slightly - telling him he wasn't thirsty anymore. The canteen disappeared and Nux sighed. He felt disappoint he couldn't see the alpha's face. But being treated by this familiar alpha had him felt safe and satisfied in a strange way.
"Rest."
A single word, and then a hand was pressed softly at his forehead. Nux wanted to lean into the touch, but then the alpha stood up. Nux had to suppress a whine as his eyes followed the tall silhouette of the alpha until he was out of the pavilion. The outside was dark as well, but Nux was able to get a glimpse of a dark color jacket with a hood and a cargo pants the alpha was wearing. The alpha pulled the hood over his head as he walked out. As if he didn't want Nux to see him.