Day 1

“Us? Passing out? Never. Not in a million years. Wait..” Nalan stopped mid-sentence and started sniffing the air.

Aari stared at him, confused. “Gross. I already had my doubts, but seriously—you’re a pig.”

Nalan sniffed again. “You smell like an omega…Ew” 

“WHAT?! Shut up—I do not!” Aari yelled. 

“Yes, you do!”

The nearby Betas stared, horrified.

“The fuck–” Aari muttered then he sniffed too. “It’s not me, idiot. It’s… new.”

They both paused, heads turning like dogs starved for days. 

Right then, Kael entered the scene, followed by a stranger. Pretty face, pale, short, lean. The kind of person who makes people go ‘aww’ — the kind, naturally makes everyone want to protect them immediately.

The Betas were in awe. The Alphas? They were practically drooling. 

Well, yeah. It could be their first time seeing an omega in a long time. There were only two Alphas in the entire base. And now… one Omega. 

“Are we already starting the training?” Kael asked, confused. “Actually—no, hold that. Mandatory medical checkups first.” 

He glanced around and quickly realized no one was listening.

“Who is that?” A beta from unit 3 whispered, eyes wide.

“That’s Oliver.” Kael said. “Captain of the med team. He’s stationed here for the health check protocol and—” 

“Hey, I am Nalan…” Nalan interrupted, stepping in with a toothy grin. “Captain of Unit 3 and—”

“An asshole–” Aari cut in. “You can ignore him. He’s irrelevant. I’m Aari. Captain of–” 

“A circus troupe–” Nalan continued. 

The two immediately glared at each other, while poor oliver stood between them with a polite, confused smile. 

“Can you not?” Kael sighed. As always, his voice was the only one they actually listened to. The captains fell silent.

“Um….I am still here” Zian’s voice came. He was still tied to the damn pole.

Kael turned around. “Why? Why….” He couldn't even finish the sentence and burst out laughing.

“Help me!” Zian said flatly, dead inside.

“This is Sergeant Zian, Unit 3” Kael told Oliver as he untied him. “Let’s get unit 3 checked first..”

Zian nodded as he brushed off the rope burns. “You heard him– Unit 3, medbay. Now.” 

************

Medbay. 

Unit 3 was in, clearly more interested in getting close to Oliver than actually getting checked.

“Why am I even here?” one of the other doctors mumbled. 

“I know right…” another replied, watching the swarm of Betas practically circling Oliver.

There were 4 doctors and 5 nurses assigned to the base. But apparently, only one existed now.

“Doctor Oliver’s popular here too.” one of the nurses whispered, half amused. 

“This isn’t even new..” another sighed. “But still-”  

“Hello...” Zian said as he sat in front of one of the neglected doctors.

“Ah, yes…Sorry” the doctor stammered, clearly wondering if he is not interested in Oliver.

10 minutes later. 

Nalan walked into the medbay and immediately saw it. All of his men were crowded around Oliver like fanboys. 

Meanwhile, the others doctors sat there with open notebooks, bored. 

“Enough” Nalan sighed. 

He then re-distributed the men to the other doctors equally. The ones assigned elsewhere protested with silent groans, but they still obeyed.

Once they were in line, he waited.

Unit 3’s checkup was nearly done. Only Nalan was left.

He walked over, casually leaned against Oliver’s station and said “So..Doctor Oliver. Huh?" 

Oliver didn’t even glance up. “Yes, please sit.” 

He flipped a page on his clipboard, then finally looked at him. “Captain Nalan?” 

“You remember” Nalan grinned. “I’m flattered.” 

“Can you take my temperature?” Nalan continued. 

Oliver held out a thermometer. “Open your mouth. No talking.”

Nalan took it, lips twitching. “Cause you’re making me hot.” 

The room went completely silent—then Unit 3 groaned. “CAPTAIN!!” 

“What–” 

Meanwhile…

Outside the Medbay. 

Two Unit 7 Betas leaned near the hallway, whispering.

“I swear I saw him googling pickup lines earlier” one said.

Aari, passing by, slowed. “...He did what?”

He walked faster, found Kael just outside the medbay door.  “Kael. Search some pickup lines. Now.”