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Cub Check-Up	By : theonlytalonsage Category: Dragon Ball Z > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1494 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own nor profit from DBZ. Sage is mine though and Zahath belongs to Manawolf.

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
by Talon and Manawolf

Radditz/Vegeta, Zarbon/OC Zahath, Zarbon being abusive, mentions of child abuse, reptile snobbery, and introduction of an original character same species as Zarbon. Lots of lovely Saiyajin instinct things, and Radditz being a blockhead.

Bold Text Means Zarbon and Zahath speaking in their native tongue.
Italic text is Radditz's bond speech to Sage
Bold Italics is Saiya-go

~~

"Sa," Zahath smiles mildly. "I'll get to the bottom of this." He would not be so confident, except that he knew Saiyajin were heavily instinct-driven; a fairly primitive species that had ridden on the coattails of other species to obtain technology and intergalactic travel. Press the right button, and they would unlock. "This is Radditz, correct? Isn't he usually the submissive one?" The Saiyajin was watching, quiet and tense and... licking something? Zahath squinted a bit and could just make out a bit of black fluff.
In his head, Radditz felt Sage keen for Papa. Silently, he agrees. He'd like Papa too. But he knows Vegeta has his own troubles. And when he got out of there it would NOT be to find that something had happened to his son. This Radditz swore.
"Yes, usually. He is usually much easier to direct than Vegeta. Sort of. Elders I HATE monkeys." He seethed and takes two steps, one away one back. "Do not let him give you any lip. If you give them so much as an inch, it's all over. I swear, I will DROWN that fucking grub..." That IS a happy thought...holding it under water as it struggled and kicked and finally goes limp and still...and SILENT. "Even when they're not making noise, they're making NOISE!! I don't know why Freeza-sama assigned me to them. Well, I DO. Because I CAN'T STAND them, and he KNOWS it. They REFUSED Zahath...REFUSED point OUT to take the cub to the specialized doctor team we put together. Have you ever heard of such a thing? REFUSED!!!"
Zahath chuckled, stretching his neck from side to side. "Well, let me worry about his 'lip.' If he's simply frightened, there's no use in worsening that condition to try to stop him doing something he did because he was frightened in the first place." Imagine, a big bad Saiyajin warrior, frightened. But fear was at the root of much irrational behavior, and parental protectiveness was one of the strongest instincts a mammal could have. "However, don't worry - I have no intention of encouraging insubordination. They are difficult enough to wrangle in the first place, I'm sure." Refused... all of them, as a unit? Interesting pack cohesion. Although from different backgrounds and classes, the surviving members of a nearly-extinct species would naturally bond together. They would be all each other had. Another point for familial instinct...
"Feh...you have half the statement correct. The simple part. The damned monkeys are not smart enough to be frightened, Zahath."
Zahath only smiled at that. It would be futile to argue theory when he could test it out right here. One hand in his pocket, the other free as if he was simply taking an evening stroll, he approached the Saiyajin.
Radditz growled and hunched up further against the back, tail lashing and hitting the couch with a surprisingly audible snap. Oh yeah, he was frightened all right.
"Hush now, I'm not going to hurt you. Or your cub." Zahath's tone was eminently reasonable, warm - one might even say caring. It was as if it truly was the silliest thing in the world to be frightened of him, that one might as well feel threatened by an old kindly grandfather. Stop being silly, really.
Radditz' growl slacked off, quieting to a bare undercurrent. It wasn't gone, and he was still tense as a spring, but his attitude shifted as he re-evaluated Zahath. He wasn't carrying himself like military personnel, and if his dress was anything to go by he was medical. Radditz thought he recognized him, but couldn't be sure; he was the same species as Zarbon, they often looked alike... The third-class alternated licking Sage's mane with glaring mistrustfully at Zahath.
As if extending a hand to a friendly dog, Zahath held out his hand, and didn't seem the least bit disconcerted when Radditz cautiously scented it. He knew he must be a riot of different species as well as antiseptic and medical odors, and was gratified to see that what he'd remembered about Saiyajin senses was correct. Very keen olfactory.
Zarbon hisses with impatience. Oh, come on, get TO it already...but he doesn't say anything. Zahath is an expert in this sort of thing. Hell, they should have been assigned to HIM, instead of Zarbon. Still, he might laugh if Radditz bites Zahath's hand. He hears a very quiet noise from the spawn. Ugh...that thing NEVER shut up, seriously! And what is that SMELL? Not solid waste, he is relatively certain, but something stank in here. He glares over at them, but doesn't move towards them. Yet. Damnit. When Lord Freeza found out about this...
Radditz took his time analyzing the myriad of scents he found, and didn't come to any firm conclusion. His tail fluttered uncertainly, as if caught between a friendly flick and warning thwap. The lizard smiled and put his hands on his knees, staying within Radditz' space. "So then, is this Vegeta's cub? What a fine young boy."
Goodness, he was TINY. If it wasn't for the focus of the black eyes staring up at him and the fineness of the features, he'd have been certain it was premature based on size alone. The cub was clinging to his parent as if his life depended on it... and as far as the little Saiyajin was concerned, it probably did. It would take some doing to get him detached... well, perhaps he wouldn't have to. In the same manner which he'd extended his hand to Radditz, but keeping his weight back so that it was clear he wasn't reaching to take the cub, he let the infant investigate his fingers as well.
Zarbon winced. Still, there's no howling and no whining, and no biting. And he can't help being impressed at the infant's coordination as he sniffs at Zahath's fingers, then pushes his nose back into Radditz. For Elders' sake... "Will you DO something about that smell?" Oh great, and now the brat is making that disgusting slurping noise on his thumb again. Revolting. Just revolting. Didn't it bother Radditz at all? "We need blood and urine Zahath, do not forget. Hurry up!!" He fidgets irritably. Was this how Zahath was going to handle this? All...slow and talking and stuff?
When this was over, perhaps he should talk to Zarbon about sedatives... and not for the Saiyajin, either. "I'm afraid some things can't be rushed... Unless you want to physically subdue him and do this the hard way." He ruffles the cub's hair, and was pleased to note that he wasn't bitten. "Now Radditz... we need urine and blood from your cub. The latter will not harm him, but he probably won't like it very much. Nothing either myself or Zarbon-san will do here will harm your babe. All right?" The Saiyajin looked at him inscrutably, and Zahath would have felt tempted by Zarbon's estimation of their intelligence, but he knew better. The edgy mammal was evaluating him, but he was pretty sure he believed him. After all, he was being truthful.
"So come on then, let's get him over to the table. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner you can get out of here, yes?" Zahath doesn't let himself doubt for a minute that the Saiyajin will follow him, so naturally he does. An alpha might have stayed where he was just to assert control over the situation, but not a beta - he was pretty certain Radditz was beta. "Right here," he indicates, patting the table's surface and watching as Radditz lays his arm - cub attached - on the platform.
Zarbon watched, for all the world, impassive, and he approaches the table slowly, then frowns as Radditz doesn't make a move to detach the brat. "Radditz, MOVE your arm. I can't work with you in the way, you know." He eyes the cub who seems to be interested in Zahath, strangely. It is a bit unnerving actually, the unwavering, concentrating stare. It makes him slightly uncomfortable. There is no fear in the cub's eyes now, nothing but cool, focused gaze...as though he is sizing Zahath up. Still, it's arms and legs and tail were wrapped very...compactly around Radditz's arm, and he needed access to the insides of the grub's thighs, perhaps even his groin. Drawing blood from an infant was not the easiest job in the world, and he hisses irritably. "I am not an Elder-cursed medic Zahath. Had I wanted to be a doctor, I would have studied medicine." The grumble is mostly for catharsis though. Zahath knows, he has heard it before, but there is something equally calming and annoying about his friend. Still, he is seriously considering asking him back to his quarters later, for the kind of relaxation and release that only a Zen male could give another Zen male.
Zahath smiled with the infinite patience he had for both working with lower species and for the quirks and eccentricities of his friends as he watched Radditz frown and, with difficulty, detach the infant's tail and legs from his forearm. It was obviously fighting both of their instincts, and only the Saiyajin's training and intimidation of Zarbon made him comply. "Well, naturally. Do you want me to handle the syringe?" Of course... that would probably mean that Zarbon would be left wrangling the next stage of this procedure... but he had to offer.
"No...I can do it. I just...don't like it. You keep Radditz from interfering. The longer this takes, the more likely I am to put him through an elder damned bulkhead and space the grub." He doesn't shudder as he puts his hands on the cub, but he does make a displeased noise. "This is wet through Radditz!! Remove it at ONCE!!" He waits while the Saiyajin removes the offending diaper, then gets another strap and cinches up the brat's leg again, poking gently and prodding for a vein. The infant was well-fed despite it's small size. He can find a few nice, round vessels. It's not dehydrated at all. Still the blood vessels are small, and the needle he uses is smaller yet and he frowns at the surprisingly tough skin. "Zahath...can you please get a ki-reading on the grub? I need a new needle, and a GAG for it." He winces as Sage makes his displeasure known again.
"Mmhm. Needles we have, but we're fresh out of infant-size gags," the other Zen quipped, tossing on a scouter and handing Zarbon a new, slightly stronger needle. "Radditz, move to the side a bit... good." Waitaminute... that... can't be right. Frowning, he taps the scouter, then takes a reading on the adult, then one on Zarbon before going back to the furious infant. With an exasperated sigh, he takes the device off, taps it roughly against one hand, and tries it again.
For the most part, Radditz let the hissing language wash over him. He didn't understand it and he was pretty sure he didn't want to. But quite suddenly he wished he DID know what they were talking about as an irritated Zarbon reads his cub's power level through the green scouter lens, then glares at the sebba with barely-contained fury.
"This cannot be right Zahath...the device MUST be malfunctioning!!" He knows it is not however, the reading on his own level is well within the expected levels. But the cub's ki reading was far too high to be correct. It did not, of course, come close to surpassing his, but it simply could not be this high. "Radditzsssth," he hisses, his anger far too clear in his voice for his own comfort. "What do you know of your...son's...ki level???"
Radditz cowers. There's no dignified way around it. "N... nothing," he replies meekly. Certainly, power level evaluation was one of the first things Saiyajin did, but it was done by the hospital, or... someone else. Not him. He didn't even know you could do it with a scouter... the idea wouldn't have occurred to him, sizing up the power level of a cub that couldn't even walk yet. He was pretty sure Vegeta had peeked at Sage through one once or twice, but he'd never said anything to Radditz about it. Alarmed by the anger in Zarbon's voice, he covers Sage with his chest and head. Zarbon had already shown that he was unwilling to damage the infant, but those in positions of power had been known to eliminate cubs with alarmingly high ki-readings before they became a threat. Even the old Saiyajin king... And Radditz certainly trusted Zarbon far less than he would have the old Vegeta no Ou.
Oh great...just fucking GREAT. "Zahath...NOW look...I cannot even SEE the grub!!!" Of course, that it had to do with his anger at the readout was something entirely unimportant. "This...is unprecedented Zahath. This...reading, it is far too high for an infant monkey!!" Oh what the fuck NOW? He could hear a tiny tiny noise from the grub. "What the HELLS is that sound Radditz?
Radditz grinned despite himself, burying his nose in the comforting cubscent, the source of which immediately glommed onto his face like a parasite. "Purrin'..." Didn't Zarbon even know what purring was? Sure, he was a lizard, but... Then again, he was quite certain he'd never been relaxed enough to purr while Zarbon was around, and he was sure Vegeta never had, either.
"Hmm." Zahath had THOUGHT the reading was high. He wasn't a fighter - to use Zarbon's phrasing, if he'd wanted to fight, he would have enrolled in judo - but he was quite certain those numbers were not right. "Radditz, I know it's his instinct to cling, but Zarbon-san needs a clear view to complete the examination. At least of Sage-kun's legs. Come on, now." He shoos Radditz' head away from the cub with small, rather effeminate waves of his hand. "I'm not certain what to say... I don't have enough data to theorize why he has such a high reading. It may be elevated right now because of stress, but that doesn't explain why he's capable of it in the first place. Perhaps... some variety of hybrid vigor from the class difference in the parents?" It seemed that not having enough data didn't stop him from theorizing, after all. "Ah-ah -- Radditz, head back... baaack... good. Stay." The third-class was antsy, and needed constant vigilance on Zahath's part to keep him from covering the child again. "They do have a steep class difference, do they not?"
"Yes, they do. Vegeta was the strongest ever born to the Saiyajin people. And they naturally aren't as strong as we, or even the weakest Changelings are." That was the commonly held belief, but it was not true. "Except...Vegeta shows flashes of being much stronger than he really is, but it so far has not been anything we can get a reading on. And there is their second form as well." Okay, he needed to do this as quickly as possible, and he re-cinches the brat's leg, stretching it out and immobilizing it. This time, he's prepared for the surprisingly tough skin. And the fur is amazing, up close. But he concentrates on what he's doing and draws several vials. "Radditz is third class. Not the lowest of the low, but right above it. Nappa, for example is much stronger than he is, and he is classified as elite. The other brat is also third class." There...it's FINALLY done. And his ears are aching. "Oh for Elders sake...Radditz, shut him up." He steps back for a moment, and murmurs to Zahath, "Take another reading. While he's calming the brat. Compare both of their readings and record them please."
"Consider it done." Hn... it was lower now. At least, he thought so. "Radditz, head up. Stop. Hooold it... okay, go." Yes, the reading had dropped a bit. It was fascinating how the third-class parent - what did you call a male birth parent, anyway? - used a combination of purring and tongue-grooming to calm the cub. But he had to stay focused on the readings... Reluctantly he locks the numbers into the database and sends them to the wall side computer for a printout. Zarbon hadn't asked for once, but Zahath was reasonably certain that one would be useful after all was said and done. He also tries not to stare as Radditz bites his own arm and offers it to Sage, who locks onto it as if it were a bottle. But it is fascinating. "Mmm... You have addressed Radditz' weight, of course. He's awfully thin, especially to be feeding the cub from his own blood supply... I wasn't aware that Saiyajin had a second form." There was so much he didn't know, had never had a chance to find out! Maybe he could get more involved with all this somehow...
"Yes. I was furious to find out that their intake is completely inadequate. Furious, Zahath! It is my JOB!! And look at him. That reminds me. Radditz mentioned supplementing the feeding with some sort of milk. Apparently they are having a difficulty. The grub vomited all over earlier. Is there something you can do? Ugh, it is so disgusting, but at least it is quiet. Sort of. " The slurping was disgusting and enthusiastic, and the brat grunts as he feeds as well. "You are enjoying yourself, aren't you. Don't deny it, I know that look Zahath. Yes, they have a second form. It is triggered by a full moon. Otherwise they are not able to attain it. Supposedly they can control the actual transformation when there is a moon present, but not otherwise."
A milk issue, was it? "Ah, that's likely an enzyme problem. I may be able to pinpoint the culprit from a urine sample, but the undigested matter would be better. I don't suppose there's any left?" Ah, the expression on his friend's face at the idea of handling or touching such a thing was priceless. He really didn't know how Zarbon retained his sensibilities around here... there were enough bodily functions on this ship to desensitize the most dedicated aristocrat.
He grinned. "Ne, does it show? Saiyajin are so very interesting, and there's so few of them left to study. Ah, the entire giant ape business... I admit I had put that down to myth and folklore. So many species cultivate their own little mystiques... there's often a root in fact, but something on this level is rarely literal. I wonder how they do it, exactly." Radditz was studiously ignoring them, nursing and comforting his young in the way that only mammalian parents did.
"As a matter of fact, I did take a sample. I am afraid to give it to you however, for fear you might soil your clothing." His hissing chuckle was definitely a bit of a stress relief. He wasn't exactly squeamish, but remembering the incident...gross. "Sssometimes Zahath, you are an open book. It is disturbing." But he smiles as he says it. "I have observed the transformation myself, otherwise I would also put it to myth or something of the sort. It is, and I say this with sincerity, something of an awesome nature to witness. It does make me wonder, what would happen to a cub under the full moon. Here it is." He hands over the sample of the...vomit with distaste. "And speaking of urine... I believe that is your specialty, is it not? Don't tell me you are not just gagging to get your hands on that grub Zahath; I will not believe you. Ugh, listen to that. I tell you, the grub never stops making NOISE. How it manages with it's mouth full like that, I do not know."
"Hmmm, it's a talent all right." He WAS eager to get his hands on the sample, and he would have stuck his respectably long tongue out at Zarbon if they hadn't had company. "It's likely part of the constant flow of communication that must happen between mammalian parents and offspring... erm." He pauses as Zarbon gives him a look. "Right. Ahem. Anyway." Slightly abashed but no less eager, he rigs up a sterile catch-bag to attach to the cub's penis. Radditz stiffens as he approaches, but Zahath issues a few soft words and the Saiyajin cooperates, letting Sage nurse as the bag is taped on. "Do we have any, ah, diapers in this room? The station isn't exactly equipped for babies, I know, but the one Radditz brought is wet through."
"Diapers? No...no diapers. Such an odd concept anyway Zahath. Diapers. " He wrinkles his nose distastefully as he fills out the proper "paper" work to send the blood off for testing. "Mammals are so backward. Ugh...I cannot get over how basically revolting they are. I do not understand what you find so fascinating about them." He glances at the pair, grub barely visible against the parent. "Dealing with Vegeta was annoying enough. Then THIS one somehow gets thrown into the mix, and the next thing I know, I am some sort of grub doctor. Honestly Zahath, don't they disgust you in the slightest?"
Zahath shrugs. "They just do things differently, that's all. The demands of bearing live young who cannot spend further development in an egg or gillpool means they have to do things a certain way. It's not their choice or fault, just biology. Besides..." He tries not to smile at the young Saiyajin, watching them distrustfully and trying to keep Sage from dislodging the bag. "The more you know about them, the better you can push their buttons. A nudge in the right spot is far more effective than hours of frustration and yelling." He does smile, now, but at Zarbon. "They're also very warm. You'd hardly need a heat lamp in the morning if you had one of these on a leash."
"EWWWW Zahath!! That's just disgusting!!!" He is quite sure the expression on his face is comical, but there's no reason for Zahath to make that hissing laugh he found both endearing and irritating. "I know very well how warm they are. I have had various body parts inside their various orifices." He sighs a bit. "Perhaps," he says, slightly grudgingly. "It might be different were I not forced into this position. I like my job, Zahath. For the most part. I worked hard to get where I am at. But this..." he glances at Radditz and the brat, who seems determined to pull the bag off, despite not having the hand/eye coordination to do so. "I dislike. Freeza-sama is not at all respectful of those he chooses for his pets. Not like at home. It revolts me...goes against everything I've ever known about pet ownership. And now, with the infant..." He hisses softly. "I would tell no one but you this Zahath. I wish I could ship the whole lot of them home, where they would be properly cared for and trained. Especially considering just how rare they are now." There. He said it. He hated the monkeys, hated that he was so responsible for everything to do with them. He hated the clean up that had to happen when Freeza-sama took a new pet, or the disposal that had to happen. Saiyajin were at the very least, durable. But he was part of a pet-owning society, and the careless way Freeza treated his "pets" grated him much more than he would ever let on to anyone but Zahath.
Zahath smiled tersely in silent agreement. What Zarbon had done effectively put his life in Zahath's hands... if anyone else knew that he had said this, Freeza would likely be making promotions soon to a vacated position. He did agree though, especially about the rarity of Saiyajin. There had never been all that many, but now there were literally a handful left. Zahath had severe doubts as to the stability of the gene pool - and until he'd heard about the male pregnancy, he'd thought they were doomed to extinction within his lifetime. That was partially why he was so excited about this cub; it was proof that there was still life left in the line. Still, unless they cross-bred with a compatible species, the lack of genetic diversity would doom them just as surely. Once thing was certain; unless one turned up in some far corner of the universe, there would never, ever be another full-blooded female Saiyajin.
"The alphas... would have trouble. Of course, they are already accustomed to someone else having control over them, so perhaps not quite so much difficulty as they would otherwise. Radditz and the younger ones, though, I think would take to it like a tadpole to water." He sighs. "It must all remain theory, though, as both you and I know." Ah well.
Sage, meanwhile, was doing his best to detach the bag from his minuscule penis. There had to be something besides the soaked diaper... ah-hah! Zahath locates the arm-warmers Radditz had laid down on the table earlier to cushion Sage from the cold table, and decides they will do. "All right, let's get something on that little terror before he dislodges the bag. That has to stay put until he urinates, or else we'll have to do this all over again. Come on, Radditz..." The Saiyajin takes over immediately once Zahath explains why, and shortly the strips of fabric are tied criss-cross around and under Sage's legs in a very makeshift, not at all leak-proof, but very stay-put diaper.
to be continued...
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