Disclaimer and Warnings: Mentions Mpreg, Heats, violence, swearing, and Alpha Dominated Society!
Timelines and ages are slightly different. Different world from the original DBZ world.
Since I'm making up a lot of terms here I thought I'd drop some definitions.
Suitors:An Alpha who is courting a Omega. During the courting phase they are Suitors, after the pair has mated they are referred to as Mates.
Pillage: When a crew goes off to claim planets in the name of Vegeta-sei. A first Pillage and how well a crew does on pillages is a status mark.
Ranks of the Saiyan Warriors: (from lowest to highest)
Third Class
Second Class
First Class- Also known as Elites
Captains
High Council:The High Council is a level between Captains and the King. They advise the King on troublesome planets and which troops should go to what planets. There are Six Council members total. Generally the position is passed down from generation to generation, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
In This Chapter: Goku faces the things he has left behind on Vegeta-sei.
Alpha Royal
Chapter Thirteen: Planet Vegeta
Goku didn't consider himself a pacer. He usually did his best thinking, sitting down in a comfortable setting, preferably at the dinner table, but today was different. The throne room only had one chair available and Vegeta would kill him if he took it, which was honestly for the best, his body wouldn't sit still even if he wanted it too.
So he paced.
He stalked from one end of the small throne room to the other, eyes down on the glistening marble floor and arms crossed as he processed the news.
Goten had been found. Not just found, but recruited. Vegeta thought he had found another Alpha warrior to add to his regime, but he didn't know the half of it. Still didn't know the half of it, and Goku would have to be the one to tell him.
"I don't understand what you're upset about," Vegeta was irritated, his arms were crossed and the scowl was back, more profound than ever. "Once again I've have made your son a fighter."
"Goten is not a fighter." The words came out with gravel stuck in them, edge with a hardness Goku didn't even know he held.
The King snorted, dismissing the aggressive tone, "could have fooled me."
"He did," Goku said as he stopped his pacing. It was just the two of them, now was the ideal time to tell Vegeta the truth. He could take the King's wrath, and possibly be the only one to calm it.
He had known Vegeta for a long time, they'd been through hell, fought back to back, but now Goku hesitated. He had no idea how Vegeta would react to the truth.
The small side doors at the far end of the room burst open, interrupting the dispute. Both saiyans looked up, only two people entered and left from those doors. The King and the Queen.
Bulma looked flushed but happy as she scrambled to close the door behind her, her hair was slightly windblown, as if she had made a mad dash to get to the throne room.
Every time Goku saw her she looked slightly more aged, but no less beautiful. He'd met Bulma when she'd been a young teenager. A rebel girl who thought she could take on the saiyan invaders, a true fighter in a way that Vegeta had found attractive and Goku had thought amusing.
When he had lost his tail for the first time, years ago in the crash to earth, Bulma had mistaken him as another human. She'd been kind to him, showed her resilience, and intelligence. Out of all the creatures the saiyans had invaded for years, she was the only one who saw a connection. She showed him the dragonballs, the sole purpose for Freiza's insistence that Earth be conquered- not destroyed. She taught both him and Vegeta a way to fight back, but those things were a far cry from the most important thing she'd given him.
Her wide blue eyes met his across the room, sparkling in greeting before she turned her attention to her husband who found a new target to direct his irritation towards. "Woman, what are you doing here?"
"I ran into Gohan in the hallway," she explained, catching her breath and smoothing the red dress she wore. Her eyes glanced back up towards Goku quickly before darting back towards Vegeta, her lips thinned, and suddenly Goku placed the emotions crossing his old friend's face. She was nervous.
"Vegeta, there is something you need to know about Goten." Her voice came out with its usual strength even as Goku faltered.
She knew. She knew what Goten was, but how? He hadn't told anyone who wasn't family. The only possible answer carved its way to the forefront of his mind, stinging with the ferocity of a fresh wound.
Chichi.
Of course, Chichi would have told her best friend, the only other human on the planet about their Omega son.
She'd been so afraid after Goten was born. The roughness of the saiyan culture only started to shake his strong wife after they had children, after she realized her sons would become a part of it. The idea of Gohan joining the other warriors in battle had been a hard pill for Chichi to swallow, but Goten becoming another Saiyan's property had nearly destroyed her.
Vegeta clicked his tongue intolerantly, "Yes, apparently Kakorot here thinks his son is too good to fight along ours."
"I never said that," Goku pierced the King with a hard look that went ignored.
Bulma shook her head, "Goku's just trying to protect his son because Goten isn't what you think he is…"
Vegeta's eyes widened in confusion, he shot a pointed look in Goku's direction as he asked, "Is he not of your blood?"
"No," Bulma took a deep breath, steadying herself for what came next but Goku felt it was only right that he be the one to say the truth.
"He's an Omega."
It was rare to see the look of complete and utter shock shake its way over the King' face. Rare and unsettling, but Goku didn't dare look away. He knew Vegeta was waiting for the next shoe to drop, for him to break into a soft lip grin and admit to pulling another joke, but that wouldn't be happening.
He watched as the King of Saiyans tried to talk. His lips moved, the muscles in his throat clenched, but not a single noise came from him. His eyes darted towards his wife in search for the truth, but she looked just a grim as Goku, and then he exploded.
"Impossible," the word came out as a bark and his face turned a deep shade of red from the force of it, "I would have known!"
"No, you wouldn't have." Bulma said, quiet as a mouse, "He had suppressants. I gave them to him."
The news came like a slap of betrayal to Goku who cried out in unison with Vegeta, "You what?!"
Bulma startled back at the outcry before she pursed her lips in a determined kind of stubbornness. The next words were directed solely towards Goku. "He was already here when he ran out. Goten begged me to keep his secret and help him, what was I to do Goku? Let him walk into the Quad with his scent?"
His mouth closed with an audible click. There was something in Bulma's tone that said more than her words ever could. She didn't deserve his anger along with her husband's if anything he owed her a Thank You. She'd protected his son when he didn't even know there was any danger about.
All energy left his body at that thought, making his arms feel heavy and useless. Vegeta continued to demand an explanation and Bulma supplied as much of the story as she could, but Goku only half listened. He heard how Chichi had confided in her about his son's identity, how the suppressants had effectively concealed Goten's Omega status, all the while thinking about his youngest son.
He thought Goten understood. Fighting was in their blood, but not his. He was doomed to a life inside the house, doing things only an Omega could take pleasure in, and Goku was doomed to never understand his son.
His fingers clenched into a painful fists at the thought. There was a reason he hadn't mated with one of his own kind, why he had found love only in a woman who proved she could match him. If not in strength then in stubbornness and spirit. Saiyan Omegas were bred to be docile, to be pleasing, but most importantly nurturing.
They made him uncomfortable.
Chichi was more than all that. There had never once been doubt or a choice when it came to his late wife. Goku picked her over all the Omegas on Vegeta-sei and he would do it again if given the chance.
What would she say if she knew the current situation? She had been so fearful for Goten's future, she shared the same trepidation that Goku had upon that announcement of an Omega son. If news got out, no one would be happy for them, only greedy. They would see Goten as an easy way in with the High Council, with the King. There would be no limits to which Alphas would go to mate with him.
In the end the decision had been easy but carrying it out had been less so. Chichi died, and he couldn't stay at home to keep things in order. His place in society carried him away from his grim home and back to where he could reconnect with the only thing that could make him happy. Fighting.
He'd left Goten in the charge of his father, and clearly that had been a mistake.
"An Omega could never pass as an Alpha. An Elite warrior." Vegeta rumbled, emphasizing the word Elite the way he always did. A symbol of status, something so great it deserved the other planets to bow down to its might, and they did.
Goku frowned to himself as Bulma snorted, "Well Goten isn't a normal Omega. You saw him for yourself Geta'. You picked him for Trunks' crew."
"He must have tricked me." Vegeta snarled, the man had never been able to admit a mistake and this moment would be no different, but the viciousness in his voice caused Goku's head to snap up. "Clearly he's no better than the other sniveling Omegas looking to get close to the Heir to the throne."
Bulma made of noise of utter disbelief, "You're the one who uprooted the kid from his life and brought him here. Goten didn't come here scheming, and did you forget how he did in the Gravity Chamber?"
Vegeta completely disregarded her points, unable to concede their validity. Her mention of the Gravity Chamber snagged against Goku's mind, he knew exactly what she was talking about. Had seen others try out for the Prince's crew and fail because of the challenge's difficulty. But Goten hadn't?
"And now that brat is half way across the galaxy pretending to be one of our Elite Warriors? He'll cost Trunks his life, and you're protecting him?" Vegeta threw the words in Bulma's direction. The human sucked in an angry breath, steadying herself against his harsh words.
Her arguments were being swept aside easily by the King's anger. Vegeta's pride was wounded, and to him, no human could understand the indescribable insult that was being lied to by an Omega. Bulma saw the fatality of her words, how they only managed to make her husband's rage rise like a seething snake. Her part of the argument was done, but Goku's anger at the situation hadn't dissipated.
"That brat is still my son Vegeta," he said in a low growl.
Both sets of eyes, glistening black and sparkling blue turned to him. The deep crease of anger that had forged its way across Vegeta's face lifted as a false smirk quirked his lips. "I bet he is. You're no better then you lying wretch of a spawn Kakorot. How is it that I just learned about your second son now, huh? This whole thing could have been avoided if you hadn't kept him a secret to begin with."
"Vegeta," Bulma hissed, her voice falling between its anger and a desperate plea.
Vegeta finally spared her a look, one that was too quick to be an apology before he turned back to Goku. "Right now, Kakorot, I am going to have to decide if I'm going to kill your son as soon as he returns to this planet or show mercy and banish him for the rest of his life. If anything happens to my son while they're away I can assure you that Omega will die and it will not be a pleasant death."
"I've never seen him so mad," he later told Gohan as they sat in their private condo where most of the Council Members stayed at the palace. The space was big enough for an entire family to live but was just home for the two of them. They each had their own room, and while Gohan complained it wasn't home, it suited their needs just fine.
Goku didn't much care that it didn't feel like home. The word had lost its meaning since Chichi's passing.
A bowl of rice sat in front of them, untouched. Gohan stared down at his hands, cupped into angry fists against his thighs. "How come we didn't know about this?" he asked no one in particular, the room gave its silence as answer before his head snapped up. He pointed a sincere gaze at his father. "Dad? How come?"
His son was looking towards him for guidance, but Goku was at a lost. He sighed, long and slow as he massaged the tense muscles in his neck. "I don't know son," he murmured, "I guess we've been gone for so long we lost touch with everything here."
"But didn't you talk to Grandpa?" Gohan asserted.
He had, but it had been brief because of the poor connection. Just enough that he could tell Bardock about their early arrival. He hadn't thought about asking how Goten was doing, his youngest son always kept his head down like he'd been taught. If Goten had been missing all that time, his father should have told him, he should have known.
With a nod he stood and crossed the room towards where the phone hung on the wall. One of the more advanced versions of communication on the planet, it had a touch pad and built in screen that would allow him to see the person who was being called. Gohan called out after him, but his fingers were already pressing the familiar number.
A disgruntled and half asleep mumble answered the other end, "What?"
"Father," Goku waited a beat for his taunt greeting to kick in. On the other end he heard shuffling.
"Kakorot," Bardock answered, sounding more awake, "You're back."
"Do you know where Goten is?"
"Goten?" a hitch of alarm hit his father's voice. The man wasn't a moron and clearly knew something about Goten's disappearance, the question was how much. Bardock paused trying to gather a coherent thought before he finally let out a defeated groan. "Look boy," he said falling back on the term he used for all the men in his family. Raditz, Turles, Goku… they were always boys when Bardock wanted to control the conversation. Establish dominance. It was an old Alpha's trick. "I don't really have an explanation for how it happened, but I lost him. He told me he was going to Omega classes, but I haven't heard from him in a month…"
"A month?" Goku repeated, unable to bite down his squawk in surprise.
"A month," Bardock repeated, "Long story short, there were no classes. He hasn't been to class, no one has seen him…" the retired soldier took a deep breath, as if preparing the father for what was coming next, "I think he's run off…"
Goku frowned, "Oh he's run off. Straight to the Capital, where he decided it would be a good idea to lie about being an Alpha and become a fighter."
"Oh," the word came out as a single puff of air that had no idea what else to say, "how did he do that?"
"His suppressants hide his scent, no one assumed otherwise."
Bardock spoke with the same gruff annoyance any grandfather would have but at the same time it was underlined with a softness that was uncommon for the fighter. "Where is Goten now?"
"Off planet," his own tension still ran high, causing every muscle in his body to pinch irritably. How was his father able to sound so calm?
A pause then finally, "Well, good for him."
His grip on the phone tensed, he could hear the light material that made up the machine start to crack under pressure. "This isn't a joke. He's in serious trouble and so are you if you don't get here and help us figure this out."
A demanding tone shook his voice, something he had never resorted to using on his father before. His chest felt hot from anger. Goten had gotten himself on the King's execution list and the only thing his father could say was, "good for him?"
"Hey," Bardock barked back, his voice sounded like an eerie copy of Goku's own but with more polish and ease when it came to commanding attention. He could count the amount of times he'd been truly angry on one hand, his father on the other hand wore his anger as well as armor. "I am not the only one at blame here."
"What are you saying?" the phone gave an audible whine as he clutched it, "I've been away for five months."
A knock came at the door, Gohan looked almost relieved for the excuse to get up and leave the kitchen.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Bardock snapped, "Even when I was a third class soldier I still saw you and your brothers after every mission."
Goku's brows dipped in confusion, "I see my sons."
"You see Gohan because he has the same freedom as you." Bardock suddenly sounded very tired again, "When was the last time you actually saw Goten?"
His head jerked at the question, he struggled to bring up the dates. Five months away on missions, before that he'd been busy at the Capitol, "I don't know, maybe a-"
"It's been eight months since your last visit to TarbleTown." Bardock answered without a pause, he always had been good with numbers, "Probably just as long since you've talked to the boy."
The anger had disappeared from his voice and that was just as bad as having him yell. The heat was dying in Goku's own chest, chilled by shame as he realized his grave mistake.
"I assume the King knows all this as well?" Bardock asked, "Shit, Kakorot, you couldn't even keep your own damn secret?"
"He's thinking about execution," it was the only thing Goku could say in response, anything to distract from his own blinding mistakes.
His father cursed again under his breath, "I'll be there as soon as I can. See if you can contact your brothers."
The phone clicked as Bardock ended the call, and Goku followed suite. Slamming the phone onto the hook, barely blinking when the entire thing crashed to the ground by his unguarded strength. He inhaled deeply, feeling his muscles sag before leaning against the wall for support.
That had not gone according to plan.
Gohan hovered nearby, his silence almost as loud as the questions that was clearly burning in his eyes. His oldest son was nothing, if not considerate though, seeing the exhaustion that sagged at his father's features he waited for Goku to catch his breath before stepping forward. "This came for you while you were on the phone…"
He held out a small piece of paper, unevenly folded into fourths. Curious, Goku plucked it from Gohan's numb fingers. The paper was hanging open, it's messages already seen, but Gohan didn't look ashamed. His lips pursed in a quiet warning, "They raided Goten's room and found this. After that conversation, I don't know if it will help or not but…"
Goku's fingers fumbled to open the note, his eyes drank in the small black lettering that was written across its length. One Sentence, just a single sentence graced the paper, and it was not what he expected.
Please, Goten's letter read, don't be mad at grandpa.
The irony of the situation wasn't lost on him. His first reaction was to tear the letter to shreds, but his fingers couldn't do it. Instead they carefully folded it back into place and handed it to Gohan. His anger was gone, leaking out of his body to make room for a new burning sensation. Humility.
Last time he'd felt the numb wash of emotion had been after Chichi's death. When his strength hadn't been enough to save her, and now it came again.
"Gohan," he sighed, "I've made a mistake."
"Dad…" Gohan didn't deny it. He had tried to speak up for his brother, tried to get them to train as a family, tried to visit Goten whenever possible. He'd noticed the skewed differences in how his brother was treated compared to him, but even Gohan couldn't tie himself down to TarbleTown. As a Captain and a future Council Member his time was dictated by what the palace needed him to do. He was falling into the same trap as his father, crushed between Palace duties and the King's errands to other planets.
There had been no time left for the home they'd left behind.
Still, it didn't make either of them feel better.
Bulma fidgeted on a uncomfortable stone bench as she watched the lines of space pods launch from the behind the palace. She timed them, sets of three catapulted into the sky every fifteen minutes. Third-classes, going off to the far corners of the universe to stake their claim in it.
Watching was pods was eerily beautiful. They looked like shooting stars streaking across the sky, leaving a trail of white across Vegeta's red skies. She had mixed feelings at the site, captivated as she was by the systematic light show, she had memories that burned as brightly as the white flames across the pods. Not pleasant memories.
Still she watched them and sighed, reliving the moment when she allowed her son to leave the planet over and over. Her heart flipped at the thought of Trunks. It had been months ago, now he had probably landed on Borgessa, fighting an alien race and facing the possibility of death every day.
She knew this day would come. Chichi had as well. Years ago when they faced a choice of bonding with a Saiyan, having a family with them- ruling a planet with them, she knew this would eventually happen. That didn't make the pain any less real.
There was a reason why Saiyan parents kept a respectable distance from their children. The death rate of Saiyan warriors spoke for itself.
And not only had she endangered her son, but now Chichi's.
Since the moment Goku arrived back on planet, she questioned her decision. It was hard to convince herself that the boy was truly happy when his life was being threatened. She fiddled with the fabric of her skirt and tore her eyes away from the sky.
Surrounding her was what was deemed the palace gardens, but the Saiyans never really had a knack for growing and nurturing new life. The Garden consisted of short cut grass and only a few flowers that Bulma had planted herself. Gravel pathways and stone status littered the rest of the area.
Still no sign of her guest, making her wonder if Goku was truly angry at her. Vegeta still wasn't speaking to her. He had opted to sleep on a uncomfortable armchair then crawl under the sheets next to her. Bulma had expected as much, her husband was stubborn but she could be a fierce opponent when they argued.
His pride could only last so long when it came to her. Eventually he would want something, help with a new gravity chamber, new research, … sex.
And Bulma would give it to him, if he settled down and had a conversation with her. Once they hit that phase of their Mexican Standoff, the argument was over.
Most of the time, they would have their discussion while ferociously kissing one another and tugging off clothing.
That was all expected. Goku being mad at her though, that was new. She had barely recognized the man who stood by while Vegeta belittled his son, but when Goku finally spoke up it had felt like a stranger had taken his place. Like he'd become a true Saiyan.
Vegeta had told her about the times Goku had ever gotten truly angry. She knew he had the emotion, buried deep inside somewhere. How else had he become a Super Saiyan? He spoken with pride as he recounted the destruction they had left behind after Earth had been destroyed. Two real warriors, fueled by their righteous anger. It was the bullshit Saiyan legends were made from.
But in the throne room she'd seen it. The flicker of blue that crossed Goku's eyes as he finally, finally, stood up for his son. In Bulma's opinion it was a win. For years Goku had been trying to fill the whole Chichi left behind. Doing so meant throwing himself into more fights, more dangers. Gohan could follow behind him, make sure their father returned- always beaten, but still alive.
Goten was always left behind. Something that could be forgotten.
A shadow stepped out of from behind the garden's pillars, walking towards her. Finally, Bulma relaxed at the sight of Goku. His face its usual round features but his smile smaller than she'd ever seen it. When she'd asked for the meeting, she wasn't sure if he'd come, or if he'd send Gohan in his place. It was good to see him, dressed in a loose blue gi. As he approached she stood up and gave no time for the proper courtesy greeting for the Queen. Bulma closed the distance between them and engulfed him in a hug.
Large arms wrapped around his torso in a gentle squeeze. They were alright. Still friends. All was forgiven.
"I'm sorry," she still said, when they pulled back. "I mean, not about helping Goten, but about making you worry. I should have told you what was going on. Given you a heads up… or told you that I knew…"
"Bulma, it's okay. Really," Goku steered her to the bench where she'd been sitting and eased her back. He took the spot next to her, his body taking the entire second half. She forgot how much larger Goku was compared to Vegeta. His height, his muscles, his personality. It all took up so much space. "I should thank you," he continued, "For making sure he was ok."
"If anything bad would have happened, I would have helped." she assured him, "Really Goku."
"I believe you," his eyes sparkled in amusement then quickly turned back to solid black coal as he asked, "Has Vegeta said anything?"
It had been two days since the argument. Vegeta had withdrawn into his own head, contemplating and weighing his decisions while Bulma threw out any threats she could his way. He wouldn't dare condemn Goten to death, not with her nagging from the sidelines.
"No," She answered honestly, "He's been an absolute jerk, which is no surprise, but he'll have to talk to me sometime. Eventually he'll get annoyed with only The Council for company."
Goku's quiet scoff was an agreement, "So he hasn't told them?"
"God no," Bulma sighed in relief, "Vegeta wants to control this situation as much as possible so he doesn't look bad in the end. If they knew..."
"His control is lost." Goku finished, they didn't talk about what that meant. The obvious result was a heavy weight against their hearts.
"It's better if we can figure this out between us." Bulma emphasized, "No one outside of our group has to know the truth."
Goku's dark mass of hair shook in disagreement, "Vegeta won't go for it. You know he'll want some sort of punishment."
"Like banishment?" Bulma gave her friend a meaningful stare, "Come on Goku, you know as well as I do that if Vegeta banishes him that will get more people to talk then outing him in the first place. Why not let him continue to be a fighter?"
A false smile pulled at Goku's lips, "and risk him being caught by someone else?"
"Trunks and Gohan could help him, and he's managed to get this far." Bulma persisted, she watched the smile disappear and knew she'd managed to get at least some of her words to stick. "You didn't see him, he's a great fighter. Just like you, and Gohan, and Chichi. It's in his blood."
Goku's hand rubbed at his chin as he considered their options, his brows were cinched together in deep thought. "Chichi wanted me to protect him…"
Bulma nodded, "She asked me to do the same thing, but she wouldn't have wanted Goten to be miserable. I mean isn't it a little hypocritical of you and Vegeta to get on him about breaking the rules when that's exactly what you two did?" she looked up to meet curious black eyes. The sincere confusion written across Goku's face got her to laugh, "Oh come on! You know exactly what I'm talking about. You married a human."
"That's different," his defended weakly, "We didn't have much choice and Earth was gone…"
"Bull," Bulma scoffed, "You had a choice and Chichi had a choice. You two loved each other, and even though no one agreed, and it tied her life to a race of homicidal killers, you got married."
Goku's head ducked down shyly, a soft smile pulling at his frown. "Do you regret marrying Vegeta?" he asked, trying to detour the conversation.
Bulma crossed her arms in a stubborn gesture over her chest. "Of course not, though I'm sure he does with how crazy I drive him. Things aren't always easy and I admit he and Trunks both give me more heart attacks than I ever care to have before turning fifty, but I love my boys. They're the family I thought I'd never have after Earth was gone." Her pout softened, words growing quiet as she laid a small hand on Goku's shoulder, "You, Gohan, and Goten are as well."
A laugh coughed out of her friend's throat, one that wasn't his usually carefree chuckle. This one was strained, pulling at the tendons of his neck as he coughed it up. "I messed up Bulma, I messed up big time."
Bulma nodded, no excuse given. "So we'll fix this Goku. Together. Vegeta will come around, I promise but we have to work quick. Execution isn't the only option," she said grimly, getting her friend's attention. She thinned her lips and couldn't meet the gaze, "Goku, you know what can happen if the others find out about this. They'll use Goten against you."
Paragus, the power hungry freak was always sniffing around to get the advantage over Goku. He was among several Council Members who didn't like the idea of a third-class being among them. They liked the idea of his half breed son joining the Council even less. Goku had enemies, enemies with Alpha sons who could make Goten's life a living hell.
The very thought caused a shudder throughout her entire body. She knew that every day there were Omega's on the planet who didn't get a choice in their life mate. Vegeta shrugged off the rapes, and the debate about an Omega's consent as part of their culture. Culture. If a Alpha said the Omega wanted it, the words practically became fact.
She refused to see Goten join the ranks of Omega's forced into a life commitment just because of Alpha games.
Goku felt the same by the way his muscles tensed, his fist gripped each other as a way of trying to regain his control. His words were cold and determined when he spoke, "We have to convince Vegeta."
Author's Note: Continuing with weekly updates. What did I tell you? Was it worth it? Thanks for all the amazing reviews, you are all so kind. I hope this has been living up to your expectations.
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