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In some ways, Jas noted, Vaahn hadn't changed a bit. Jas was becoming used to waking up and finding Vaahn out of his bed, even at very early hours of the morning. It seemed that the only thing that had kept the Kyyreni under the sheets in his former life was a drunken torpor, or the prospect of something to mate with. When he should have been sleeping, Vaahn usually sat drawing. Muscle memory had not reasserted, and would not for some time yet, so his creations were crude. Yet Vaahn showed improvement; forcing his body to obey his mind a little more each day. His pads became filled with imagery Jas could recognise at a glance; crude images depicting the Kyrreni mythology. There was meaning to them, Jas was sure of that, but he could read no deeper than the tale that inspired each depiction.

Yet in other ways, Vaahn was a totally different person. For starters, he was quiet around adults. Jas had never known Vaahn to be quiet before; silence was usually a result of drinking himself unconscious. When the two spoke together, or played together, the old Vaahn was visible beneath the surface, but the moment he was in front of a parent he was a totally different boy. Jas supposed this was only to be expected, but it troubled him nonetheless.

Chloe and Matt Johansson proved to be interesting parents for the boys as well. Chloe was passionate about music, able to play three instruments and learning a fourth. What time she didn't spend at the piano, or parenting, she spent in the well tended garden. As with her music that task was given her full attention and the house always smelled of fresh flowers. Jas had learned she worked part-time as a music tutor. Matt, on the other hand, loved his body; he worked long and hard to stay in peak physical condition. He was a tutor for Kindern with expertise in sports. Of the two, Jas found it more difficult to bond with Matt. Vaahn, on the other hand, clearly admired his father's pursuit of physical perfection.

Though Vaahn did not have 'unearned' spankings, it was not difficult for him to get in trouble. Like any Penny, Vaahn found himself over a parent's lap whenever he made even a minor slip. Popular reasons for these punishments included not putting toys away, even if it was Jas who'd been playing with them. Once this arrangement became apparent, the Aspatrian made a mental note to keep his things tidied away, though he did not always remember to do so.

The family of four spent a lot of time discussing the future. Jas had been caught off guard initially by Matt and Chloe's interest in his own plans, and had seem unsatisfied when he admitted that he did not, in fact, have any. They were always eager to give him advice; both in planning his own life and helping Vaahn reform his. Where the latter was concerned, the three of them agreed that Jas should be given plenty of time with him without parental interference. The first day of school was coming up fast, and with it Vaahn's first appointment with the school counsellor, who was always eager to put Vaahn at the head of his appointments.

Breakfast was not going well. Matt had volunteered to cook for a change, and the result had caused considerable damage to several frying pans. Matt had been banished from the kitchen on pain of death, leaving Chloe to try and scour the pan clean and ready up alternative breakfast. To her silent horror, Vaahn asked to try his father's cooking regardless, and indeed seemed happy to eat the cremated Full English. Jas chose to wait for something else to come up.

"So, what do you think of the parents?" Jas asked quietly, trying not to let his mother overhear.

"They aren't bad. I'd say... third. Could be second."

There was a slight change in pace of scrubbing that made both boys wonder if they were being listened to. Vaahn cautiously tried a mouthful of egg. "Tell you what; they can be second best if dad doesn't cook again."

Chloe's voice drifted over from the sink. "He won't, don't worry!"

All three chuckled, and Vaahn began his assault on the sausages.

"My second family was the best, I think." He said between mouthfuls. "Lucy understood me best."

"Why is that?" Jas asked.

"Well, my mother was a former soldier, retired due to injury. She had a bionic arm, but it wasn't like the bionics I had; you wouldn't know her arm was fake if she didn't tell you." Vaahn stuffed a piece of blackened bacon into his mouth. "During her last mission she got jumped by a Kyyreni officer and had her arm sliced off. He ran her through and left her for dead in the wreck of her bird. Seems the gods were watching out for her."

"Where was this?"

"Rember K'rosa?"

Jas went pale. "That... that was where Lokan died, wasn't it?"

Vaahn nodded. "Yeah, it was. It's what makes that planet so memorable."

Jas gave Vaahn a sympathetic stare. Lokan was Vaahn's eldest child. The battle of K'rosa had been his first deployment, and his last. The ordeal had left Vaahn heartbroken.

"How did you feel when you found out?"

The Kyyreni boy shrugged. "It never bothered me. Lucy and I had an understanding. We were both warriors, so we understood each other in a way nobody else could. We didn't hold grudges; what we did to the other side wasn't personal, so there was no point making it personal. She said K'rosa made her quit the Marines though; the ordeal shook her up something bad. The things she saw... she could never forget... neither of us can."

Jas gave Vaahn a gentle smile. "You okay?"

"Not really," Vaahn replied, resting his elbows on the table and shielding his head in them. "I've just remembered how long it's been since I got blind drunk or high... I'd kill for a bottle of uorl right now."

"A bottle of uorl would probably kill you."

"I'm pretty sure that's the point." Vaahn chuckled. "Still, crying about it won't help."

The Aspatrian reached across the table and took Vaahn's handpaw in his own. "Talking to people might."

"Isn't that why you're here?"

Jas nodded. "That's why I'm here."

After Vaahn had finished and been allowed to go upstairs, Chloe sat down with her Voluntaras son.

"What Vaahn said, about losing his son..."

Jas sighed heavily. "Lokan died on K'rosa, and Vaahn saw it happen. He brought the boy's body back. Losing Lokan really hurt Vaahn."

"I can't imagine what that would be like. How do you deal with something like that?"

Jas sighed. "I don't think he knew either."

After being given the morning to play together, Chloe arranged for a trip down the road. A new family had moved in, and they had a fresh Penitatas with them. Matt had suggested making friends in the neighbourhood would be good for the boys, and Chloe could never resist a chance to gab with the other parents. The family walked down together, three of them with coats to protect against the chilly breeze. Vaahn wore a thin shirt, his fur making him more resilient to the cold. Glimpses through the living room window showed several other parents there already, but Chloe knew there would not be many Penitatas; Summer Camps were popular, with most of the children on the street being well behaved enough to go. The door was answered by a short, heavily freckled woman in jodhpurs. "Oooh! Hello there! Come in, come in! Go right through!" Her attention turned to the children. "And who do we have here?"

"My name is Jas, I'm Voluntaras. Pleased to meet you." He offered a hand, which was accepted in a very energetic shake.

"Lovely to meet you dear! And who is this?"

Vaahn showed the back of his palms. "Vaahn, son of Brahlt. 10x5-10 for... a long list of reasons."

The woman smiled at him. "Well, Soft Time counts for something, mmm? Go on in! Simon's in his room, probably still having a good sulk. You boys can go upstairs and say hello. I'm Jenny, by the way!"

As the boys departed and the parents joined the gathering, Chloe immediately scanned the group, looking for a specific face. She found the woman she was looking for; a strong, weather-worn face with a triangular dent in her left cheek.

"Lucy!"

The woman looked up. "Oh, Chloe dear! How are you? I've not seen you in ages!" The women shared a brief hug. "So sorry, but you know what it's like raising the Black P's."

"I'm glad to say I don't!" Chloe answered jovially, finding a seat next to Lucy. She watched as Lucy reached down and picked up a small sandwich from the table. Her arm really did look real.

"Did you hear I've been given Vaahn to raise?"

Lucy nodded, giving a mumbling acknowledgement through a full mouth. She swallowed and added, "I'd heard. How is he?"

"Well behaved so far."

Lucy chuckled. "Oh, that will change. He's a hellion that one; the sort of madman who volunteers for hot drop flights."

"Didn't... you do that?"

"Well it takes one to know one." Lucy chuckled. "But that was a long time ago."

Chloe helped herself to a sandwich. "He mentioned you this morning, funnily enough. He seemed quite fond of you."

"Yes, I think he is. I've had my turn raising him, but even before then I was looking in and acting as an unofficial counsellor. We both bonded, you see. We'd both been soldiers and, well, we'd both been hurt. Hell of a fight, it was." She glanced at her artificial limb. "One of the worst fights you can ever imagine. We wanted it, and the Kyyreni didn't want to give it up. Commander Gilliam named it 'Gilliam's World' in his own honour, but the unofficial name is Deathrock. Three thousand Colonial Marines dead or wounded in the first twenty four hours."

"That's awful!" Chloe gasped. Lucy nodded in agreement.

"It was awful. Damn awful, if you'll pardon my language. It hammered home the truth about living here so far out though; the peace we enjoy must be earned. I didn't want to fight anymore, but I still wanted to do good in the world, so I decided I'd return to parenting."

"And you seem to get all the problem children."

Lucy gave a deep belly laugh. "Oh yes indeed! You can take the soldier out of the fight, but you can't take the fight out the soldier! If I wanted easy parenting I'd have had one of my own! No, but they need me, you see. These waifs and strays need tough love, and I give them that."

Chloe helped herself to another sandwich, glancing over at Matt as he talked with Helen's husband. "Actually, now that I think about it, we could use a babysitter. Matt's brother is due back from a five year deep space expedition in a fortnight and we'd really like-"

"Not another word!" Lucy insisted. "You just bring your boys over the day before you go and I'll have everything ready for them."

"I'm sure Vaahn will be glad to see you again."

Once again, Lucy gave a deep chuckle. "Oh, he won't be when he feels my hand on his backside!"

Upstairs, in Simon's room, the boys were getting to know each other. Simon was a pale, fair haired boy, but his body language was by far his most distinguishing feature. He was sat on the edge of his bed as if he were an intruder afraid of being caught. Vaahn made himself comfortable on the chair by the corner desk, whilst Jas sat on the other end of the bed.

"So, how did you end up here?" Vaahn asked, glancing round the room to find something more interesting than Simon. It was not difficult.

Simon let out a quiet whimper. "I... I got caught smuggling Pollen Blue."

Jas and Simon both looked up at the sound of Vaahn's laughter. He saw Jas' expression and held up his hands in apology. "Sorry, sorry, it's just you don't look like the sort to be a smuggler."

"I'm not." Simon mumbled. The boy wrapped his arms around himself and gave a shaking sigh. "They told me everything would be fine and that I wouldn't get in any trouble. They said it'd pay for my trip with some to spare. I never... I never even thought they might be lying... I can't believe I was that stupid!"

Jas moved over to sit beside the sobbing boy and put an arm around his shoulders. "It's okay," he said softly. "I know things seem bad right now, but you'll be okay."

"It isn't fair!" Simon whined as he rubbed his eyes.

"Yes it is." Jas answered voice still gentle. "You broke the law and put people in danger by doing so. Even if you didn't mean to hurt anyone, Pollen is very dangerous and you, and everyone else, need to be reminded that endangering others has consequences..." the Aspatrian's head snapped up sharply and he snarled "And you can keep your political commentary to yourself. We don't need it right now."

"I don't know what you mean." Vaahn answered, clearly annoyed at being pushed off his soapbox. He decided to try and remount. "I just don't see how Pollen is dangerous."

"People die taking it." Jas answered.

"Who? Name one person who-"

"Borza!"

Vaahn shrugged. "That was suicide. It doesn't count."

"How does that logic even work?" Jas cried. "Just because you never managed to kill yourself with Pollen doesn't make it safe!"

"Jas, I've killed someone with a bloody SPOON! Should we outlaw spoons now?"

"Oh now you're being childish!"

"I'm FIVE! It's ALLOWED!"

By now the two boys were stood face to face, both scowling at one another. It was Jas who broke the standoff, turning away and shaking his head sadly.

"You'll never get anywhere with your attitude, you know that?"

Vaahn growled at the comment. "I did pretty well all things considered. Only mistake I made was at the end."

Jas' face lost its hardness. "You... you don't mean that... right?"

Vaahn's lips moved wordlessly for some time. "No," he said eventually. "I didn't mean it like that."

There was a long, embarrassed silence. It was Simon who broke it.

"Did you really... kill someone with a spoon?"

Vaahn caught Jas' stare before he answered. "I made that up."

Simon pressed on hesitantly, as if probing a bad tooth. "But... you've killed people?"

Once again, Jas signalled for Vaahn not to answer. This time Simon caught it. The three exchanged various looks before Vaahn broke the standoff. "No point in lying to him, Jas. Yes, Simon, I've killed people. Hundreds, probably. Most of them would have killed me first if I gave them the chance. That's just how life is back home."

"Remind me never to go there." Simon answered nervously.

Vaahn turned from the boy and opened the door. He caught Jas about to ask why and cut him off. "I'm going to face the music on my own terms. You two have fun."

Lucy was watching from the sidelines with interest. The boys had been shouting loud enough to be heard from downstairs, even if it was only because Jenny happened to be stood at the foot of the stairs at the time, and when Penny's were involved that could not be ignored. Since it was Vaahn's voice they heard, it was Vaahn who was first to be questioned. He'd come down stairs with a weary look on his face, more like he'd been forced to do chores than summoned for a punishment. In answering to Jenny and his mother Vaahn was tight lipped. He spoke defensively, trying to get by with one word answers. It was a very different approach to the screaming tantrums she'd faced before almost every spanking. The lack of communication was not appreciated by the parents, who pushed him more aggressively to explain himself. His answer was to stop talking altogether - Lucy could see him screaming below the surface, his teeth chattering as his body and mind clashed. His instinctive reaction to any threat, any challenge, was to attack. She'd learned that the hard way when he'd bitten her hard enough to draw blood; where a human child would be reduced to a sobbing, terrified heap, Vaahn became an incoherent ball of anger. It was something nobody expected, and few people planned for. Seeing Vaahn close to the edge, Lucy decided to step in.

"Alright, let me handle this." The parents parted. Lucy stepped forward like an officer on the parade ground. "Vaahn! Take a deep breath."

She turned to Chloe and smiled faintly. "Take note, dear." Turning back to Vaahn she added. "Vaahn, calm down. That's an order."

The Kyyreni boy seemed puzzled. "An order?"

"That's right. Got a problem with that?"

Vaahn didn't answer right away. He glanced toward Chloe, and as soon as he did Lucy jumped on it. "No good looking to her for answers. If I want her opinion I'll ask for it. I asked for yours, and I'll ask again; do you have a problem with me ordering you to calm down?"

"Well... it seems a bit odd..."

"Why's that?" Lucy asked. She was stood bolt upright as if addressing a raw recruit on a Marine training ground. "I'm a Marine and you're a civilian. Marines can order civilians around, so I can order you around!"

"But you're not a Marine anymore..." Vaahn's voice was softer, his posture unconsciously relaxing.

"You never stop being a Marine, I assure you." She broke her drill sergeant demeanour and approached the matter at hand. "Now, Vaahn, why did we hear raised voices upstairs?"

"Didn't mean to." Vaahn answered, seeking to go back behind his wall of silence. Lucy acted fast.

"Vaahn, you know me. You know I'll be fair with you, but I can't be fair if you aren't honest. The truth, Vaahn."

Reluctantly, Vaahn answered, "It was nothing. Just... you'll think it's stupid."

"Try me."

The boy hesitated. "I don't think Simon's sentence is fair. That's why me and Jas were arguing. I... I didn't mean to yell at him, I just... I just don't see why it should be illegal."

Lucy nodded and gave the boy a quick pat on the head. "So, why did you come down here?"

"I guessed you'd have heard me shouting, so I thought It'd be better I came down than you yelling for us to come down."

The boy looked up at Lucy, Jenny and his mother. Rather than the stern, uncaring expressions he'd come to expect, he saw a series of begrudging smiles. Chloe was the first to speak. "Well, Vaahn, I'm glad that you came down here. It shows an understanding of the rules we expect you to obey, and that you are mindful of your actions. I'm proud of you for that... but why did it take you so long to speak up? Why didn't you explain all this in the first place?"

"Honestly?" Vaahn asked. Chloe nodded in reply.

The Kyyreni boy took a few moments to consider. "Because... honestly... I've learned you don't care; you don't want to know what happened, you just want an excuse to punish me."

"That is not true." Chloe answered sternly. "We do not punish you for no good reason."

Vaahn's muzzle gave an angry twitch, but he bit back his reply. Chloe saw it. "Vaahn, say what you want to say."

Hesitantly, Vaahn did as instructed. "I'd say not wanting to think the way you do, or believe what you believe counts as no good reason." He answered, balling his fists and lowering his head. "Just because I'm not human doesn't mean everything I believe is wrong."

Chloe knelt down and gave her son a gentle hug. "I think this is something we should talk about when we get home. For now... why don't you go back and play with your new friend?"

Vaahn gave her a puzzled look. "You... aren't going to spank me?"

Chloe shook her head. "You did what was right in coming to us, and you acknowledged where you went wrong. Regardless of this... other matter... you've shown acceptance and understanding of the rules. I think it is best to reward that acceptance, rather than punish you for a minor slip-up." She gave him another affectionate squeeze, but then added in an authoritarian tone, "but any more slip-ups and you'll get your full punishments, with a good dose of reminder. Are we clear?" Vaahn nodded. "Good. Then go on."

There was no more trouble from the Rejuves. Vaahn, Jas and Simon spent the rest of the morning playing together until they were called down for lunch and let loose in the garden. Under parental supervision they played happily, as children would, losing all track of time until the threat of approaching rain brought an end to their playtime.

"Come on in!" Jenny called, ushering the three boys through the door. "I think its best you came in now anyway. Come on dear."

With that, she took Simon's hand and led him to the living room, friends in tow. Stood in the middle of the room, Simon's demeanour took a turn for the worse; he knew what was coming without needing to be told.

"Come here, Simon. You're due a spanking, so you might as well have it now with everyone here."

Simon began crying immediately. "B-but I've b-been good!"

"You've been good TODAY, but don't forget why you're here in the first place! It's because of the crimes you committed you're being spanked now, so come over my lap!"

Trembling and crying freely, Simon inched over to his mother. Chloe stepped behind the boy and took his pants and underwear down to his ankles before lifting him into place.

"Thank you, Chloe." Jenny acknowledged the other parent, rubbing Simon's back to try and calm him a little. "You ready?"

Without waiting for an answer, Jenny's hand came down hard on the boy's backside. Simon's crying stopped, replaced by a sharp, shocked intake of breath. The second smack on the opposite cheek made him yelp and squirm, but there was nowhere for him to go.

"Keep still!" Jenny ordered as her hand thwacked against Simon's backside for a third and fourth time. That was enough to resume the sobbing. Five, six, seven... the rate of spanking increased, each one hitting an alternate cheek as Jenny's punishment entered full flow. Simon had his head bent low, screaming and crying as hard as he could as his backside was turned a hot, sore pink in front of his attentive audience.

"He started crying pretty quickly." Chloe commented.

Lucy nodded in agreement. "Must have a low pain threshold, I'd say... level three."

Stood next to his mother, Jas was glad of an excuse to turn away. He knew the importance of spanking Pennys, but it was hard to see Simon humiliated like that, particularly as he was a new-found friend. The Aspatrian turned his gaze to Vaahn, who was watching with an unsettling amount of focus.

"Vaahn?"

"<It's not fair.>" Vaahn hissed softly, using his native tongue. "<It's not right.>"

The sound of hand striking buttock ceased. Jenny lifted the thoroughly subdued child from her lap and let him kneel on the sofa, catching his hands as they instinctively flew to his burning rear.

"You know better than that, Simon." She whispered gently. "No rubbing."

She gently held the crying boy, shushing and comforting him for several minutes as he cried out the burning ache in his rear. As his breathing slowed and the tears stopped, Jenny carefully placed Simon back on his feet and helped him pull his pants up, getting a yelp as the fabric of his underwear brushed against his tender skin.

"That's a good boy." Jenny carefully wiped Simon's face with a handkerchief. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

She stood up, turning the boy round to face the guests. "It's been lovely to see you all! Say goodbye to your friends, Simon."

"bye." Simon mumbled, unable to meet anyone's gaze.

Jenny gave a gentle tut. "Someone's still a bit cranky! I think you should have a little nap. I'll be right back." She flashed everyone a smile and led Simon upstairs.

"Well, that seems to be our cue to leave." Chloe said, taking a boy in each hand and ushering them to the door."