The First Penitatas: Luck of the Draw
Kadan awoke with a banging head and a banging on his door. He moved stiffly, his sluggish limbs unwilling to obey his instructions as he fought to get upright again. Either the gravity of the planet had suddenly spiked tenfold, or he had done more damage to himself than he recalled. Brief flickers of the night before came back to him, mostly things he had no wish to remember. That prompted him to reach for the mostly-empty bottle nearby, and downing the dregs made him vomit across the kitchen tiles.
Someone took hold of him and dragged him upright. He turned into the worried face of an underling; a young Enforcer named Kas. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you, sir!" the youth replied. "You've got a meeting with the Lord Governor in half an hour!"
The words were a splash of cold water to his system. Kadan tried to shake some of the grogginess away and put a plan together in his pulsing head. "Alright... there's showers and clean uniforms in the Hall, don't need anything else... fuck it." Resolved to action, he strode into Skal's room to find the boy pretending to sleep, a charade that ended immediately when he was dragged from under the covers.
"Hey!" Skal yelped as he was hauled towards the door. Kadan was holding him by the forearm, and lifting him so that he struggled to keep his own feet on the ground. "Wait! Give me my clothes!"
"They're at the Hall. Toughen up and shut up!" the Enforcer snapped back as he waved Kas out, then dragged the Penny from the home. It was a mercifully short walk to the Hall of Correction, but it felt like miles to Skal who hobbled along with his free hand over his crotch, and eyes darting for signs of anyone who might be watching. Sure enough, there were early risers who turned to watch the collared boy being dragged along by two angry looking agents of justice. One group stood out in particular, two mothers walking with four young children. They stopped and pointed, kneeling down to talk to their offspring. The boys and girls, likely 'Kindern', all dutifully stopped to watch until Skal had passed from their field of view. Skal stopped looking around after that, choosing instead to stay focused on the path beneath his feet and hoping the burning in his cheeks wasn't showing through his fur.
"What are you whimpering about?" Kadan asked as they entered the Hall through the rear entrance.
"You dragged me naked through the fucking streets! What do you think?" The Penny dared to snapped back. He regretted his actions almost immediately, but instead of a physical blow he instead received a thin smile from his tormentor.
"So, you're a shy one. Useful thing to know. You'll be pleased to know there's no law against public nudity." Skal flinched at the comment, hating he had just given Kadan a new way to make his life miserable. 
At Kadan's order, Skal was dragged away to the cages, the very same cages he'd occupied on Rejuve Day. As he was marched inside he saw only one occupant, a fellow Kyyreni boy of a similar age to himself and dressed in the loose, off-white shirt and pants that functioned as the unofficial Penitatas uniform. The boy cowered in the far corner with his eyes locked on Skal as he was tossed into the cage, and he continued to stare after the lights went out.
Feeling sheepish, Skal raised an open hand in greeting and bared his neck a fraction. The other boy, a puzzle of orange and yellow splotches in thermal vision, raised a handpaw of his own, but kept himself curled tight in the corner. Skal took a step further into the cage and his cellmate flinched, a second step compelling him to bark, "stay back!" 
"Relax," Skal answered, "I just want out of the draft. He moved closer still, but got no protest. "I'm Skal."
"Sam. Sam Doland. I was raised by Humans," he explained to justify his name. "Sorry about before. When I saw you brought in like that... Well, I heard rumours... They say you can do stuff to a Penny you can't to a real child." 
Skal thought back to the screaming girl from Rejuve day. The memory made him shiver. "I think you're right, but I think we're okay - it's mostly girls they want, I think."
A quiet sob told Skal his words weren't helping. "How did you end up here anyway?" he asked on impulse, fishing for a way to keep the boy from bawling. 
"Nothing that deserves this! I mean, I skimmed a little coin here and there, but who doesn't? The bastards just wanted to make me suffer!" 
Skal nodded. One thing he'd learned the hard way was the Enforcers liked throwing their weight around, and they'd stomp on whoever they could. "I got fucked too. Three Es were gutted where I lived so they came for anyone who even smelt like a ganger."
"Are you a ganger?" the tone was edged with apprehension.
Skal paused. The answer seemed so obvious, but to even think of saying it aloud put a lump in his throat. He had given his life to the 67 Crew, but now they were gone forever. Assuming he somehow survived being a Penitatas, there would be nothing to go back to, and if there were he couldn't imagine they'd take him. If he were still on the outside, he'd assume any Penny was a potential snitch and deal with them accordingly.
Blinking away tears, Skal whispered, "No. No I'm not."
The two Penitatas lapsed into a long silence, each consumed by their own fears and anxieties. The cages filled with ghosts, every one a manifestation of a possible future, and each more terrible than the last. The two boys were drawn together by their fears, and held each other tight, any pride or personal boundaries forgotten. To his surprise, Skal felt his heart rate slow, lulled by the warmth and softness of another living soul, given freely and without asking. 
"Thank you," he whispered, and Sam replied with a tender nuzzling against his chest. The touch made Skal reflect on the last time he'd enjoyed such tenderness, but all he could recall were drunken grappling or rutting with whores. He hadn't known true affection since childhood. 
He pulled himself closer to Sam, welcoming the body heat and letting the slighter, shyer boy rest against him instead of the bars. To his surprise, Sam tensed in his grip. "What?" he asked, only to realise he had become aroused by the contact, and in pulling Sam against himself had rubbed his length against the other boy's thigh.
"Please don't," Sam whimpered, fearing the worst but not pulling away. 
Skal closed his eyes in embarrassment, not that it mattered in the dark. "I didn't mean to... I just wanted to keep warm, that's all." He risked a playful smile and added, "or are you secretly an omega?" 
Sam kept silent. A timid hand closed around Skal's length and stroked it awkwardly, causing Skal to grip Sam's wrist and push his hand away. "I don't want that. Just let me hold you, okay? It'll go down in a minute." 
Sam nodded. The boy relaxed a little, easing against Skal and getting comfortable against his fur. Muzzle on Sam's shoulder, Skal drifted into a half sleep, his young member leaving a faint precum stain on Sam's clothing where their bodies met. Slowly, Skal's mind began to piece together what his nose and twitching boyhood already knew. He reached down as if to shift his sac and in the process brushed his knuckles against Sam's crotch. The 'boy' flinched sharply. 
"Are you a girl?" Skal asked. "But you look like a boy!" 
Sam's blush was so strong that Skal could see it in heat-sense. "It's a rare birth defect. I thought they'd fix it when I rejuved, but they didn't. I'm... I'm a girl, I just have a boy's body." 
"Not all of your body is male," Skal was talking about her scent, but Sam took it differently. She tensed again, quiet tears leaking from her eyes as she gave an instinctive whine of submission. Once again, despite the signals of his groin, he shushed his strange new partner. "Stop it. I told you already I don't want to force you. I mean... I'm curious... But... Penitatas don't betray each other like that." 
"Really?" Sam asked, meeting his gaze in the dark.
"Really. Nobody else cares about us. Nobody else will protect us. We look out for each other, because otherwise we're all alone." He had no idea where that had come from, but it seemed to win the girl over. She settled once again, but there was an attentive, thoughtful air to her silence.
"I've had to pretend to be a boy most of my life," Sam confessed. "I was always scared of what would happen if anyone found out. All I ever wanted was to be a normal girl..." 
"Trust me, you are one hundred percent a girl. Ask my friend," Skal answered with a nod to his stubborn erection. To his delight, Sam laughed at his silly humour and nuzzled against him firmly.
A warm nose pressed against Skal's ear and Sam whispered, "if you want... You can make sure I'm really a girl." 
The offer made Skal's heart pound. His length spasmed, finding extra length and freeing his developing knot from his sheath. The sensation made him squirm and moan with its intensity, having never experienced a full erection at this physical age before. He shifted Sam in his lap, pausing to make sure she wasn't pulling away or fighting him before reaching into her pants. As he hoped, there was a smooth crotch leading to a warm slit. Instead of finding tight muscle, the probing finger found the girl's passage soft and inviting. He teased the digit inside, giving a playful purr at how easily she took the finger. To his surprise, Sam tensed as if hurt. "You want me to stop?" he asked, and when she nodded he carefully pulled out. "Sorry, I thought you wanted it. You were pretty loose down there."
"Of course I'm loose!" Sam snapped, but she sensed Skal's concern and softened her tone, "do you really not know about this stuff?"
"I've had sex before, but they were only loose when they wanted it." Skal answered, prompting Sam to give a gentle sigh.
"Those women are tight because they have muscles to hold your knot, and they don't form until puberty."
Skal turned away from Sam's gaze, ashamed at his own ignorance. "I honestly didn't know. It's not like I ever talked to any girls about how it worked. I just learned as I went, you know? I really didn't mean to hurt you."
Sam nodded to show her understanding. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have... this isn't really..." she let her thoughts trail off. She glanced down at Skal's swollen boyhood and chuckled, "but I know that's not going anywhere on its own."
"I can take care of it," Skal said. He closed one hand carefully around his knot and squeezed, gradually increasing pressure until he found the right amount of force, then softly pulsed his grip while his other hand worked the length. Sam watched in silence for a minute before sliding back away from him and slipping her pants down to her ankles. The two Pennys watched each other masturbate, both giving quiet grunts and murmurs at the sensations they gave to themselves. Spurred on by the scent of Sam's arousal, Skal's efforts became more aggressive, but despite years of experience with his own body he was left frustrated. "I can't do it. I can't peak."
"What do you need?" Sam asked, moving close to him again. Before he could answer she cupped her crotch and brought her hand up to his nose, letting him take in her arousal. The scent made the boy growl with delight and drew beads of precum from his tip, but it was still not enough.
"I don't know!" he whined, giving up on his efforts and leaving himself twitching in the open.
Sam swore under her breath. Without a word, she shuffled forward and pressed her bare crotch against his length. Slowly, carefully, she rose up to let the tip follow her folds into place, and with one hand on Skal's shoulder used the other to guide him in. She lowered herself onto him, breathing heavily as she inched him in until the base of the knot was almost touching her outer folds. "That's all I can take," she gasped.
Squeezing his knot once more, Skal began to thrust. It was an inelegant coupling, but they soon found a rhythm and their motions began to synchronise. The boy's climax came suddenly and with little warning; a sharp spasm made him yelp and release his knot, and Sam rose off him as he twitched his legs in time to the pulsing of his length. As he grew still, Sam watched with a delicious grin as she watched Skal calm down. In heat-sense, the knot went from blazing red to hot amber as it sunk away, and with the blockage gone the rest of the boy's length fled back into its sheath. The sigh of relief was greater than any cry of pleasure he'd made during their coupling. 

Humming, blinking and popping, the lights of the cage block came up one by one. Sam barely had time to pull her pants back on before a Human woman entered, trailed by Kadan. The Enforcer had removed his armour, boots and field belt, leaving him only in black fatigues with visible signs of wear and amateur patching.
"Mom?" Sam scrabbled to her feet and dashed towards the front of the cage, "What are you doing here?" 
"Coming to get you!" the woman answered sharply. "I knew this would happen. I got a Penny license just for this, because I was afraid you'd end up like this! You have no idea how lucky you are that I got you back!" 
Kadan banged on the bars for order. "Save the domestic until I've cleared you. Now, can you confirm that the Penitatas is being kept at Townhouse 13-44, and said property has available a dedicated bed or cot for said Penitatas, and that you have dedicated or shared latrine facilities, basic sanitary facilities and means to store and prepare food for said Penitatas?"
"Yes, obviously," the woman replied. "She's going back to her own home, where we raised her!"
Kadan tapped something into his pad and put it into his pocket. "That's another matter I need to discuss. Legally, Sam isn't your daughter anymore. She stopped being your daughter the moment she left the rejuvenation chamber. I'm not just saying this to remind you that she is supposed to be punished; there are other legal factors you need to consider. If you and your husband die, for example, nothing you own can pass to her. I suggest that you contact the Arbiters for a more detailed explanation. Hard as it might be, I also suggest that you avoid referring to her as your daughter."
Kadan's words left both mother and child in a stunned silence. "I will not reject my daughter just because she is a Penitatas," the mother said at last.
Kadan opened his mouth to reply, but thought better of it. With a quick punch of the door code the cage opened and Sam rushed to her mother's arms. "I'll be calling in on you at some point for a site inspection. It's mostly a formality, but the rules have to be followed. I hope that's not a problem." 
"Not at all. Thank you, officer. Come, Sam."
With the pair gone, Kadan turned his attention to his sheepish charge. "where to begin?" he mused aloud. "I suppose you want to see her again?" 
"I... I guess. We talked a little and I think we're kind of friends." Skal answered, trying to appear indifferent. 
"We have you two fucking on camera, so you can drop the act. I've got her address and an excuse to take you there, but if you don't want to see her-" 
"I do!" Skal answered eagerly. "I mean, I'd like to see her again." 
"Then consider that a peace offering. You behave, and I let you see your boy-girl thing. You give me shit and you never see her again. Your clothes are in the locker room, let's go." Kadan ushered the boy out and took him to get dressed. He wasn't keen on the idea of Rejuves having sex, even if it appeared consensual, but he wasn't going to pass up on a useful lever like that, especially not now. 
Dressed again for the first time since waking up in Kadan's home, Skal was happy enough to be led out into The City once more. Kadan steered him towards the magline, the arterial transit network of The City and a wonder of colonial engineering. The depot was dug down below street level, the entrance itself taking part of the frontage that would otherwise have been an office block. Slopes and shallow stairs eventually led to a row of turnstiles, beyond which was poorly lit room of pillars dominated by a queuing area. There was nobody waiting so the two skipped to the front where a dozen alcoves greeted them, each containing what resembled a sixteen person gondola. The far side of the gondola had a terminal to accept passenger instructions. Kadan picked the least worn of the vehicles and ushered Skal inside before entering the desired destination and choosing to bypass traffic. The door closed, with a metal shutter rolling down to block access to the soon to be vacant slot, and with an electric whine the car rattled clear of its dock and onto the magway. It built speed steadily, computer guidance systems allowing it to merge seamlessly into traffic.
Skal kept his eyes down the whole way. He'd travelled by mag dozens of times, maybe hundreds, but he never got accustomed to it The idea of hurting through a dark tunnel with no direct control of the vehicle made his stomach churn, and being a kid again was certainly not helping. He tried to pretend he was going to see Sam again, although that had potential to cause a very different kind of discomfort. 
At last, the car rattled into an offloading bay and they stepped onto a much busier platform. Outside lay Merchant, primary commerce district of The City. This fact was made clear by numerous boards hung from the ceiling, which were almost all free of graffiti and vandalism. From there it was a short walk to the clothing vendor, purveyor of the finest bulk made clothes for the financially conservative. Skal was roughly measured and Kadan picked out a few shirts, shorts and a kilt or two for him. While Kadan shopped, Skal let his attention wander. 
Nearby, two boys scuffled on a green embankment. Skal watched with interest, and as they grappled, tumbled and broke apart he felt a deep longing to join them. A quick glance confirmed Kadan was busy trying on a shirt, and the Penny took his chance. He ran over to the boys. As he drew near, Skal raised his tail and held his ears forward. Stopped slightly, mouth cracked open and a low growl escaping his muzzle, he swiftly caught the attention of the older boy. The lad, who was around seven lunged at Skal, and a swift struggle followed that saw Skal forced face down onto the grass. Yet he wasn't down long; the boy released his pin and stepped back, resuming a casual brawling stance that invited Skal to try his luck again, which he did. 
Round and round the three went, clashing, falling and breaking. Skal made sure to let both boys knock him down before he started playing seriously, using his experience of real fighting to overcome their age advantage. Growls and laughter intermingled, with each defeat spurring the loser to fight all the harder. When Skal had won too often, the two boys overwhelmed him together before turning on each other, leaving the eldest stood triumphant.
And as easily as it began, it was all over. The boys bolted away, and Skal knew at once what had startled them. "What they fuck are you doing?" Kadan snapped as he gripped the Penny's arm. "I turn my back for two minutes and you're fucking off?" 
"I was just playing!" Skal insisted, but Kadan had stopped listening. With his purchases on one hand and Skal in the other, he strode through the stalls to the larger, more upmarket businesses. 
Their destination was called Corrections, and it stank of fear. Inside was a large show floor, the central area filled with stools, benches and other furniture designed to aid with discipline, one of which was currently being used, much to the distress of the howling Dawnsider on the receiving end. The walls and glass stands held every tool that might ever be used against a Penitatas. Skal failed to suppress a whine of anguish as he was ordered to bare himself, and having done so was marched to a spanking bench as the last boy was sent to the corner. 
Soft leather straps were tightened around his wrists and ankles. Another loop was added to his tail so it could fasten to his collar. Completely exposed, he was left to dread his fate while Kadan spoke to the Human male behind the counter. The two discussed paddles, switches and other, harsher implements, with Kadan favouring tools beyond what the owner recommended. Skal began to pull at the restraints in a futile effort to break free, becoming increasingly distressed with every ineffectual tug. He only stopped when he heard a familiar voice drawing closer, pleading as she came. 
"No! Mom, not here! Please spank me at home! Please!" Sam cried as she was brought into view. 
Her mother stopped in front of a stool and turned towards her daughter. "You are a Penitatas now, young lady! You have to learn that you can and will be punished in front of others!" with that, Sam's pants were yanked around her ankles and her mother sat down before lifting the whimpering girl onto her lap. It was Skal's backside that first felt a paddle, however. 
The owner, being human, sold his wares based on the human scaling for discipline. He'd recommended an age six paddle, as Kyyreni aged faster than humans and were often tougher. Kadan chose an age 7 paddle, and a narrow headed one at that. Delivering six harsh strikes to each cheek in quick succession, Skal was brought to tears almost immediately, only to discover that the paddle had simply been a warm-up. 
The next tool was a defolicator; not a source of pain in itself, but the sensation of having the fur lasered off his rump was itchy. Worse though was the humiliation factor, as the unnatural bareness made it feel as though the whole city was staring at him. 
Properly groomed, the next tool was the switch. The thin, whippy cane made a sharp snapping sound as it bit into his buttocks, leaving a burning welt squarely on his seat. A second stroke, then a third, and every one after all found the same spot. Whenever it was that Skal was allowed to sit again, he'd be forced to put his weight firmly on the switching. 
That thought was far from the Penny's mind at that moment. He threw his head back and screamed out his pain and humiliation, unable to do more than wriggle as the switch burned its way into his backside, imprinting a deep, searing welt that would provide days of discomfort.
"S-s-stooop!" he wailed, his head dropping down as he lost the strength to fight. Only then, when he couldn't so much as twitch in protest did the hateful switch find a new part of his rear to punish. It still hurt, but the pain was lesser, and he had to endure only six more swats before Kadan was satisfied.
The punishment didn't end there. Upon release from the bench, Skal was introduced to another instrument of misery - the stool. It was a wooden, circular stool with blunt wooden pyramids on the seat and straps to keep the Penny in place. Much to his distress, Skal discovered these points were extremely painful to sit on with a well-switched rear. A strap at his waist and ankles kept his weight precisely where he didn't want it, and Kadan used cuffs to attach the boy's wrists to his collar.
Through a fresh wave of tears, Skal took in the other Penitatas. The first boy he saw was being marched out, weeping openly. The second had evidently been forced to watch Skal's ordeal, and judging by his timid whining expected much the same. Then there was Sam. All she'd had to endure was a padding, and was now crying into her mother's chest while the woman stroked and shushed her.
"Alright, we're done here. Hope you liked that stool, there'll be one delivered tomorrow." Kadan said as he released Skal from his torment. There was no comforting for him; Kadan didn't even bother to take off the cuffs or tail bind. With clothes in one hand and disciplinary tools in the other, the Enforcer barked an order to move, and with a sob Skal obeyed. Sam watched his walk of shame from her mother's lap. 
The journey home was the longest of Skal's life, and it broke him. The degradation of being paraded for all the world to see, combined with the burning pain of the magcar ride left him physically and mentally exhausted to the point where he simply collapsed upon entering the residence, curling up as best he could and crying silently in the corner of the living room. Kadan left him to it.
Much later, having possibly slept, he awoke feeling hollowed out and longing for a true rest. His left arm tingled, having been pinned at an awkward angle where he lay, and upon struggling into a kneeling position the sensation of blood flowing back was quickly followed by a violent throbbing that elicited a dry yelp of pain. 
"Oh, you're awake," Kadan grunted from the chair nearby. He didn't come to the boy's aid straight away, instead returning his focus to his communicator. Skal caught fragments of men shouting as Kadan cycled through the channels, interspaced with static or what might have been weapons fire.
"Help." The word was heavy on Skal's dry lips. Kadan shut off the device and stood up, sending an empty, moisture laden bottle clattering away as he did so. It took him a few false starts to free the boy, who tried to massage some life back into his arms. 
"I'll make you some food," Kadan said in a disconnected tone. Skal chose to flee to his bedroom rather than the kitchen. He jumped onto his bed and fished the stolen knife from under the pillow, taking comfort in the control it represented for him. A careful test of the edge made him flinch and drew a bead of blood from his thumb, which he sucked. Good and sharp.
"You must really enjoy being beaten," Kadan growled from the doorway, his eyes burning. 
Skal aimed the trembling blade towards him. "S-stay back! Please!" 
"Or what?" Kadan asked, stepping into the room. It wasn't a large bedroom, and simply clearing the door put him in arms reach of the boy, who squirmed backwards. 
"Just stop!" Skal blubbed, holding the knife close to himself as if protecting it. "Please stop!"
Without hesitating, Kadan strode forwards and gripped the knife by its blade. He tore it away with barely a grunt. "You know, I think I'd have respected you more if you'd swung for me." He left with the knife, and Skal clung himself, shaking in fear.
He did not return. After a while, Skal dared to peak out of his room to find Kadan back in his chair, listening to signals again. The only difference was he now had a dressing around his fingers. "Meat and filler on the side there. It's gone cold. I'm not heating it." he stated without looking up. 
Indifference was better than anger for Skal, who took the meal and stood up to eat it. As promised, it was cold meat, probably cheap off-cuts given how over-spiced it was, which diced root vegetables to bulk out the bowl. The portion was too much for a child, so Skal ate around the filler and washed it down first with the glass of water left for him, then the dregs of a spirit bottle Kadan had dropped. 
"There's more in the freezer," Kadan said with a nod toward the kitchen. "You seem like you need it. We'll discuss the knife tomorrow."
"Why?" Skal whispered. 
"You want to be punished now?" Kadan asked back, finally looking up from his device. Skal shook his head urgently. "Don't push your fucking luck then. Go bring another bottle here!" 
Skal did as he was told. While Kadan opened and sampled the ice cold spirit, Skal listened to the frantic orders, queries and cries for aid tumbling from the communicator. Somewhere, a full on riot was happening. "Aren't you going to help them?"
"No. The Lord Governor suspended me this morning. Means that you get my full time attention for a whole week! Maybe longer. Still, I get paid for it." he celebrated that fact with another long pull from the bottle before pointing at Skal's water glass, which was refilled with distil. "So I get to sit here with you while good people die. Lucky me." 
Skal drank quickly, choking on the spirit but eager to be numbed by it. "I want my mom," he sniffled into the empty glass, and was rewarded with a refill. "Sam's mom cuddles her. I want my mom..." he downed the spirit in one and dropped the glass, which rolled under the chair. He was too tired to cry, so he made do with whimpering and hiccups.
The drunk Penny gave a yelp as Kadan scooped him up and held him to his chest. Settled on his knees so his backside was spared, head on Kadan's shoulder, Skal let out several rapid, heavy huffs as he struggled to make sense of his emotions. The man's hand pawed his neck and back, helping him to settle into a quiet, calmer state. He cried, but as a genuine form of relief - a brief, light burst of tears and softer sobs. It wasn't true affection, but it was enough. Drunk, shattered and longing for escape, Skal drifted off in his masters distracted arms as together they listened to The City tear itself apart.