A week after the nightmare Axel set up a playdate for Angel and Canaan. The morning started the same as any other. A spanking, quick breakfast and a change. For once she rushed him out the door. They arrived at the park right on the outskirts of Lumiar and she rushed out in search of her friend. She regretted it when Axel caught up. 
	“Angel, bench now!” He barked, setting a picnic basket and her bag on the grass. She at least had the decency to look ashamed when she slipped up. He was quick to pull her over his lap and dig around in the bag. 
	“Sorry.” She said, pulling her tail up for him. She was so excited to start that she’d forgotten the one rule that was above all others. Never run, stay within eyesight or earshot. She’d barely recovered from this morning and she’d already earned another like a fool! Her pull up met her knees and his other hand pinned her tail against her back. The first stroke lit the pain from earlier that only just became matches and she didn’t stifle a sob. True to his word Axel tried to protect her dignity. When he checked her it was in private or he asked her discreetly. In the park, however, everyone could hear her screams. Watch her struggle in vain on his lap.
	It was her fault! If only she hadn’t been such a screw up and thought about her actions! Instead she paid for it with another stroke of her brush. A few people wandered and some stopped to watch. Many with sympathy. The shame threatened to cripple her. Reduced to a little girl that was left to cry with each strike. The pain was bad before but Axel always did what was needed. One swat to each thigh made that evident. Two more to tender sit spots and she bawled like the hatchling she was. Blurry eyes caught sight of a rejuve nearby. A voluntarus, with their parent. Both were smiling! Why did this stupid society enjoy her damn pain so much?! Her eyes searched for something, anything to take her mind off of it. She drowned out the spanking now. It was just a part of her life. A life she’d…. “Angel!” She looked up, no longer over Axel’s lap but in his arms with him looking down at her with worried eyes. Her pull up was back on. She felt it stinging her rear. “Oh thank god. It’s okay, no more swats or corner time. Do you know why I did it?” She looked away, anything not to meet those eyes so full of parental love and regret. They latched on the ones who watched and Axel followed her gaze. The movement made her look up just as his eyes began to narrow. The fur on his head started to stand on end.
	“While I can’t stop you from watching I’d prefer it if you left.” His voice left no room for argument and the voluntarus went to bolt. he, a teenage human, was stopped by his gardian.
	“Nothing wrong with watching a criminal be punished.” There it was, to them all she was is a tool for their aggression. Their enjoyment. She didn’t deserve this big affectionate fuzz ball. There was only one thing that she deserved.
	“Oh?” Axel set her down on the bench. She winced, her pull up did little to dull the sting. “Are you subject to torture every day?” Her eyes darted up. No… don’t get in trouble for her sake! “Are you forced to sleep in a body not your own? Are you allowed to use the bathroom without telling someone? Can you have a treat when you want? Or maybe you'd like to wake up to unearned pain? I mean you can watch but…” He flipped the collar to his shirt. It revealed a badge she’d heard about but never seen. Six ships that surrounded an eight pointed star. A badge that denoted command of eight different quadrants, not with just six ships but an entire fleet. “Move.” He ordered and Angel went to shift on instinct only to get a hand on her chest.
	She looked up just in time to see them head that order. Their faces were pale and they moved far faster than she expected. Finally he sighed and looked down at her with a smile. “Sorry I ran!” She blurted out, only for those soft hands to reach down and brush away the last few tears.
	“Shh, I know, just remember it in the future so I don’t have to repeat it.”
	“Aww but putting people in their place is so fun to watch!” Canaan slipped up from her blind spot. Followed closely by a female draconian, a raptor-like species. The first alien race to interact with Earth. It was strange to see one clothed like she was. “Seeing pompous people be put in their place is always fun to watch.” Her friend was always a breath of fresh air.
	“Canaan, behave or you’ll earn yourself some licks.” The woman warned.
	“Sorry momma.”
	“They deserve it, Karla.” Axel and Canaan spoke at the same time. 
	“Now Axel is that an example to set for Angel?” She asked, taking a seat on the bench beside them. Without asking she picked up Angel and placed her on the ground.
	“You never start a fight Karla but I’ll be arrested before I let someone treat my daughter like an object.” She didn’t like how much it warmed her heart to hear that. “Now, you two go and play. Keep in eyesight.” He ordered, face shifting to that charming smile he loved to keep.
	“Yes Axel. You’re it!” Angel said, bolting quickly for the field after tapping Canaan’s chest. A game of tag was on!
	“Oh you’re gonna get it pipsqueak.” Canaan took off after her, she poured on speed and started to catch up. Angel headed for a tree and flared a wing to change direction, cutting the air against her body and turning at almost ninety degrees without even slowing down. A maneuver she knew that feathered wings couldn’t pull off. “You little cheater!” Canaan screamed, her own wings flaring while she kicked off the same tree.
	With an open field for several more yards Angel couldn’t stop the fingers that brushed the top of her horns. “Tag, lets see you catch me now.” Canaan landed and quickly bolted off. She could glide already?! Angel growled, focused hard on her legs and primed her wings. They were too small to glide, but she wasn’t out yet. She sprung off the balls of her claws and pushed with her wings, The vortex of air shoved her forward. Normally it would be how she took off. Instead it closed about half the distance between them in only a moment. Canaan looked back smug. Angel loved how fast her eyes grew to the size of saucers. Unfortunately for them both the only thing she could do was make sure her head hit Canaan below the wings. End over end they went before she ended up on top of her friend.
	“S-sorry I guess I got carried away.” She rubbed at scraped knees and started to get up, only to be pulled back to the ground next to the phixin.
	“Are you kidding me? That was awesome! How’d you catch up so fast?” She was panting a little.
	“I used the way we take off. We can’t go vertically like you all. We need to use our legs to generate lift then force enough air down to swirl.” She said, The grass was nice and soft.
	“You mean like… We’re fine Momma!” Canaan cried suddenly and Angel’s head darted over to see Karla and Axel start to get up. She caught his look of relief as he slowly sat back down. She expected she’d hear about it later. “You mean like an insect flies right?” The question brought her back to her friend who looked at her with shining eyes.
	“I-I guess?” She didn’t really know how that worked. “More like a jet, air swirls both underneath and behind propelling it forward.” She admitted, just as Cannan pounced on her, making her try to shove her off. Canaan used her superior strength to hold her down but Angel kicked up a leg, tripping her so she could get her onto her back. They tumbled like that for a while, roughhousing and giggling the entire time. After a few minutes they both separated, panting and smiling.
	“I don’t know anything about that stuff. Momma has been helping me catch up with others at school. I studied entomology before getting taken by those idiots. What did you do, something with science?” Angel rolled her eyes and looked around.
	“Like you don’t know, you read my file at the doctor’s office.” She rushed towards a set of swings. She told the adult part of her mind to shove it for a while. I felt good to move around and play like a little girl again. 
	“You’re never going to let that go are you?” Canaan took the one next to her and swayed in a way that said she wasn’t as interested. “All it said was what you were sentenced for.” 
	“Fiiiine. I studied chemistry to make drugs then became a drive engineer to settle ports.” She pulled back, enjoying the wind against her face, tiny wings out instinctually just to feel the wind against them. “I guess you could say I did some business too.”
	“I’ll say. Miss ‘Splinter’s Point’.” Canaan teased with her tongue out. Angel froze.
	“Hush up you featherbrain! What if Axel heard you? Or someone else?” She struggled to keep the smile on her face. She had to put on a show for anyone watching. It didn’t stop her from looking at the reflections in the slide or over at the bench where their parents sat. She’d left out a few details when she’d talked to her parents the first day. 
	“Oh relax. To them it’s just a name. Besides, no one's paying attention out here. As far as anyone knows we’re just two little girls playing.” Canaan teased, getting up to head for the slides. “We’re nowhere near the Osiris quadrant and normal people wouldn’t even know what it means.”
	Angel scrambled up one of the sides. “Then how do you?” She asked, sitting down for a moment to catch her breath, her eyes were starting to get heavy. 
	As if to tease her, Canaan shoved her hand into her face. It made that silver M beyond clear. “Hello? I’m not as innocent as they make me out to be. I had a deal go wrong with some exotic… ‘pets’.” She took Angel’s hand and tugged her over to the tandem slide, slipping down it with Angel in tow. “They wanted more than I had so they took me instead. I should have made the transaction at The Splinter or The Clock.” She started with a sigh. “Oh well, no sense in bringing up the past. Let's go eat.” Angel wanted to play a bit more but she did need a break. On any other day Axel would have already put her down for a nap. 
	The adults had already moved to a table when they walked up and Axel had been nice enough to set a cushion into her booster. “Have fun you two?” He helped Angel up. She noticed he took the opportunity to check her too. Discreetly he nodded to the bag. She sighed and gave him a nod in return. 
	“Yep, good to get out of the house for a change.” A hot sandwich and a small cup of soup slid in front of her. She noticed Canaan got double her portion and each adult a bowl instead of just a cup.
	“Not the only thing in need of a change. I noticed when we were rolling around.” Canaan stuck her tongue out.
	Angel offered her normal prayer with something a tab vindictive at the end. Karla must have heard her because Canaan got a look that sent shivers down Angel’s spine. “Oh? Maybe I should have brought your Fledglings from the house.” Angel almost spat out her first bite at that. Canaan wore actual diapers?
	“M-mom! Fine, I'll be good.” Angel felt bad. She knew just how humiliating it was needing pull ups. Karla mentioned it without any discretion. It wasn’t fair to Canaan… then again, she didn’t seem bothered by it, tucking into her food without another word. Angel wanted to defend her but there didn’t seem to be any point.
	They ate mostly in silence, enjoying the food Ceras had so graciously made them. “So Angel, you must have made some enemies to end up being punished every day.” Seems like Karla was just as blunt as her daughter. “The most I’ve seen for a silver is one every-other day.” Was that really such a strange thing? This was the third time she’d heard it questioned. She shrugged.
	“No sense in wondering about something I have no control over. It could be worse. They could have multiple or even have me do some kind of manual labor.” She knew some of the planets on the outskirts did that. She’d seen some fall dead from it. Something she-
	“That’s illegal dear.” Axel piped up. “Out here you can volunteer but you’d be subject to things like librarian, writing, or something similar. Manual labor for someone your age is cruel.” He explained, and looked… pained for a moment. “We’ve been told to continue as usual.” She could tell it was weighing on him.
	“I was smuggling for almost seven hundred years. They probably just want to make me feel bad for doing it.” She was speaking like it was no big deal but it did hurt. A few nights she’d had to go to bed sore after not doing anything to earn it. It was rare. Axel was kind enough to do it in the morning most of the time so she could heal. She knew she’d hurt a lot of people and there was an inkling in the back of her mind… she deserved all of this and more. She should have been more careful, protected more people and stopped that shipment from ever coming into the station. She’d put everyone there in danger.
	“That doesn’t matter princess.” He must have started to pick up on her cues. Another hot cup of soup slid in front of her and she looked up to see sympathy in his eyes. She sighed and went back to eating. Much more slow and subdued. “How often does Canaan earn one? I see she has a mouth on her.” Karla barked out a laugh and said phixin grumbled.
	“Not too often. She’s a little firecracker but she’s genuine. The M helps her case but even if she was like Angel here I couldn’t see needing the brush too often. Soap's another story. I’ve already gone through a bottle.” Angel could see Canaan’s face glowing, somehow it showed even underneath those downy feathers. “She’s good though. Kind and pretty loving. She speaks highly of Angel and the work she did for others.” Angel forced her face to remain neutral despite the creeping dread. What had Canaan told her?
	“Oh? I’ve only ever heard about drugs.”Axel said, looking over at her sternly. She was going to be sore again.
	“Apparently she did it with materials too. Circumvented trade routes and sold things at a low cost to places like Dracon, Corria, and Asparta. Metals, minerals, replicators, and even tricorders.” She knew she was going to get it now. She’d left out certain things for a reason. “She tracked that kingpin down and even helped set up most of his funds to go to some port for education!” Add embezzling funds to her sentence. He was going to blister her for sure for this one.
	“Really?” There it was, he was going to tear her a new one for it. “That’s where it came from? They told me the arresting officer had done it.” Wait what? “See princess, I told you that your skills could be used for good.” H-he wasn’t angry at her? “I know how hard it is to get supplies out there. Especially as far as Osiris and Carrion.” W-was that pride on his face?
	“B-but it was illegal.” She admitted. She might not have felt bad for it but she had to pay her debts, it’s the ideal she’d lived her entire life on.
	“It was and that does make it wrong but… you likely helped a lot of people.”
	“Y-you’re not going to punish me for it?” She didn’t want to see her brush again but she figured it was a pipe dream.
	“Why would I do that? Sure you left out a few things but it’s not like you lied to me. In fact you’ve given me even more to think on. Go play.” She was at a loss for words. He wasn’t going to punish her for something in her past? In fact he was proud? It didn’t make any sense! She barely registered the pull up he placed into her hands but it did make her embarrassed enough to scramble to the bathroom.  When she returned Canaan was already waiting and grabbed her hand to rush off again. 
	“Surprised? Your dad is a pretty cool guy huh?” She took Angel to one of the large trees on the perimeter of the park. “So when do Dracons learn to glide?” Finally something to take her mind off it!
	“Um.. about four to six depending on the hatchling.” Angel watched in curiosity while Canaan scrambled up to the lower branches. Before she could protest her friend jumped off and spread her wings. A bit of jealousy bubbled up in her chest when she saw her touch down.
        “Welllll…. Momma has me going to some more lessons in a couple days. Think they’ll allow you in?” Her heart leapt at the thought. Actual gliding lessons? At this age? “Hehe, your face says it all. I’ll ask when we go home! Come on, I think I saw a sandbox earlier!”
That was how the rest of the day passed. When it came time to go home she barely registered when Axel picked her up. Her body was heavy and he was warm so she drifted off.






	The next thing she knew she was being carefully shaken awake. The hearth in the library came into focus with Mae’s smiling face.”Hey Angel, have a nice nap?” She asked, getting her settled into her lap. Her fall clothing was gone, replaced with her fuzzy onesie. “It’s almost time for dinner but we have to talk first. Axel tells me that you smuggled things other than drugs?” She knew she wasn't going to get away with it.
	“We aren’t here to punish you princess, just get to know you a little better. The you that you were before.” Axel sat in one of the recliners on the other side, his fur seemed to shimmer in the fire's glow.
	She froze, she could make something up. Make it seem like she’d only delivered to a few planets. Something about that thought felt like it was betraying their trust and she sighed. Mae was kind enough to let her adjust so she was sitting cradled in the swell of her lap. “Okay fine. Anything someone wanted I could get my hands on. Minerals, metals, medical equipment, even art. I took on a few personal projects too.” She couldn’t divulge everything but they’d been interested in her passion so maybe? “I told you Delma suffered but before that we learned to lean on one another. So I got some shipments myself, built up a few ports to help others get out. Asparta, Curio, Drakon, and Lyxin to name a few. The ones that weren’t associated with the federation.” She was starting to get into it now. “Chemistry helped lead me to medicine and I taught others how to make it. The tricorders were actually brought in as a study project at first. Testing to see how the nanites were programmed and how they repaired damage for focused treatments.”  She took a deep breath and Mae gave her a squeeze.
	“And the funds?” She tensed a bit and her tail dropped. They weren’t going to like that one.
	“H-he profited off hurting others so I pulled a few strings. Made his last act be a good one for some karma. They were technically my credits anyway so the donation wasn’t hard.” She just wanted to do something nice for them! So many in that port had gone without the opportunities that most took for granted. 
	“Did you own the charity?” That’s what Axel was worried about? There were more credits on that account than most made in a lifetime!
	“N-no sir.” She said, bowing her head slowly, here it came. She could feel Mae’s hand trailing up her back. She felt the second it left it and she cringed, ready for them to… Hug her?
	“Angel, that's amazing!Why didn’t you tell the judge that? It really could have worked in your favor.” Stealing worked in her favor?
	“You look confused hun.” Mae was nuzzling the side of her face in a way she’d expect more from Axel. “Smuggling can do good too. Outlying planets go without because of profit margins most of the time. Infrastructure or the needed tools to get away just aren't available. You supplied that. You let us forget sometimes that you have a heart of gold.” She did? They thought she was good, not something to be discarded?
	“You already have a couple things that most pennies don’t; compassion and a desire to help others.” She could feel a warmth in her chest. “Don’t let it go to your head but I’m glad we know now.” Axel stood and joined in on the family hug. “Now onto the problems I noticed today.” She wilted and started to shrug her way out of the hug to crawl over his lap. “Woh woh princess. There’s no need for that!” There wasn’t?
	“B-but I thought…” He hushed Angel and picked her up to place her between them. Again Mae’s hand joined Axel’s in stroking her between the wings.
	“Nope, just letting you know that you need to be more careful. You ran off without me this morning and I saw that maneuver you made during tag. I know Canaan is bigger than you now but…” 
	“You’re going to outclass her in almost everything, strength, resilience, fortitude. The only thing she might have you on is mobility. Her bones are softer and she doesn’t have acid proof scales.” Mae took over and Angel shuddered. Something that made Axel reach up to kiss her on the forehead.
	“It won’t be a problem now but as time goes on just keep it in mind okay?” He said just as a ping rang out across the manor. It signaled dinner. And they got up as a single unit. When they slipped into the dining room Cerus was waiting for them.
	“Good evening Master Axel, Lady Mae, and Lady Angel.” He said with a bow. “Tonight I’ve prepared a simple chicken marsala with mashed potatoes and field peas.” He explained, going to take his own seat before withdrawing a letter. “This was delivered earlier sir.” Angel caught a look at it while she was helped into her set. A wax seal on the outside.
	“A letter, who writes letters anymore?” Axel broke the seal and started to read. She saw his smile still on his face but he couldn’t hide the fluff in his collar or the way his eyes seemed to read faster. He did his best to hide the snarl too but she knew when someone was clenching their teeth behind their lips. Without a word he slid it to his wife face down so she couldn’t see the words on it. Mae was much harder to read, especially because her face was hidden but she could see her muscles tensing. When she placed it down she looked at him worriedly. “After dinner. For now hun let’s just eat. Thank you Cerus, it looks amazing.” Axel started to cut into his portion.
	Angel was left to wonder what was in that letter while she offered up a prayer and started to tuck in. Unlike her parents hers was cut into small bite sized pieces and littered with small crystals. Each bite was full of umami flavor and a light sweetness. It still bother her that all of her food had to be specially made. Dinner passed quietly and quickly, if awkwardly. “Angel, could you do me a favor and wait outside?” Mae asked and she nodded, getting up to take her plate to the kitchen. “Oh, leave it hun, we’ll handle it.” She said, making her tilt her head. As always though she did as bade and slipped out into the foyer.  
	For some reason the shadows in the corner looked longer and the chandelier a bit dimmer. She could feel a chill in the room despite her heated onesie. Why did she feel like this? They were right behind that door. She knew she shouldn’t eavesdrop but she needed to hear their voices. She pressed her ear to the door. “...strict enough with her? We’ve been punishing every infraction that she does. Same as any penny we’ve had in these walls. She’s getting spanked daily for heaven’s sake.” She could hear Axel’s voice clearly; he wasn’t bothering to hide agression in his tone.
	“I know dear but there’s nothing we can do if it’s court ordered. Even our hands are tied when the corrections council is involved.” She knew they were talking about her. Of course they were talking about her. Otherwise why would they have sent her away? “If you want I’ll be the one to break the news to her.” What news? What were they being ordered to do?
	“Please , I’m sorry dear. I can’t see that.” She panicked and pulled away just in time to hear a chair slide against the hardwood floor. She tried to move. They’d know she was listening if she didn’t! She was frozen in place. Shadows became demons, gnashing like teeth for her blood. The light from the chandelier was no comfort but an oppressive blinding glare. Her heart was being tugged at, the last bastion that told her that punishment was coming. She barely heard the door open but she didn’t miss the concern in her mother’s voice.
	“Angel?” That did it, she snapped back to reality and found herself curled up on the floor. She scrambled up quickly and put on a brave face.
	“Sorry, I was tired.” She lied, trying to play it off, at least her body had the decency to droop her tail like it was true. 
	“Well I’m afraid we need to talk… about your unearned spankings and your autonomy.” Angel froze. W-wait, they couldn’t be serious! “I’m afraid from now on you’ll have to have another one every other night. We can trash your pull ups too.” She looked sad but all Angel could register was one thought.
	“I-I thought I was being good though.” Physical pain wasn’t needed this time. Her eyes beaded with tears and she trembled. “T-that isn’t fair!” She knew what went unspoken. She needed the pull ups and there was only one alternative.
	Mae didn’t hesitate this time. Angel's feet left the floor and she was pulled firmly against her shoulder. “I know princess, I know.” She cooed. Did she?! She was wrong all along, they didn’t care. No one cared! This stupid world. This stupid fucking system that said it fought for them That was absolute bullshit! She barely registered being carried upstairs or the paddle her mother grabbed from the closet. She didn’t register the tug over her lap or even the first swat.
	Her mind was awash with thoughts of the darkest possible ideas. Dailies were so rare? What had she done to deserve more?! Her bawling turned to true screaming, no regard for being spanked over diapers that helped to pad the blow. No nano-web was needed to feel like a hatchling again. She took her licks like a good girl but that didn’t stop her tears. The serpent of betrayal was all she could process. This was supposed to be a day of fun! Her reward for doing so well for over a month! Yet here it ended across her mother’s lap without any compassion. As soon as it started though it was over and Mae was hugging her again. “You’re sleeping with us again tonight Princess.” She barely registered it as she was carried across the hall. She didn’t register the blankets being tucked around her, or Axel stepping in. She saw it but her mind was broken. She saw the small delta inducer and she saw him climb into bed. His words did register.
	“You know we still love you right Angel?” Axel asked, setting up the emitter on the headboard. She waited for him to reach for the controls before responding.
	“No you don’t.” And her world went black.