Rise of the Penny: Ultimatum

Story by Am bi go us on SoFurry

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


CHAPTER 3

Daz looked at the dashboard as the car pulled into his parking spot, G11, he had to pull a lot of favors to get a spot right next to the door but anything for Sally. Speaking of his best friend and possibly becoming girlfriend, he turned and looked in the backseat she was fast asleep still arm across her chest and the other reaching up to hold Hex's hand as she sit in her car seat. "They really do seem like they were made for each other." Daz commented and got out of the car his feet crunching the fresh snow. Daz shivered and brushed the falling snow off of him taking the car seat out of the car and snapping the handle from the back turning it into a carrier. "Jesus kid you're heave, oh shouldn't say that today." Daz looked up at the sky watching the snow gently dance to the ground, Christmas was a mixed holiday for him. He loved it because it was a time of joy and celebration and peace but Sally never really felt the same way about Christmas as Daz did.

Sally when she first decided to attend college chose a poor way to inform her parents, mainly by leaving without telling them and letting them figure out that something was missing. Sally's parents were, over protective, as a kind way of putting it. Her dad always wanted to know who, what, when, where, and why for everything and Sally being the somewhat rebellious type didn't feel like explaining herself. Daz remembered the final straw too it was Christmas when Sally spent the day at Daz's house with his family, Daz was overjoyed and Sally was polite as she always was around his family but everyone could tell there was a dark cloud hanging over her head and when Mr Yoles showed up things just devolved into what could be called the worst Christmas the Zigglioni family ever had.

"Come on kid, lets get you out of the cold." Daz realized that he was standing in the snow and began to hike up the stairs. Daz and Sally had room 350 half way down the hall and half way up the stairs, he liked it because he got moderate exercise when he left the dorm a very avid jogger and fitness buff meanwhile Sally liked it because it was high enough to see most of the campus from the window. Their little two room dorm served them both well in the four years they've had it, every our years they were room mates and this would be their final year together so it was now or never for Daz. Sally was always in the room, she rarely ever left beside to work, Daz on the other hand was hardly ever in always going to classes or social events but every night he'd return to find Sally asleep in her bed or at her desk and he cover her up since her tossing and turning often threw the blankets on the floor.

Thankfully for Daz most of the nocturnal students were gone for the holidays most of the campus was empty and classes were on hiatus but the campus was still open, it never truly shut down, however during the normal year meals could be gotten from the cafeteria and the campus store was open for small purchases but during breaks everything was shut down meaning anyone staying was on their own. Daz never went home for the holidays despite wanting to Sally was always alone during Christmas so he wrote his family and did video messaging with them but he stayed with his friend. Along with Daz and Sally the ever annoying resident advisors never went home for the breaks. These people either had it out for Daz or just hated their fellow students because they would constantly try to get him expelled. Like a bad frat comedy Daz had too many close calls with the RA's to even count and Daz was pretty sure that this would lead to another really close call.

The reason that people went to visit their families was because the campus had a strict student only policy. Too many incidents had occurred between families meeting their kids college lifestyle and reacting poorly, the Dean a very scary white tigress by the name of Eva Kern, later made it official that the family relations of students would be permitted to enter the campus grounds only on the first day of a new semester and only for new students who required moving assistance. Dean Kern was very much a 'stand by falling' type of person and had previously expelled people after they were found allowing their family onto campus grounds. Daz wasn't sure how this rule applied to Hex but he wasn't going to find out. He moved quickly dashing by the doors at the end of the hall way where the RA resided turning the key to his dorm and rushing inside quickly shutting the door. "Made it." Daz looked down at Hex to see her still sleeping and let out a relieved sigh.

Sally opened her eyes to see a warm sunny field of sunflowers unfolded before her, behind her a small ranch home with white outer walls and a open front porch. Daz was sitting in a chair with an easel and brush painting the landscape, a collection of pictures behind him that would be sold online to support them. At her left side Hex was holding her hand, she was wearing a bright yellow summer dress with a sun hat that had a sunflower in the belt. Hex looked up at Sally smiling and she smiled back down. "Catch me mommy!" Hex broke her grip and started to run through the sunflowers, they were taller than she was so she brushed by the stalks making the heads sway as she moved through them. Sally smiled and watched as she got further away turning to Daz who gave her a thumbs up she started after Hex. Her head poked just above the sunflowers as she ran but steadily they began to grow taller, Sally's stride becoming shorter and shorter, she ran for what seemed like minutes and came to the end of the field emerging from the wall of stalks only two feet tall.

"Wa happen?" Sally looked at herself, her socks and mittens having returned, when she was a child she had white tipped toes and hands at the end of her brown fur which she called her socks and mittens, her tail which was a lovely brown shade now had a frosted white tip as well. Looking at herself Sally was puzzled she didn't understand what happened when she turned back around the sunflower field and the house with Daz painting was gone. "Wha.. I don." She whimpered feeling an overwhelming presence of fear her tiny tail curling around her waist, her knees quaking, she felt it a warm puddle of urine grow between her legs. "I, I, peed." She sniffled starting to cry feeling it drip down her legs and into her white socks. "Hex!" She persisted calling out, "HEX!" She screamed and there was no answer.

"Look at this." Oswald appeared, except his usually intimidating form was nightmarish now, wrapped in shadow with glowing crimson eyes his black suit made of living darkness. "Miss, Yoles." Oswald approached and only got bigger Sally quivered and quaked yelping as her tail was grabbed and she was lifted up to meet his eyes. "Finally, acting our age I see." Oswald snickered sticking his injured tongue out. "What's wrong, did you wet yourself?" Oswald sniffed and his face turned sour. "Disgusting little wretch." He turned throwing Sally through the darkness making the tiny kit tumble before landing hard in a circle of light her motion stopped.

"Sally Yoles, you are hereby accused of accessory to the crime of conspiracy to undermine the state, how do you plead?" Sally was in court on the witness stand before a judge she couldn't see his face but she knew the voice it terrified her.

"I'M INNOCENT!" Sally pleaded and the court burst into laughter.

"Everybody is innocent, that's how they all start at least, but the decisions you made in the course of your adult life have lead you to the conclusion that you have arrived at, mainly, you are now a criminal and thus you are GUILTY now and forever." The light was blinding and hot growing more intense as time went on. "You are sentenced to share the fate of your co-conspirator you shall be rejuvenated and submitted to the Pentiatas reform system for an indefinite amount of cycles placed under the care of Oswald Fet, be thankful, he agreed to take two terrible brats like yourself and Hex to ensure you wouldn't be separated." The judge banged his gavel and the room spun now Sally was sitting in a playpen, Hex was beside her, they were both in onesies reading "Penitatas Princess's Prefer Paddled Posteriors." Sally went to stand up but her legs refused to work, she fell back down feeling a soft puff of air escape her backside looking back she saw the bulging butt of a diaper underneath her onesie.

"No, NO!" Sally whimpered trying to tear it off, her fingers frantically grasping but finding no purchase as she saw actual mittens and socks hooked over her hands and feet. Her whimpering muffled by a pacifier tied to the back of her head. "HEX!" Sally turned flopping as she did landing on the padded playpen floor. "HETH!" she shook the black haired baby beside her. "HET!" Sally's voice was fading she was losing the ability to speak properly her concerned cries turning into mumbles and coos. Hex finally opened her eyes, golden orange, making Sally recoil and fall onto her back.

"Shh, if we're asleep they'll leave us alone, you'll alert mommy and daddy!" Hex whispered fear palpable in her voice but it was too late, walking over to the playpen a giant woman and man stopped looking down.

"It seems they're up dear, should we give them their good morning?" The woman asked with a giggle and the man nodded.

"Yes, it's only right they are naughty little terrorist after all." A pair of hands came down grabbing Hex and Sally pulling them up and over to a set of chairs. Sally thrashed furiously, fighting, she didn't want this, she only wanted to help Hex she didn't deserve to be punished for trying to protect an innocent child. Slowly she and Hex were laid down on their stomachs their bottoms unsnapped and their diapers pulled down around their ankles, Sally whimpered feeling her tail raised and Hex closed her eyes softly sobbing.

"I'm so sorry Hex, I'm so sorry." Sally looked up and saw that Hex had turned into a stuffed doll, still wearing the same expression of fear.

"Dear don't forget to use the big one." The woman said and the husband nodded reaching to his side and pulling out a long butchers knife. "She needs the very worst we can give her." The woman yanked so hard that Sally was almost turned upside down feeling an immense pain as she felt bones break and blood flow, her tail presented to her hanging in front of her with blood dripping from its severed end. Sally screamed watching as the father plunged the knife into Hex's back blood spraying out and covering them both.

"AH!" Sally lunged up smacking her head against the car door falling back and rolling in agony. "MOTHER FUCKER!" She cursed and flailed gathering her breath and looking, it was dark... but that was because snow was piled up on the windows blocking out the sun. She rubbed her head and looked at her phone, three missed calls and two messages the last being.

"Come up to the room when you wake up"

That was four hours ago, Sally looked at her surroundings still soaked in fear feeling her crotch to check to see if she had actually peed herself but happily she was dry. Sally panted hanging over the front seat her horror still fresh. "It was a dream, Hex is safe, she's with me." Sally turned around looking for Hex but she couldn't find her or the car seat. "How much.. was a dream?" Sally asked beginning to wonder if she even experienced the last day, everything from the nightmare was so vivid who was to say that her memories of Christmas eve were any more real, they certainly seemed like a dream when she thought about it.

Stepping out of the car into a few inches of packed snow Sally nearly jumped dashing to the door and up the stairs to the third floor sprinting to the middle of the hall way and slamming the door shut behind her. She saw Daz laying on the bottom bed as he always was, everything seemed, normal. Slowly she searched around for any sign that the things she remembered were actually her memories and not a long dream. There were two presents beneath the bed, Daz's attempts at being sneaky, Sally sighed and sat at her desk holding her head in her hands. "Oh my god I need help, I'm going crazy." Sally let out a sigh but then heard soft whimpering drawing her attention to the top bunk.

Strapped into a carrier Hex lay, stinking of poop and soaked through the front of her dress. "Oh, baby." Sally reached up and undid Hex bringing her close, ignoring the smell, ignoring the liquid dripping from her front over Sally's stomach. "I had the worst dream ever, I thought I lost you." Sally's tail flickered wrapping around Hex's back brushing her softly.

"Mommy." Hex sniffled gripping Sally and Sally smiled kissing her head.

"Come on stinky girl, we need to get you out of that icky mess." Sally carried Hex to the bathroom removing her soaked clothing and pulling down the tapes of her bursting full diaper, the smell that escaped was horrific but she calmly undressed herself and then picked Hex up letting the mess press against her stepping into the shower she turned on the hot water and let it run, allowing the stream to wash away the filth as it caressed Hex's backside. "Good girl you made a lot of poppy all by yourself, mommy's so proud." Sally whispered kissing Hex's forehead watching her as she was cleaned her smile returning as the feeling of filth was gone. Sally let the water spray on Hex's wings laughing as she flapped them spraying the water back shaking her head. Turning around Sally got her turn at the shower feeling her sweat wash away and the anxiety she felt the day prior, she wasn't perfect but she was going to try her best for Hex that was her goal from here on out. Sally's backside still stung from Mama Lacey's corrective lesson dark red hand prints along her white furred butt cheeks her tail flicking away in the water. Once Sally felt her back was clean she turned around and sat with Hex in her lap using her tail to cover Hex's face and shield her from the shower spray she spread her legs and cleaned out her girl parts making sure to wash away any urine in the folds to prevent infection or rash.

Once the shower was done Sally dripped over the bathroom floor while drying Hex, first her wings, fluffing them gently until they spread out in a response then her back and bottom and the rest. Wrapped up in a towel Sally stepped out of the bathroom holding a bundle of fabric still soaking wet herself leaving watery foot prints along the floor. She searched some of the bags sitting by her desk and found the drugstore back using her desk as a changing table she laid down a fresh diaper and rubbed Hex's thighs and crotch with anti rash powder brushing away the excess with her tail. Once she was properly powered Sally set Hex down and pulled up the front taping the sides and admiring her work, it really wasn't hard you just had to not be scared, Miss Kerry's words echoing in her head, she was going to figure it out no matter how many tries it took. Sally picked Hex back up setting her in her carrier after checking to see whether it was stained or not, luckily the diaper kept it in but just barely. Then went to dry herself off wiping up the foot prints and sitting back down at her desk. Sally sighed in relief, for some reason this felt more normal than when she thought it was a dream.

"What time is it?" Daz mumbled from his bed with a pillow over his head.

"Eight." Sally responded her tail curled around her lap.

"Jesus, I passed out after two hours." Daz mumbled and rolled over his eyes coming into focus on a perfectly nude Sally sitting before his bed side her fur fluffy and clean. "OH I get it, still dreaming, one of those dreams, whelp when in Rome." Daz smiled he hadn't had one of these in a while but with Sally recently accepting his affections maybe they were returning. Daz reached down and started to fondle his crotch groaning softly. "You're usually wearing an apron but this is nice, the post shower kind of sexy, oh I can get it." Daz played with himself until Sally approached grabbing his pillow out from under his head and smacking his cock with it making the dog yelp out. "OW WHAT THE FUCK I'M NOT INTO THIS I SWEAR, MOSTLY!" Daz whimpered holding his sore cock.

"I don't know what is going on through your head, but I'm going to beat it out of you, you dumb dog!" Sally assaulted Daz with smacks of the pillow striking him repeatedly until he rolled over to protect his cock.

"I SUBMIT, MERCY, SURRENDER, FRENCH WORDS!" Daz cried out, this wasn't a dream, and Sally was really pissed!

Sally glared at the horny dog and sighed dropping the pillow. She fetched her pajamas consisting of loose bottoms and a button down top made of soft fabric.

"Okay, in my defense, you have never walked around here nude so it's pretty fair to assume it was a dream!" Daz whined his tender head aching.

"You need to learn to tell the difference between fantasy and reality, you were the one who believed in Santa until you were sixteen!" Sally accused and Daz gasped.

"You don't take the name of Santa in vain in front of me!" Daz and Sally growled at each other and then started to laugh both breaking into a fit of laughter to the verge of tears.

"I'm sorry Sal, but I want you, sometimes I can't help myself but I was wrong, even in my dreams I should respect your rights as a person and not treat you like some kind of object." Daz pretty much recited the sexism seminar all males were forced to attend.

"I'm sorry Daz I shouldn't respond so negatively when I get upset, I need to control my anger and.. I'm kind of flattered." Sally blushed thinking that Daz masturbated to her naked image was gross and foul but also kind of sweet to know someone held you in such high regard, but it was totally inappropriate and not something you tell someone openly... ever, seriously don't do it, nothing good happens.

"Well after that." Daz rubbed the back of his neck his erection finally fading, presumably due to fear. "I guess Merry Christmas?" Daz reached under the bed and brought out a little bag. "I got this for you and her if you don't like it you don't have to use it but..." Daz handed the bag over and Sally opened the tissue paper wrapping taking out the certificate.

"In recognition of this momentous occasion, Happy Birthday, Phoenix Yoles" Sally read and then looked at Daz laughing softly. "Why Phoenix, it's a very unusual name." Sally asked placing the bag and the certificate down.

"Because she was born from Hex's death, you know it's symbolic, also you've changed too Sally, she's kind of a rebirth for you as well." Daz explained and Sally wrapped her arms around him hugging him.

"You're an idiot but you're a sweet idiot, thank you, I'm sure she'll love it." After breaking the hug Daz eagerly handed Sally her next present. "I went to the store after that and asked a clerk what the number one selling item for kids was this year and he said this, I thought it fit because we'll need one and we don't have anything like it." Daz happily wagged his tail thinking he was on a roll.

"I'm sure it's fine." Sally tore off the wrapping paper and stared at the present her fangs slowly revealing themselves. In Sally's lap was a Princess Penitatas pink paddle, the deluxe model with heated head and four different clip on spanking covers, a product of OTK Corp. Sally looked at Daz his obliviously happy look and stood up letting the box fall to the floor, she rushed him and grabbed him by the cheeks making him look at her enraged eyes. "Is this some kind of joke?" After that dream to see an implement such as this was nothing short of an insult to her.

"No I mean, I'm sorry?" Daz was confused he thought that Sally would need a paddle, it was basic equipment for Penitatas care maybe she preferred to use her hands. "I mean you'll eventually get a sore wrist if you go bare hand." Daz reasoned and Sally snarled making him shut up.

"That, THING, is a tool of pain and fear why would you think I needed one?" Sally was frothing her rage palpable.

"She's a Penitatas, you're supposed to." Daz didn't get to finish his sentence as Sally broke her grasp and started to fish through her clothing finding a shirt and pair of pants putting them on over her pajamas."Sally I'm sorry I didn't know, I thought you wanted to raise her like a normal Penny." Daz was ultimately confused wasn't this the way things worked, he saw a documentary, there was an entire special punishment for Penitatas focused around Christmas where their entire adopted Family would paddle them with various implements depending on the severity of their sentence.

"Daz I don't know how to talk to you right now, after all that I've been through, after what we stopped together at the mall you don't see Phoenix as a child you see her as a criminal and think she deserves to be punished, I'm pretty sure I said it before but she doesn't remember so she can't be held accountable for those crimes, you're just encouraging a cycle of violence." Sally explained taking Phoenix's carrier and snapping the handle up. "Don't worry, I won't bother you anymore about it, just, keep away from me." Sally was furious, she really believed Daz saw it like she did, that Phoenix was just a normal little girl and she didn't need corrective punishment because she wasn't guilty of anything.

"Sally wait, I messed up, I admit it but don't walk out on me, not on Christmas we're family..." Daz reached out but Sally turned her back to him.

"No Daz, we're friends, my only family is in this carrier and we're going to spend Christmas together alone, why don't you spend it with your family." Sally left the room and Daz hung his head falling back into the bed and screaming into the pillow letting out his frustration, agony, and rage. He screamed until his phone began to ring, looking up he rushed to answer it the ring tone all too familiar. "Yes sir?"

Sally walked down the hall not caring if anyone saw her with Phoenix's carrier she was wiping tears from her eyes. She trusted Daz, she thought he saw it her way but in the end he was just another person she'd have to protect Phoenix from. She was confused how could someone do the sweetest thing she'd ever heard of and follow it up by perhaps the most idiot thing. Did Daz care about Phoenix or was he tolerant of her because Sally made the decision to love her, was he really mate material? All these questions hurt Sally's head she just wanted to be alone with her baby but because it was snowing outside she couldn't take her to the park or some location away from here. Instead she went to the surely abandoned cafeteria sneaking into the kitchen and finding some pudding, milk, and a plate of bacon that she could throw in the microwave.

Sally placed Phoenix's carrier on the counter and began to prepare a breakfast for them both, Sally had no skill in cooking, Daz always handled the meals any time that they were forced to cook. Thinking about it made her more upset leading to her burning the bacon into a black crisp. Almost setting fire to the school kitchen was a good signal for her to leave it alone so she took the pudding and milk and split it with Phoenix taking a spoon and feeding her in her carrier. "Merry Christmas baby." Sally watched Phoenix hungrily nip at the spoon wrapped up in a blanket in stead of clothing, she was snug under a very soft blanket only her arms and her shoulders exposed, her wings laying against the back of the carrier.

"And a merry Christmas to you as well." A voice came from behind Sally making her spin flinging pudding at the speaker. A glob of vanilla pudding landed on a tall bluejay's jacket staining it. With a sigh he took a pocket square and cleaned away the pudding wiping it off and inspecting his jacket. "Accidents happen." He told himself and looked down at Sally watching her snarl and back up to cover Phoenix. "Please cease the hostility I've only come to talk." The man produced a business card setting it down for fear of being bitten.

Byron Hall production manager, casting director, talent scout OTK entertainment

Byron adjusted his suit, long midnight blue feathers coming from the side of his jacket's arms the suit augmented to fit his species physical profile, winged arms and hard bone like talon hands, his mouth was pointed like a beak and his teeth were receded into his gums until he needed them. "I am Mister Halls a sort of agent of Mister Fet." Byron noticed the snarling increase when he mentioned his boss. "As I said before please, I only wish to talk." Byron sat down on a chair to show he meant no harm looking around him. "See no back up, just me and you Miss Yoles, if you were to stab me right here I would only have my own physical strength to try and fend you off, not that it would be lacking." Byron chuckled, he was a very buff bird his breast muscles visible through his suit. "Mr Fet has shown a very rare lapse in his, enthusiasm, and given me leave to offer you a deal, an ultimatum if you will." Byron explained as Sally's shoulders dropped and her fangs receded. "Good you are not completely unwilling to listen." Byron chuckled moving to stand but Sally resumed snarling telling him to sit.

"Talk and I'll listen, say something I don't like and I'll rip your throat out with my teeth." The normally friendly and passive Sally threatened intending to do it if Byron so much as made a move towards her or Phoenix her maternal instincts driving a murderous rage.

"Should you be talking like that in front of your child?" Byron pointed and Sally glared. "Fine, as you are aware Hex." Byron started but Sally interrupted.

"Phoenix." She corrected him and Byron shook his head.

"Whatever she is called, is a Penitatas criminal one of the only four five star to exist in the world, the other five star are in remote locations serving their sentences in the private maximum security enclosures and are treated as national security risks if they are ever permitted into normal society that is what being a five star means even as a child you are a dangerous criminal." Byron explained brushing off his arms.

"Phoenix isn't a criminal she doesn't have Hex's memories or personality, they're two different people and Hex is dead and gone forever." Sally stood up and declared confidently.

"Let's say that I believe you, the world won't, the world who is hungry for the existence of Hex to fuel their desire for revenge will demand that Phoenix pay the penance whether she is personally guilty or not as I am sure you are at least keenly aware, your file says you are an intelligent person." Byron smiled. "Your guardian angel has been a bit of an issue, blocking our surveillance feeds, and stymieing our investigation at every turn this D." Byron referred to the mysterious individual who saved Sally twice. "Is a known accomplice of Hex from her terrorist days, so now, you find yourself in a predicament as you are illegally in possession of state property and being aided by known terrorist, it does not look good for you Miss Yoles." Byron crossed his fingers leaning forward. "You very well may become the fifth five star if these charges are brought to light and you are persecuted." Byron threatened and Sally resumed her defensive posture.

"Did you come here to scare me, if so you should have brought friends because I won't be easy to capture I may lose, I may die, but I swear I will take as many of you down with me as I can." Sally growled and Byron shook his head his green eyes staring at Sally.

"You misunderstand me Miss Yoles, I said if, as in there is a way to avoid this unfortunate and rather unnecessary reaction to your recent behavior it is very apparent that you care deeply for Phoenix and I understand both an innocent and a creature of your own creation you must feel as though a mother would protecting her newborn, the instinct of a mother is one of the most powerful bonds in this life second only to true love." Byron spoke in flowery terms and poetry despite being a very imposing figure. "Bluejays are supposedly the birds of happiness and so I want to give you a chance at happiness, in fact it is my goal to make everyone involved happy." Byron produced a document from his jacket breast tucked away to keep it safe from the falling snow. "I offer you a contract, if you read it I am sure you will find the terms, agreeable." Byron slid the contract on the ground to Sally not moving from his seat to keep her calm.

Sally bent down and picked up the contract peeling back the envelope.

OTK Entertainment Rights and Use Agreement

I Sally Yoles do hereby agree to allow OTK entertainment to use my likeness and image for the purpose of recording Paddled Penny Princess and forfeit my right to sue for.....

Sally looked up at Byron confused as to what she was looking at. "Is this, a signing contract?" She had been approached by some modling agents before, a vixen was a high value commodity in the world of beauty one of the most naturally attractive species there was and having cross species appeal with felines and canines.

"You are smart, yes, we want to sign you into the company, that way there will be no need to chase you, and your possession of Phoenix will no longer be illegal, we will grant you custody as is our right as her legal guardians and you will be a sort of, nanny, though make no mistake we will recognize you as her mother one hundred percent all visitation and legal matters once approved by our department will be at your discretion you will be free to raise her however you wish, it's a good deal." Byron smiled proud of his legal work.

"You'll let me take care of her however I want, no requirements, no rules?" Sally didn't trust it, Oswald had shown he was a dangerous man why suddenly let her have what she wants with no strings attached.

"Almost none, you see you will be her caretaker but legally we will refer to her as Hex at least during filming and you will of course be required to administer punishments according to the department of justice guides set for five star rehabilitation but she'll be no worse off than any other five star and when we're not taping you're free to do whatever you wish with her, we will provide anything you want and simulate the most normal life we can for a five star unlike the other habitats we have a very extensive fund dedicated to this, we even procured the rights for trips outside the habitat for fan meetings, conventions, signings and other reasons which can be discussed later." Byron rolled his hand completely comfortable in this tension filled room explaining as if he were pitching a starlet.

"So I'll have to spank her, I already told you she's innocent." Sally didn't agree to that, she wasn't going to punish Hex just because, she wasn't even sure if she'd spank her if Hex misbehaved there was a lot of alternative parenting methods available that didn't involve beating her ass red.

"You don't understand Miss Yoles, she will be punished regardless, the difference being it can be by some paid actress who could care less about her comfort and safety, perhaps even would be encouraged to neglect those for an increased response, or it can be by you her loving and caring mommy." Byron smirked revealing his true trump card, Sally had a choice, either give in or lose and not only face punishment herself but lose the ability to ensure Hex's safety. "You may call her Phoenix but the rest of the world see's her as Hex, no one will raise an objection if we were to draw blood in the process of her corrections, the state can be VERY LENIENT towards people with the right kind of money." Byron coldly threatened Sally by proxy making her growl again. "This ends one of two ways Miss Yoles, you either sign that paper and we set you up as her legal parent with all the rights conferred to you as such or we press criminal charges against you marking you as a terrorist or at the very least a terrorist sympathizer to which you be apprehended and forced into the rehabilitation as a Penitatas yourself completely powerless to protect her, oh but don't worry Mister Fet has a penchant for cruel punishment you'll see her every day, as her co star the second Penitatas Princess." Byron smiled wickedly and looked at Sally with cold eyes. "Feel free to take your time, but once I leave this room, I'm either doing it with your signed contract or your death warrant."

Sally processed the situation in front of her, she could give up, she could take the offer and raise Hex under the eyes of the nation properly punishing her being given direction and resources to ensure that Hex was reformed, that would never happen, she knew these people by their conduct. They'd manufacture the show, make Hex misbehave to give them an excuse to punish her on top of her mandated punishments it would just be nearly constant abuse and Sally would be the one delivering it. Sally wasn't sure her heart could take that, to have to look at Hex's face as she screamed and cried and begged for mercy but the collar around her neck that read STAR prevented her from hearing. It wasn't a life she wanted or a life she would allow Phoenix to be subjected to. Then there was the other option, she was engaging in criminal activities, Hex belonged to the state but Phoenix belonged to her. The line between the two was purely subjective whether you believed that your memories made you who you are or that your genetics did. Hex's body was what the people at OTK wanted they didn't care who's mind was inside, where Sally didn't care who's body she had in her hands Phoenix was her creation, her mistake, her baby.

"No." Sally responded stomping on the contract. "I won't be your puppet, I don't care if I become the enemy of the state, I don't care if you bring the army after me, I'll hide, I'll go as deep as I need to, I won't let you hurt her and I won't be the one to bring Hex back from the dead, if you leave me alone and let me have this child I can assure you that Hex will never return, that the world will be safe from her terror but if I give in or give her to you it's only a matter of time before you revive the demon she was and destroy the angel she is, so NO DEAL." Sally spread her arms and covered Phoenix's carrier. "Do your worst to me I won't budge."

Byron clicked his tongue and sighed standing up and moving to the door. "Calm down, I'm not going to attack you, I am or was, the peaceful resolution, congratulations Miss Yoles you just made the top ten list, as the most wanted terrorist in the world, have fun I look forward to signing your casting papers as the costar instead of the lead." Byron exited the kitchen and Sally fell to her knees, her terror finally overcoming her as she lost her protective instincts.

Daz finished the phone call hanging up and sighting. "Sally's going to really kill me." He sighed and rolled over hearing a knock at the door. When he opened it a man named Byron introduced himself, Daz was defensive recognizing his company but he assured Daz that he was not there to hurt anyone, instead he had an offer.

Sally stumbled back from the kitchen her legs weak, she was so terrified of what just happened, was she really going to become a terrorist and who was D was she really Hex's accomplice did she want to take Hex back from Sally, who were the players in this game and why was she the only person who just wanted peace, in the middle of what felt like a war. Sally made it back to the room, she wasn't even angry at Daz anymore she just wanted to cry into his chest, to feel his warm embrace on her fur. Opening the door she saw Daz sitting on the bed dressed in a jacket and jeans. "Daz, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said those mean things." Sally set down Phoenix's carrier and crawled over to Daz placing her head in his lap. "You're the only person who's cared about me since we started going to school together, you've always been beside me and I can't think of anyone else I want beside me in the future, I may be a little quick to lose my temper, a little stupid, a little shy and childish but Daz.. would you take me as your mate?" Sally looked up but Daz turned away. "Daz, what's wrong, I though, I thought you'd want to hear that?"

Tears rolled down Daz's eyes he didn't think he could be so happy and miserable at the same time. "You have no idea, how much I want to say yes Sally but, I can't, we can't be together." Daz hung his head. "I broke the rules." Sally looked at him confused. "I wasn't allowed to let you get into trouble, I had to protect you, if I could until we graduated, then I was allowed to be your mate but..." Daz looked up his eyes deep with regret. "I couldn't do my job right, I'm sorry Sally but I had to tell him." Sally thought about it for a second and then her face became frozen stiff.

"Daz, you, were you, spying on me for him?" She fell back against the wall her heart was torn in half, her chest hurt and she wanted to throw up. "Daz please, tell me you're trying to be funny, it's a joke, we escaped him together, WE RAN TOGETHER SO WHY WOULD YOU TELL HIM!?" Sally screamed causing Phoenix to start crying, she didn't even hear it she was so lost in her terror.

"He made me an offer Sally, I took it, when I promised him I also agreed to a set of rules I broke the rules so now they're coming to get you." Daz rolled over on his bed unable to even look at the hysteric girl he betrayed. "I'm sorry Sal, you really are my best friend but they're right, they're the best solution to the current problem, Phoenix needs to be taken care of properly she is a Penitatas after all." Daz didn't respond anymore after that Sally rushed around the dorm stuffing her bags as full as she could grabbing what she could carry into a backpack, she could run, she could hide, there was no length she wouldn't go to protect Phoenix from them but as she took one last look at the boy who broke her heart she heard a knock at the door and her heart sunk.

Slowly the door opened and Sally prepared herself standing holding Phoenix's carrier in her right hand and her bag in her left flinching as the figure emerged from the door frame.

"Hello, Daddy."

To be Continued