Diaspora museum/Page1

PREMISE A Pennitatas is a convicted criminal. But instead of locking the guilty person up, society sentenced them to a number years of childhood under strict parenting. The Pennitatas' sentence was not measured in years but in cycles. Multiple childhoods, usually about 5 or six years per cycle. For example, 8 - 14 cycles of ages 3 to 7 would mean going back to the age of three every time the child reached their 7th birthday.

Most Penni's would start as a Hard Time, being spanked at least once a day for their crime. After a few cycles of this they would then go to soft-time where spankings were rare and the focus was on rehabilitation. In all cases the exact severity of a Penni's sentence was set by the corrections board and there were always conditions. Such conditions were that you could not abuse a Penni, blister a penni or cause any kind of permanent physical injury except in the most extreme situation where the court had authorized it. If such punishments were used, nano-cream would be used to start healing and repairing the damage soon after.

There were exceptions though. On special days, days that were traditionally meant to be fun for a child, these Hard-Time penni's would be abused, blistered and almost tortured as punishment for their crime. Limits were still set by the corrections board, for safety more than anything else, but for that day they could be hurt beyond the normal limits.

This is one of those days.

( For background look at : Diaspora )

Disporia 40 years Later (prelude)
Jan sat on a stool listening to her parents downstairs as they organized things for the upcoming day. Only three years old, and rejuved a less than a month ago, Janice Ellen Jareds was cursing the timing of the crime she had committed.

In her Past life, Janice had been John, a 20-something cadet trying to pass the exams to become a Starfleet officer and prove he had the skill to become a captain. After failing the examinations twice due to failing the practicals he had over-egotistically stolen a shuttle, otherwise known as an 'Orbital Interceptor' and crashed it, killing people.

Sentenced to become a child again for half a dozen cycles, and additionally sentenced to spending that time as a female, Jan as her parents now called her believed she still had the skill to pilot a craft but cursed herself for many different things. Amongst them, that she hadn't plotted the flight path. It was the death of the people in the civilian transport that got her the Y-repression and the younger age bracket. Not only that but clearly, she thought, the vehicle hadn't been maintained properly even though the technicians at the trial had been trying to cover their own arses.

But right now, what Janice hated most about her big mistake was the timing. "Why couldn't I have waited until AFTER Disporia to take that ship." Jan whined, "I's three years old and I has only been three for a few weeks. And I has to go face that thing." Jan shivered. Janice had never seen one of the Smart-Spank devices that were used on the Pennitas versions of Diaspora, having never been a Penni she had only ever experienced the fun version of the holiday. The devices nowadays were complicated, that much she knew. Since the accident 40 years ago where one girl was almost killed by a Spankmaster2000 the entire system had been overhauled. The new version, they said, was safe for everyone from the youngest three year old to a full grown adult. Unlike the previous technologies, which worked off data and only had the most basic life sigh detectors, the new devices were being advertised as "100% Kiddie - safe! Buy one for your home!"

Sitting on the stool, looking at the hated pink dress she was wearing with the 'Winnie the Pooh' picture on it and the little buckle shoes on her feet, the little girl wrung her hands. "How can they authorize using those things on three year olds..." The Jan muttered. "One of them kills a girl, so now they make it so pre-schoolers can have Disporia too!" The child wipes her nose with her hand then rubs it on her dress. "This is totally wrong!"

"Jan-dear, are you composed now?"

Janice looked up with a sniff. "yes... Mum!" She replied as Altessa, Jan's new mum, poked her head around the door frame to look at the errant child. It was something to be said that Janice could be left alone after spanked and trusted to remain sitting on the corner stool. Despite having been called, the three year old didn't try to jump off the seat. She'd done that once before only to get a second spanking and be deposited back on the stool with no grace and no explanation - so with only a little bit of wriggling the 3yo remained sitting on the hard wood and asked permission first.

Sniffing from her morning spanking still, Jan attempted to wipe her nose with her hand again, only to have it slapped away by her mother. "How many times do I tell you?" Altessa put in, fetching a handkerchief from her pocket and wiping the girl's nose then getting her to blow. "You've been a good girl so far. Don't go grotting yourself up - you have to look your best for the Spanking-Art Museum!" Janice nodded.
 * sniff* - "Can I get off now mummy?" The sniffing little girl looked up at Altessa as the woman approached. Jan's mum was Tall, and not just to the eyes of a child. Easily six foot, thin and with a large bundle of blond hair on her head, the woman looked almost like a goddess to a child Janice's age. Certainly a Giant!

That was how they organised it now-days. Scattered around the country were museums that documented the history of spanking in art, literature and more importantly in practical application. In each exhibit were at least one of each kind of spanking machine to be ever produced, and since Penitatas under school age were so rare it was tradition now for 3 to 5 years olds to be taken to the museum, see other children placed in the machines and eventually take their turn. The punishments weren't meant to be anywhere as extreme as the school age Penitatas got. Apparently school age Penitata got a random figure each of paddle, switch and cane where Janice would only get paddle, but she would be getting a random amount from up to six different machines over the course of the day. Some machines were naturally illegal in the current day and age, like the failed SpankMaster2k, but over the history of spanking there were at least 18 different types of machines and it would be up to her mother which Janice would be on the receiving end of.

"I know, mum." Jan responded, still sniffing at the full knowledge of what was ahead of her. "I'll try to be a good girl."

The Spanking-art museum was buzzing, literally buzzing with people. Across from the outdoor art exhibit and attached to the Major Historical Museum, the busiest day of the year for the museums was already in full swing, with Voluntaris and Medicalos students being bussed in from schools all over the city on over-hyped field trips to discover the wonders of human technology. Everyone was talking, busy and active with the vertical lines of hover-cars overhead lining up to check in to the complicated 'Parking Bays' underneath the buildings. Pulling the car into position in a 'Check in' point, Altessa put the car in 'Park' mode - allowing the automatic landing gear to locate the rails beneath the car and position itself on the ground firmly. Securing everything in the car inside the pouches and 'glove box', she and Janice stepped out of the vehicle and clear of it, automatic sensors picked up that the car was now vacant and locked. Jan watched as the machine upended the car so that it was vertical and took the cur underground to the racks of stored vehicles in the parking lot, With no need for people to stand, walk or drive in the complicated array of machinery that hid the hover-cars underground and away from view was the most organised piece of machinery developed and actually a part of the tour for Non-Penitent children, but that wouldn't be Jan's destination.

Taking a breath, and feeling her mother tug on her hand, Jan took large steps to try and keep up with her mother's stride as they crossed through the park. There was a Throng of people, children and adults of all ages heading in both directions, but as could be expected most of the children were heading to the main museum. Jan's head whipped back and forth, looking at all the people - the vast majority were 5 or 6 years older than her and even amongst the army of Voluntaris children she could spy some who were over the knees of their parents on the various benches. "I've never seen this many kids before!" The young girl put in, trying not to make her mother tug more than necessary. "Except at a mall!" Jan's mother laughed, "The museums do their best business on this day - to them it must be like Christmas!" Jan makes a face - "Like I'll be looking forward to that now either!" Jan double timed her steps to keep up as the pair entered the Art museum and looked for the tourist guides leading the groups through the complex.

The air was tangible, Janice gasping at the background of noise and emotion wafting out over the people of the museum. There was laughter, and lots of active talking but more importantly - a LOT of crying. With four or five tourist groups already taking a collection of children through the works, many of the earlier spanking machines had nothing to prevent the sounds of crying being heard and the sound, along with the laughter from the older onlookers and the talking of people looking at the art all blended together to create an atmosphere like that of an obscene carnival. Janice had lived in a Kinder rated neighbourhood prior to being sentenced, oh hearing the noise the young girl turned a rather pale green and her legs began to lock up.

Jan's mother noticed the instant he daughter stopped walking and turned around, expecting to need to chastise and suddenly noticing the pale expression on her daughters face. "Most children get a few months to get used to being a Penni before encountering a mass spanking scenario." Altessa reminded herself, in an act of kindness the tall woman knelt in front of the terrified toddler and put a hand on either side of her face so that she was the only thing the three year old could see. After a moment the scared expression disappeared and Jan simply began crying.

"You know you have to go through this, hun." Jan shook her head, "It sounds like a Torture Chamber" the 3 year old sobbed, only to have her mother pull her into a hug. "Dear, oh dear little Janice. It IS a torture chamber!" Altessa wasn't surprised when Jan started wailing, she wasn't the only child in the building to show this level of fear, even in the entry area there were a number of children throwing tantrums, and a few getting reminder spankings about their behaviour. "Janice, if you don't stop this crying you'll go over my knee here and now as well!" Altessa snapped, Jan responded instantly with the wail of fear subsiding, but continued crying. Altessa sighed; it was only to be expected from a three year old who'd just been rejuved so the young girl's mother explained patiently.

"I told you last night, Special days are the days where normal Limits dont apply. These are days when you get tortured and punished for your crimes according to the type of crime, and you killed people!" "I Know, I KNOW and I'S SORRY!" Jan was raising her voice again, it was a bad habit that Altessa didn't want to permit so she pulled the young girl under her arm, lifted her skirt and gave the girl a dozen good swats. That shut her up.

Janice sobbed quietly, knowing without needing to be told that this was the end of the conversation. As the twelve smacks came down on the girls already red behind she gasped and went silent, crying silently instead as her mother lectured.

"You *smack* are *smack* a Penni, *Smack* a Convicted *smack* Criminal! *Smack* You are here to be punished! *Smack* *Smack* You have earned this torture! *Smack* *Smack* And you will take it gratefully! *Smack* *Smack* *Smack*" The subdued and quietly crying toddler was released and held in front of her mother again. "You need these spankings and you know it!" Janice nodded.

Taking her mother's hand again Janice sobbed quietly as her mother looked over her, wiping the child's face again with a fresh hanky. "I understand mum." She said defeated, but not looking anywhere as sick or scared as she had a moment ago. "I'm sorry." Altessa smiled, "You will be. But for now let's go find our tourist group!" Janice was dragged along quietly towards a large group. There were several parents, and about 30 people in total, a woman in a blue uniform calling out to everyone present and trying to be heard over the noise. "Can Pennies group over here please?" Janice found herself dragged over then given a slight shove by her mother into a small group of children, the woman taking register as the children appeared.

"This one's Janice," her mother put in and dug in the back for the child's data chip. A moment later it was revealed and swiped through the system. "Okay, 3 year old - that makes for some funny numbers!" Janice and Altessa gave the tour guide a funny look but she spoke up instead. "Okay - we have our twelve Pennies for this group - there will be lots of spanking so prepare for a good show!" Janice started turning green again as the tour guide began her spiel only to find herself in a hug. Jan looked up.

Behind her, the person hugging the little three year old appeared to be a four year old girl, with Asian skin and a mop of unruly, curly black hair. Eyes still red from crying earlier, the 3 year old looked at the slightly elder girl with some confusion. "First time?" Jan nodded her response, "Well don't worry. If you're well behaved you'll spend most of the day watching others get it!" Jan looked down as the tourist guide defined their group;

"We have, it appears, Three, 3 year olds; four, 4 year olds and five, 5 year olds." Jan looked around her; there were other kids her age, one boy and another girl. Jan blinked and pointed. "Thats a boy!" she stated with confusion. The 4 year old who had been hugging her laughed, "Yes, not all maximum rejuves have Y suppression!" Janice was let go, feeling slightly better about herself.

"I'm Maylu!" The Asian girl identified herself. "Janice" Jan replied, and the two showed each other their hands, showing of hands was like the Penni version of shaking them but the tour was beginning. Attaching little hoops to each of the children's wrists, they were organised by age and hooked together with a stream of cloth and led into the first section of the tour.

Ancient history!