CGS
After her first day due to her tour, she learned places she was allowed in.
The places allowed to the kids. The Accountant's Office and the Admin's Office for job reasons. That was it.
By nighttime, it was story-telling, after they introduced themselves to the newcomers in turn after lunch when they were introduced by Orga.
The oldest kids here, were Orga, Eugene, Norba, and the band of Human Debris. The second youngest were those around her age. Third youngest are the tiny ones around age 10!
Mars likes Child Labor too much! What kind of shitty Earth was she reborn into?!
Then again, she was raised to be a plaything...she's in no room to talk.
A Lacus Puppet by Chairman Durandal...and now, this.
Is being a doll for men all she'd ever amount to?
It was her lament that if she was reborn again, it would be to a better life than her two lives.
The tales of the Newcomers were listened to.
Meer's condition, was to ensure NO ADULTS can hear or she would be in danger if they get wind of it. Even in her story, she had to edit it a little for the sake of saying 'how she knew things were wrong' and even then, it was still horrifying to hear to the boys, as their idea of plaything, was being beaten up as stress relief by the adults while the other boys have an inkling of what she really was talking about.
She never elaborated on the kind of plaything she was raised for. She didn't want to teach them that and simply let them make their conclusions. But for them, it was weird that adults 'have toys' to 'use on the girls' so they thought,
'They're using weapons to beat you up for fun and get you used to it at age ten before they sell you off?!' was the horrified words of Ride Mass, one of the youngest kids in CGS.
The Human Debris however, knew considering they paled and looked at her in sheer horror. Even the dark-skinned Chad Chadan looked a shade paler.
And later when the boys told their tale, Meer has her turn to be horrified with life for the boys at CGS, and what the heck the Human Debris put up with.
And the kids looked out for each other.
"Due to pain, everyone's looking out for others. Comforting others even." Meer was astonished as she never saw such acts in ZAFT. Sure there were friend groups, but not to this extent.
In her eyes, it was like they adopted each other.
Orga found out the truth somehow by asking her certain questions out of worry. He found out from the Human Debris boys who told him what she really meant. Because they've seen it all while passed around in their years by different owners. So he ordered the boys on the sly that at least, four of them be nearby at all times.
Meer underwent training in secret from the adults as Orga gave to her request for her safety incase she was alone.
Because its all she'll have. Her own fists as weapons.
The weak and naive will get eaten in Mars. Its not safe like PLANTs or Earth. Mars is hell for children. To the point they turn to each other for comfort when things get too much.
She admired such a thing, and she gets to have it too. Everyone was kind to her!
She never had this in her old life.
She was all alone.
Until the end.
Here...its...warm.
'So here is the budgeting for this month?' the Company Accountant, Dexter Culastor asked upon looking at Meer's purchases of choice that covered the food budget of the Third Division.
Ingredients, their Prices in the Market, and how many Meer intended to buy.
In the past few years, its always oats, corn and coffee. So dull that Dexter felt sorry for the boys, but considering they're slaves with little to no Human Rights by Marba and the First Group, to them, they're no different from horses being fed fodder.
Now?
Vegetables, Beans and Eggs are included in the budget as well as condiments. These are enough to last a month indeed with satisfaction. And with 2 Galars to spare at that. The cook girl is much kinder.
'Yes. The company purchases these right?' Meer asked him. It helps that its so cold on Mars especially at night, so even without a fridge, the food will definitely keep!
'Yes. As for the eggs, they'll have to be bought every week for safety reasons. Rowdy men by the storage tend to cause wasteful accidents, so I'll have things arranged.' Dexter promised her.
Meer is aware that in mornings, everyone eats in the mess hall. Considering oats is always on the menu for oatmeal, the adults begrudgingly eat it. No restaurant is open at early hours after all. Then lunch and dinner, they eat out, not wanting to eat oatmeal and corn three times a day like their slaves. Even Todo Mirconen, the guy whose job was to keep an eye on the boys, eats out. That in reality, it was Nadi keeping an eye on the kids and they frankly prefer him more.
'We usually remove the corn on the cob and mix it with oatmeal before boiling so it'd taste better.' Mikazuki advised. 'The corn from Biscuit's Family's farm are really sweet while oatmeal is so bland. But its still food and nobody wants to go hungry.' he said.
'Well, I'll maintain the trend during breakfast only, but things'll get better for lunch and dinner, worry not!' Meer chimed out her promise. 'Its good for growing kids like us, too!'
So after the 'corny oatmeal', lunch definitely changed.
A fragrant vegetable stew made of lentils, chunky vegetables, corn and with a scrambled egg on top!
'WOW!' the boys exclaimed when they get their bowls off a large counter buffet style. They can only get it when she was done putting scrambled eggs on them. Thankfully the bowls were big enough to satisfy everybody...
'Its red...its not spicy, right?' a boy asked nervously.
'It's not!'
And that, was just the beginning...Meer who was spiritually the oldest, knows the value of nutrition due to her education and various diet plans she underwent.
As for soldier training? Orga trained her in running like a soldier, hand-to-hand, firearms, and how to operate a Mobile Worker, including Paintball Drill Competitions in which it was everyone's favorite activity. She catches up in time, to the point she surpasses Mikazuki, owing to her mental Coordinator benefits which was better than the benefits the boys gain from the implants on their backs. Considering she was read, she had a Mobile Worker with no Alaya-Vijnana System. A normal chair for her!
That, and she learned how soldiers think in the battlefield. Stuff she didn't know about. However, there's a difference between Mercenaries and Military Soldiers. Mercenaries have more freedom in doing things to get the job done, and unlike Military Soldiers, have no fear of Court Martial! So he taught her tricks they all know...leading her to come up with her own and share it back wholescale.
Orga was able to bullshit his way out when Todo found out the boys were giving her training.
She also sees how the adults treat her friends, angering her, even moreso on how helpless she was, unable to do a thing.
To defend oneself will get you fired. The boys know it, the adults know it and they're milking it for all its worth! So she treats them after the beatings. It helps that their nutritious food is doing its job right...
As for skill in robotics...?
'Hey, those are toys...right?' Nadi Yukinojo Kessapa, the leader of the Engineers and Mechanics team asked her as he eyed what she was making, after she got his help to make parts for her.
Meer purchased materials on her salary and her own computer software and hardware to make her Haros. She parked all these in the Hangar in a hidden corner. She just needed muscle help with the shaping...the rest is on her. The Haros are big enough to be the size of a grapefruit.
'Yup, they're toys...but also self-defense incase some of the adults get handsy.' Meer grinned. 'They'll attack at your face on my programming since CGS jackets are thick. Its strong enough to be equivalent to a full-forced punch of a beefy muscular guy enough to break a nose.'
'Heee...'
Thus Meer has Haros bouncing after her once they're all done and she charges them at night. Seven Haros that have programming to follow voice commands. Otherwise, they say what they want to say through their own limited AI programming.
'Wow, you made these bouncy li'l fellas? That's amazing...' said Biscuit as he admired the Haros. He works at the Factory too.
'Yup. For entertainment purposes when I feel bored.' said Meer between grunts while physically training. 'They have comical personalities on purpose and get snarky if you give them reason to. But on certain orders, they play music to sing-along with.'
'Heee...example please.'
'OK! Blue! V4!' Meer commanded a blue Haro and it began playing a song.
Lacus Clyne has three songs so far when she began her career before vanishing because of war. And Meer has one original song. She stood up to dust herself off before she can sing.
Sometime into her job, she met another girl everyone knows. Atra Mixta.
She works at Haba's Grocery and her job was goods deliveries on request.
'...she was a step away from becoming like you actually. The closest a girl can get.' said Mikazuki. 'She's in an actual brothel, but as a Chore Girl. The women there are no better than the men above us, so she's used to beatings too.'
That, and Mikazuki saved her when they were ten years old. Thus Atra has a heavy attachment and loyalty to Mikazuki.
Atra was the same age as her, but her growth was stunted that she looked younger than she should be!
Given their similar origins, the girls hit it off, with Meer advising Atra what to eat to grow.
'It'll take time, definitely a late bloomer, but at least, you'll still grow.' Meer promised Atra. 'Don't worry!'
After their first year...
Due to all that hard work, the boys were more muscular than they should be. No fat and all muscle. Meer lost her baby fat, becoming very lean. Because of a high-protein diet with help from oatmeal, she had to take great care in muscle training that her figure will be ugly. So she trained her muscles to give her THE shape instead, that she hides in men's wear, and maintains her flexibility.
She needed strong legs and feet. Kicks are stronger than punches anyhow.
While for the boys girls merely have different bodies and feel nothing special about it due to their upbringing, she still has to wear bulky outfits to keep safe from the men in first group.
Now that she was...sixteen.
She's now 5'6 with the body of an AV Model. She has reason to be armed to the teeth. Her hair always in a short layered round bob baring her neck, except for two side locks she keeps shoulder-length long. She dyes her hair black when she can get it as she has competition in the form of seniors who do not want to see white hair on their heads that brown and black dyes are almost always out of stock. Other colors are taken with same reasons. So she goes months without any to the point she has black tips, like brush dipped in ink.
She sighed at her life so far.
To wear cute clothes and shoes is a privilege of safe children and teenagers only. Kids with families, so to speak. She has to wear large boy things this time for her safety that she was swimming in the jacket, like Mikazuki was in his own jacket. The only lady things she owned, was underwear convenient for her situation.
Because she can't have what she wants without paying a cruel price, her salary is now in a bank account stacking up that every payday, she goes to town to deposit it all after purchasing her necessities. Her spending barely exceeding a hundred galars occasionally...as in, once in a while. But she DID spend big on her first payday for ideal kitchen pots, pans and tools. And a hairdryer...and her other hobbies. After that, no more.
She felt all that piling up can be a good nest egg if she marries one day. Around 80000 Arbrau Dollars in her savings isn't so bad, if she did the Math...it helps that in Earth and in frikking Outer Space, the universal currency is dollars with double the USD Values compared to Cosmic Era. Her three years of pay is a very big deal.
That justifies that 4 MG = 1 AD.
Her gang on the other hand, has freedom to spend theirs, but thankfully has the brains to ask her for advice that they too, save up their money.
Because money can buy your life too, and like hell will Marba spend on them for hospital bills...
And in employment, only Takaki and Biscuit, other than her gang, are legally paid. Everyone else is in a thankless sweatshop.
One day, Meer got called and Orga sent Shino as her bodyguard as precaution.
'Oi, what're you doing here? I only called Meer!' Marba scolded Shino.
'Oh, she asked me for some heavy lifting help to carry to the kitchens when she got the call!' Norba fibbed away, causing Marba to scoff.
'Anyway Meer, just for today to give a good impression to a potential guest, the kitchen budget will temporarily increase. Should they come here, we'll have to eat here and eat the same things for show.' Marba instructed her. He was clearly unhappy with the costs.
'To give that kinda good impression, meat will be on the menu as well as other things I normally can't get.' Meer pointed out.
'Plan a menu with expected costs, and forward it to Culastor who'll forward it to me.' said Marba. 'I expect first-class.' his expression was that of sheer constipation, the kids noted. 'And tell Orga and the others they better scrub the base top to bottom! Clean and smelling nice! You hear me?'
'Copy. I'll also send Culastor the cleaning chemicals we'll need, especially for the bathrooms and toilets.' and the kids left.
Upon leaving the door, Norba looked excited.
'Holy shit, we'll get to eat meat?!' Norba asked Meer excitedly.
'Yes.' said Meer with a grin. 'You boys will get to taste meat for a good few weeks, so let's enjoy while it's still around!'
'Awright!'
And at the Outdoor Dining Area...
'WOW! FOR REAL?!' many eyes popped out.
'If the guest decided to grace us. IF.' said Meer to the hopeful boys. 'So let's keep our fingers crossed guys! Even I want to eat meat you know!' she pouted. 'Whoever this is is a great excuse to include us in that classy budget! For now, you guys got orders to clean up the base and I have to do all the laundry here to take one less chore from you guys.'
'Alright!'
Thus, Meer gave Dexter the expenditures needed for cleaning the whole base, and the menu she has in mind.
Due to said menu, there's no doubts now that 'before getting orphaned', Meer was highly educated as when Dexter presented the papers, Marba choked blood metaphorically.
'...well, she gave you what you asked for, boss.' said Dexter feebly.
'What schooled that girl, a first-class hotel?! The meat alone will bankrupt us!' Marba shrieked. He was impressed that she can cook all these, but he is NOT impressed with the costs! 'We're not serving Gjallarhorn representatives, dammit! We're serving a wealthy young miss responsible for the Noachis July Assembly last week! Tell her to redo the lunch and dinner menu for cheaper meat cuts, but the cleaning materials pass!'
Even Marba is genre-savvy in how places full of men reek anyhow. Considering Meer ordered chemicals with antibacterial and anti-fungal traits, the base will smell fresh!
Aaah what he'll do for good reviews for future wealthier customers!
Dexter had to tell Meer who did an eyeroll.
'Fiiiine! That cheap old tub of lard!' Meer pouted as she got told the lunch and dinner menus were rejected. 'He asked for first-class, not tavern-class! I was simply obeying orders, you know!'
'Good thing you haven't showed the boys the menu yet or they'll be disappointed...' said Dexter dryly. 'I'd want steak too but we can only dream. Its Marba we're talking about here, Marba!'
'Yes yes. I'll send you the new menu...at least I know how to treat a lady, I'm one!' Meer huffed.
And so, at the kitchens after lunch...
'I already sent orders for the cleaning materials, so the boys be on standby when the goods come!' Meer chimed. 'I called Atra for cooking help too, to make it in time! It's all on Marba's expense!'
'YEEEEESSSS!'
'...Atra will get paid, right?' Mikazuki asked Meer worriedly.
'Yes, but considering the clients will only be here for a few days, her pay is 2000 galars for this job as Chef's Assistant...considering he can't piss off the grocery we get our needs from, he's paying her that much. Culastor compared Assistant prices and that's the nicest we can get without Marba bitching about it.' Meer reassured him.
Culastor was able to help her trick Marba regarding Atra's contract pay as an assistant for only the duration of their client's stay. Normally, it'd be cheaper. But Culastor was able to politics his way through.
'Fair. Normal pay for Cooking Assistant?'
'7000.'
'Ah...'
Atra...squealed in joy when Mikazuki called her out to the backdoor of the grocery Atra works at.
'2000 Galars for a few weeks' job?!' Atra's eyes shone Mikazuki swore he saw stars. 'That's a super big deal!' she squealed happily. 'Meer got me that much?!'
'She says it helps that Marba's an idiot.' Mikazuki snorted. Apparently, the kids know the value of money better than the adults did. That's why it was so easy to con Marba. Good thing Culastor's on their side.
'I'm up! I'm gonna ask Haba in advance before the client comes!'
Mikazuki looked on in amusement. Indeed, 2000 galars is a very huge deal. That's basically 500 AD. Legit salary anywhere, but minimum pay for an adult in the lowest of jobs. However, he cringed at the pay of some boys in CGS who's legally employed and not a slave. 500 galars. 125 AD. And this was because they're cheap labor whose jobs are at risk anytime at the whims of adults.
In Takaki's case, that was thankfully enough for school tuition fee for Grade 1 Elementary until Grade 3, plus books, and school needs...but he'll be leaving CGS for a better job to support onwards.
For Biscuit, that 500 galars is a big deal. His grandmother owns 2 acres of corn. And 50 galars every 10kg. That barely makes ends meet. Barely by a hair. That Biscuit really HAS to work and that salary of his will go to their food and clothes!
Meer gave Takaki their answered schoolbooks to help his sister along. Their books, were from schools for the wealthy. A better deal than the school Fuka is in.
Ahh, money makes the world go round indeed...