Guardian

The only so-called garden in Ceres. In its true form, it was a giant experimental organ farm under the direct control of Tanagura. (V2 p159, V4 p103).

Just faintly visible beyond the trees [of the Green Belt] were the white towers of Guardian. (V8 p113)

Administration is headed by the Kuger Clan.

## **Motto and Symbol**

*"Educating a Child's Mind and Soul."* (V4 p124)

Angel, the symbol of Guardian (V4 p135)

## **Access and Security**

Katze inserted his ID card into the security console and punched in his password. His fingers effortlessly recalled the fifteen-digit code. (V4 p100)

see Chalaza

see Subway

The security guard at the front gate knew [Kirie] on sight...but that didn't mean he could simply cut through the red tape required to obtain a visitor's pass. Not even a graduate of Guardian got past the gate without an appointment. Nobody just popped in to say hello. (V4 p124)

The fences and gates surrounding Guardian were there for a reason, and security was extraordinarily tight. Double- and triple-checks were routine. The reason for all of these measures was posted everywhere: "To prevent entry of unauthorized persons." (V4 p131)

### **Regulations, Appointments**

First, [Kirie] got himself a smartphone and went to the Guardian site on the net and filled out all the forms for an official appointment. Of course he had to give a reason for the appointment, and his personal ID number was indispensable. But he was also obliged to provide certified proof of adult status.... (V4 p127)

When the application was finally processed, notification arrived via email accompanied by an acceptance number. That alone wasn't enough...to gain entry. A so-called 'reconfirmation' of the application took another two days. Moreover, the meeting wouldn't be at [the applicant's] convenience -- it would be whenever Guardian decided it would be. No questions asked. (V4 p128)

### **Rules for Visitors**

Final papers [one] needed to sign before getting past the front gate:

1. Unscheduled contact with the children outside the interview room is prohibited.

2. Your visitor's name tag must be worn at all times.

3. You must vacate the premises at the appointed time.

The security guard signaled an all-clear, and [one] was finally allowed to enter the facilities. (V4 p134)

## **Life in Guardian**

### **Blocks**

Guardian was scrupulous about differentiating education by block. Children assigned to separate blocks would rarely if ever have the chance to intermingle. Add to that [an age] gap, and the odds of getting to know each other were slim. (V3 p69)

see Characters: Blockmates, Riki

### **Bonbons**

'Bonbons' was what the men who visited now and then called Riki and the others. Riki hated it when they came. Nobody was allowed to leave his room on that day. Nobody was allowed out to play the whole day long. And what was worse, the juice the nannies made them drink on that day tasted like piss. It always made him feel like shit. *What the hell did it all mean?...* According to the commiserating adults of Guardian, they were adorable children sacrificed to service the desires of adults. (V2 p110)

see Furniture

### **Education, Literacy**

Charged with giving and providing its wards with an equal education, Guardian accordingly pounded into them the basics of computer use. Except that after being forcible evicted from this 'paradise' to their living quarters in the slums, they found themselves in an environment quite incapable of capitalizing on those skills or drives. It was no surprise that apart from a small group of dedicated fanatics, such an education was, to the vast majority, completely useless. Incidentally; bound up in the Zein class system, school attendance figures in Midas also revealed remarkable disparities. (V2 p80, V4 p130)

There are afternoon classes. (V4 p135)

### **Emancipation**

The males were designated 'adults' at the age of thirteen and forcibly emancipated. No matter what manner of life they chose for themselves, they owned their own freedom. Nobody would tell them what to do. (?!)

That was why, for any number of reasons, the youngsters who'd just been released from Guardian sought protection, cozied up to the strong, and if that didn't work, attached themselves to any gang at all, large or small. (V4 p95)

see Gangs

see Mongrels

#### **Emancipation, Certificate**

The card issued when leaving Guardian, showing certified proof of adult status. (V4 p127)

see Certificate of Adult Status for more

### **Females in Guardian, Treatment**

The small number of girls were given preferential treatment over the boys, and those with any inclination to bear children could do so in an isolated and far more agreeable environment. Unlike the boys who were forced to become 'independent' of Guardian at the age of thirteen, to the extent that they were capable of giving birth, girls were under no obligation to live in the infested slum colonies. (V1 p83)

For the one bloodline in Ceres allowed to take a childbearing wife, there were unwritten rules that could not be violated.... Far from it. *"The men of [the Kuger family] must follow the letter of the law and deport themselves as gentlemen."* In front of the **Block Mothers** and **Sisters** as well. (V4 p146)

"*Women who can have children are the assets of Ceres. I can't just sleep around with whoever I want.*" (V4 p146)

see Artificial Insemination

### **Foster Center**

In Area 9, children up to the age of 12 were all reared together by the child care administrators of the Guardian foster center. The reason given was that the mortality rate of children in the violent, dysfunctional environment of the slums was disproportionately high. That was part of it, but at the root of the problem was the extremely low birth rate of girls compared to that of boys.... Only in Midas -- in Ceres -- were there no population or eugenic controls in place... (V1 P83)

### **Rooms**

#### **Nap Rooms**

Reserved for tired children to rest. (V4 p142)

#### **Number Three Rec Room**

Toward the front of the large room filled with virtual reality gaming equipment, unabated by even the soundproofing walls, Manon was firing off a laser gun. (V4 p135)

## **Truths of Guardian**

### **Furniture**

*"Guardian is under Tanagura's thumb... A kid with a good-enough face on a good-enough head, innocent of the ways of the world, is destined to be installed as custom-made living furniture in Eos."* (V3 p118)

see Furniture for more

### **Population Control**

The number of blessed children whom women bore were limited in number for population control. The accursed law of Ceres said, *"You don't have to kill what you never let live in the first place."* (V4 p103)

see Artificial Insemination

### **Scientific Experimentation**

A greater number of these unlucky [mongrel] lives were secretly brought forth from broth-filled cauldrons that could hardly be called artificial wombs. Born in grey, frigid laboratories, given no names or even recognition of their own existence, they were consigned to their graves in the dark. For what purpose? For the advancement of science. For the satisfaction of intellectual curiosity about the mysteries of life. And for the profit of underground businesses whose trade could never be brought to life. (V4 p103)

Ceres had no industry, no unique skills it could trade. Something must be found that made the continued existence of Ceres worthwhile. That something was Guardian and its organ farm. (V4 p109, V5 p127)

#### **Underground Levels of Guardian**

On the floors of the sub-level basement corridors, leading in different directions for blue (center), orange (right), and green (left). (V5 p117)

At the end of the Orange Line (right) Kirie and Manon found nothing, and backtracked to the Green Line (left). (V5 p121)

At the end of the green line they found the Scientific Experiments. (V5 p126)

see Keeler Lab