Gnome

Gnome
Role:	Guards
First appearance:	New Kid

Gnomes (also called Guardians) are mysterious guards that patrol the forests around Tower Prep. They usually stay hidden in the forest, although they also secretly enter the school buildings through underground tunnels, which may be their base or resting place.

Story

Gnomes have always seemed to be around, and may be tied to the beginnings of the school. They are feared by the other students, who have given them the name "gnomes," because they fear to think what they really are. However, they refer to themselves as "guardians," a name also used by Headmaster. When Ian, Suki, CJ, and Gabe are ambushed by the Gnomes in the forbidden zone, Gabe attempts to use his ability of hyper-susasion to escape. However, the gnomes seem to be immune to it and counter by playing a high tone static that nearly incapacitates the group.("New Kid")

CJ and Gabe discover a radio transceiver in History's office, and Suki is able to decode the radio messages being sent between gnomes. They hear human voices, and Ian concludes that gnomes are Tower Prep students. ("Buffer")

Cal with a gnome helmet on.

It is unknown where the Gnomes' base is but when Cal Rice sought out a hidden bunker during a class assignment, he and Ian found what is believed to be the gnome base in the forest, although that facility may have been abandoned. Gnomes seem to be afraid of Redfang, a "monster" that fights them in the forest, and runs from him, allowing Ian to escape capture. However, Cal is willingly captured, and turns into a gnome himself.("Field Trip")

Later Cal comes back claiming not to remember being a gnome or why he wanted to be a gnome. If these claims are true, it may also be true that the gnome helmets carry some sort of mind-wiping device. Also, if he had known about this, it might have explained why he asked Ian to take care of CJ, being as he might not of remembered who she was.("Trust")

Appearance

Gnomes wear black body armor with spikes protruding from it. They have two eye-like lights mounted on their helmets; most have green lights, but there is at least one red-eyed gnome, suggesting each one with the red lights is the leader of each group of gnomes. They make electronic noises, which are apparently encoded voice communications between gnomes.

Abilities

Gnomes prefer to stalk their prey and then engage in hand-to-hand combat. They have the ability to emit a loud noise that causes discomfort to humans. It is similar to the noise students hear before they are abducted after they were listening to something made by SatoSystems.

Purpose

Gnomes are apparently used as guards to keep students out of the Forbidden Zone. They will chase and engage in combat with people, although it's not clear whether they turn the students they capture into gnomes, or simply detain them and send them to West Campus. It appears that Headmaster has direct control over them, as he was the one who ordered the capture and imprisonment of Conner Owens, carried out by the gnomes. ("Fathers") Coach History also seemed to be able to command them when he had the radio transceiver. ("Buffer")