Truth & Justice

The old man was sitting in the drivers seat of the rusty ole 1973 GMC pickup truck, the barn just in front of the truck was old, built by his great grandfather many years ago. His gaze fixed upon the family crest, an owl with a human skull clutched in its talons, an axe and sword crossed behind the owl. Hüter der Wahrheit on a faded ribbon at the bottom. He had been taught at a young age that those German words mean Keeper of Truth. He had always kept the family oath of Truth and Justice.

To the outside world Justin was a calm, respectable, and peaceful man. He worked hard to maintain that image in the small Wyoming town that he called home. He has more cattle than there are people in the quiet little town. He had just returned from a journey that had made him question the Oath he had taken many years ago. He sat in deafening silence, the only sounds were those of nature, the wind sliding past calmly, yet rustling the grass just enough to reassure him that time had not stopped.

His thoughts went to the night of his eleventh birthday, his father, a mountain of a man standing six feet nine inches tall in those custom mule hide cowboy boots. His shoulders so broad when he walked through a common door he had a unique swoop, duck twist maneuver to get though the doorway. As he stepped through the doorway a broad smile crossed his face, a smile Justin had rarely seen in his eleven years, reserved for the smile his mother got across the dinner table, his heart seamed to gain an extra beat in anticipation of what was going on with his father. He walked over to Justin and placed an enormous hand upon his shoulder, and said, "Son are you ready to take your place among the Keepers of truth?"

Justin said, "I thought the age requirement was 18 like everything else."

His father gave a kind chuckle and said, "No sir, eleven is the age at which your Oath begins, if you so choose to proceed with Truth and Justice."

Justin's excitement was overwhelming, he said, "Yes of course."

His father said, "Then come along with me to enter a world known by few, and stopped by no one."

Justin followed his father through the barn doors with the family crest on it with eager anticipation of what was to come. Once inside the darkness enveloped him like a warm blanket on a cold winters day wrapped around your body. He pushed a steady hand forward into the darkness until his hand landed on his fathers arm soft, yet firm from the muscles.

His father asked him, "Can you see what is before you?"

Justin responded with a timid "No."

His father asked again, "Are you certain you desire to become a Keeper of Truth and Justice?"

Justin said, "Yes," so firmly and loudly he startled himself standing in the darkness.

That kind chuckle again, he father said, "Ok son, I need you to hold your left hand straight out from your body with the palm up."

Justin no sooner got his palm flat when something was placed into his palm, the dark exploded with colors of gold, silver, purple, and green. It hurt his eyes, but he could not close them, his fist closed around something flat and round, and then it vanished from his grip, but the spot it had been placed was hot as fire.

His father said, "Justin you are safe, force your eyes closed, and take a deep breath."

As soon as his eyes were closed, he could see his father as clearly as a sunny afternoon in July, but he wasn't alone, and the room had changed he was no longer in the barn. Justin for the first time realized that his father had his hand on his shoulder.

His father said, "just calm yourself, and trust your instincts, when you are calm open your eyes to see with your new eyes."

After a few moments Justin opened his eyes and asked, "Where are we?"

His Father responded with a smile, "We are at the headquarters, and the eleven men in this room are the brotherhood, before we explain further, you must take the Oath, are you ready? Once taken, you are bound by penalty of death upon breaking the Oath."

Justin didn't have to give it any thought, he said "yes, of course!"

His father said, "The coin that was placed in your palm will become a part of you, and you a part of it, it holds your power when not needed, and will transport you wherever you desire to be. Only the brotherhood can see its presence. Repeat after me son. I Justin Bartholomew Schulz swear to use my powers for the Keepers of Truth and Justice to make the truth known, and ensure justice is served, that if need be I will give my life, or the life of my family so as to keep safe the knowledge and abilities used to keep the Truth and Justice of this world."

After the last word was spoken, a searing pain in Justin's left palm took him to his knees, he felt the warm wet liquid run down his wrist across his forearm. When he looked down, he thought for sure it would be blood, but there was nothing, he realized that the liquid was not on the outside of his skin, it was coursing through his veins.