In his thirteenth summer Justin's manhood chose to assert itself. More than just another birthday, it was also the moment his body revealed a secret.

Stored deep in his genetic makeup, the seed of an ancient wisdom germinated and would change Justin's life forever.

One morning he awoke and it was there. It was like he had gone to bed reading one book on his life and then awakened to the knowledge that everything he'd learned was inadequate. It was like understanding that he was a god amongst men.

For months his body had been preparing him for this change and yet he didn't understand what was happening. Like all boys his age he understood that puberty would bring him to the threshold of manhood. The anticipation had been exciting but he had no idea that it would evolve him into something unique.

Oh, there had been clues. Moments of static that buzzed in his mind, unexplained warmth that spread throughout his body, and then there were the sudden headaches. The most obvious conclusion was that puberty caused all this and with ignorance Justin thought his body was reacting normally, but he was wrong.

The timing of this transition was pre-ordained, coded to a specific moment in the biological timetable of his kind. These were things Justin could not know or understand, but he would learn. At the moment all he understood was that today was his birthday and he was elated.

His father looked up from the table and smiled as Justin scurried into the kitchen for breakfast. His mother kissed him and laid a stack of strawberry pancakes on the table, his favorite.

Happy Birthday, Son. His father had been waiting for this moment to arrive. Justin sat down in shock. He could read his father's thoughts.

She doesn't know. His father thought, and he looked with warmth at his wife, the mother of his only son.

Why? Justin replied in kind, suddenly aware that his father could read his thoughts as well.

She has no need to know, it would be an injustice. You will soon understand. Feed your body and get dressed. We have to make a journey.

Yes ... we have to go to the Vault. Have you always been able to read my thoughts?

His father shook his head, knowing that a young boy would be concerned if he thought his parents could read his mind.

No, only since the moment you became aware. This is your bonding time…the moment when you officially join the Family of Time.

Throughout his life, up until this point anyway, Justin had thought the family name a little odd. People often remarked and quipped about it. It made him unique amongst his peers, but he didn't understand just how different he was…until today.

His father was Dr. Alan Time, a respected general practitioner of family medicine in their small community and that gave Justin some leverage. Their family, and Justin was an only child, had been well received when they moved here several years before. He had been unhappy at the move from city life to rural America. But his father insisted that they would enjoy living closer to the mountains and he had been right.

After breakfast they drove north into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Sometimes I think our Family is as old as these mountains. His father's mind spoke as they rounded a curve. It was an honor for us to be chosen from amongst so many.

Justin was beginning to understand that this way of communication was vastly superior to speaking aloud. Thoughts seemed to carry much more significance, making words irrelevant to the transfer of ideas and concepts. Besides, it was so cool to be able to know his father in a different light.

Where are we going, Pops? What's in this vault?

The source of all knowledge, the place where you will learn who we truly are and what lies ahead. His father's statement left Justin with no doubt about how serious this discovery would be.

The two lane road was steep here, the towering walls of stone pressing in on either side. They continued upwards in silence for some miles before they came to a small gas station tucked against the mountain's wall. Justin was surprised when his father pulled in beside the pumps.

Justin got out and followed his father inside the building.

"Hello, young fella," The man behind the counter said. There was something familiar about the guy but Justin knew he had never been here before. Maybe the man just looked like someone he knew.

I need to use the bathroom, Justin thought, and then remembered he hadn't spoken aloud.

"Door right next to the soda machine," The man said.

"Thank you," Justin replied. Oh, how did the man know? He looked at his father who just smiled.

When he came out, his father was up at the counter talking to the man. If you want a soda go get it ... and one for me as well, His father communicated.

Justin took two cans of soda out of the case. I hope you wanted orange.

You know that's all I ever drink.

"You have a nice polite boy there," The man said. "Very grown up."

"He's getting there, aren't you, Justin?"

"Thank you, sir, working on it," Justin replied.

The guy gave him a smile. And now it is your time, the man replied.

They made their way through the door and were almost back to the car before Justin realized what had just happened.

Pops, he spoke in my head…he's one of us?

Yes, he's Family. You'll discover we are everywhere.

But ... he's old ... isn't he?

Six hundred and twenty-three years to be exact.

Wow ... how did you know that?

I've known him since my own moment arrived, just as you have now met him. He is the Gatekeeper to the Vault.

His father started the car and Justin saw the garage door on the side of the building begin to open. They drove slowly into the opening and the door descended behind them. The walls inside the garage looked ordinary. A rack of tires, tools hanging on the wall, a workbench…but then that all changed.

Ahead of them the wall began to open and his father drove through into a tunnel beyond. Justin watched as rows of lights illuminated to guide them into the mountain's core. After a few minutes they came to a large open area surrounded by blank stone walls. This is where his father stopped the car.

This is the doorway, we walk from here.

I don't see anything except the walls.

It is not yet revealed.

There was a yellow line on the floor of the cavern and they followed it to one of the walls where Justin noticed a small clear plate fixed into the rock. His father placed a hand on the plate and a blue light flashed.

Place your hand as I did, son.

Justin placed a hand on the plate and a red light flashed, then a blue one.

Fingerprints? Justin asked.

No, your DNA has just been confirmed.

A deep moan came from the rock wall and it split open, revealing a massive door to a room with a shiny interior. To Justin it looked just like the vault door on a bank, but when he touched the wall it was cold. The doorway closed silently behind them and without warning the floor seemed to fall away.

Oh, it's an elevator, that's neat.

It is more complicated than that, but the effect is the same. We are descending into the heart of the mountains. None but Family have ever been inside. All others would perish if they tried to gain access.

The memory banks have confirmed you as my son, the red flash you saw above was the scan of your DNA. But once we entered this 'elevator' your entire body has been bombarded with analytical techniques developed by the Ancient Ones who built this place. They have been expecting you, Justin.

They have?

When you were born I came here and registered your birth, it was required of me. Now data has been gathering for your whole life and waiting for this moment. You may have a million questions but all will be answered before we leave here today. Don't be concerned, I can sense your apprehension.

What will happen to me?

Your body will be programmed. The knowledge the Family needs to impart will be given to you. You will become what you were born to be.

I don't understand. What am I supposed to be?

His father sighed as the floor once again became stable and the 'elevator' stopped.

I have often asked myself that question, but all I was told is that you have an important role to play. The Family has a task for you to perform ...

But before Justin's father could finish his thought the wall in front of them suddenly went from opaque to transparent. They were left standing in an area so large that Justin could barely see the vaulted ceiling above them. But the space was not empty. There were strange machines laid out before them and everything seemed to be humming with life as they stepped forward.

Dominating the room were three towering cones of gleaming material. They looked solid except within the cones Justin could see movement and light as if living things inhabited the space inside.

A series of lights came on in the floor, a guide path showing them the way. His father didn't hesitate and walked forward, following the lights towards an area between the cones.

Come on, there is nothing to fear.

Except the unknown ... what is this place?

This is the library. The cones are the repositories of knowledge. One for the wisdom of the Family gained over the centuries, and one for the wisdom of the Ancient Ones who built all of this.

And the third one?

Ah, the important one. Up until now it contained the future.

Up until now? What happened?

You happened.

Justin stared at the cone ... the future? How could anyone know the ... but he believed his father's words. They walked into the space between the cones and a circle of green light appeared in the floor. From the center of the ring a solid slab arose several feet out of the floor. The surface of the slab seemed to glow with a pulsing blue light.

What is that?

His father laughed. A place to sit down perhaps?

They sat on the slab and Justin glanced around the room once again. Outside of the cones, there were slabs of opaque material, most of which looked like they were made of plastic or ceramic.

Memory banks, I'll bet, He thought.

And you would be right. A massive amount of information is stored here in these tanks. I can't give you a precise number, but this has all been here since the beginning of our Family I would imagine. Perhaps a million years by now.

What? That's impossible ... how could they ...

A figure suddenly materialized before them. An unusual looking figure of a man. He was tall, with a shaved head and large ears. He was wearing a long blue robe of shiny material and his image seemed to flicker with pulses of light. The creature reminded Justin of a Saturday morning cartoon character.

Welcome. So you have come at last. The creature said and he smiled. I am visible to you as a hologram, a mere trick of light that provides shape to your primitive eyes. Let's see, my actual name is unintelligible to your speech so you may call me LAIT. That stands for Library Artificial Intelligence Technician… just don't call me late for dinner.

The creature burst into laughter and then quickly became silent. Sorry, that was an attempt at humor. One of the byproducts in all this knowledge of your species is a vast amount of printed material, quite primitive. I have lately been reviewing the era nineteen twenties, vaudeville theatre, humor. I have been fascinated by the jokes and comedy used in stage routines. The effect on the human psyche during that time of economic depression is quite fascinating. But I wander, sorry once again. Ahem, to the point then.

The creature gestured to Justin's father. Alan Edgar Time ... have you brought your son for his interface with the Family's knowledge banks?

Yes, I have.

And Justin Andrew Time, age thirteen of your planetary calculations, is this man your father?

Uh, yes sir, he is.

Do you know why you are here? The creature asked.

To interface with the Family knowledge banks? Justin replied.

Uh ... yes, I did say that already, didn't I? Clever boy ... I should not expect anything less from you. You are the culmination of our plans, the keystone of our constructive efforts, the premier of all homo-sapiens on the planet. We have been awaiting your arrival. But you have no idea what I just said, do you?

No sir, next time in English if you please.

The creature stopped and stared at Justin, and then broke up in laughter.

Oh ... oh, thank you, I needed that. You were alluding to the fact that my speech was not comprehensible because it wasn't in terms you understand even though I spoke to you in English. And that was the point of your humor, quite wonderful actually. It would probably have been easier if I had just said you were born to save the Family, but then where's the fun in that?


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