Prologue
Max snapped back up in his chair looking around making sure no one was around to catch him sleeping on the job. Taking a reluctant look at the clock he saw that it was only 3AM, four hours of work left...
A long yawn and a reaching stretch drove away the last bit of drowsiness before straightening out his security uniform. He hoped the quick nap would last him the rest of the shift. The guard house was a bit stuffy which prompted Max to open one of the windows. Allowing him to view the community he was charged with watching over.
The gated community of Rook hills located on the California coast was a beautiful piece of property about four hours south from Star City. Complete with scenic beaches, a private country club, golf course, and around the clock security. Max always thought it was funny how he only needed to drive 20 minutes to get back home where shootouts, drug running, kidnappings and murder were a regular thing. But was more than happy to admit he was lucky he didn't have to deal with all that while on the clock.
The police force in Rook Hills is incredibly well funded to keep out anyone who didn't look like they belonged outside of the gates. The residents, which include movie stars, politicians and the like, still felt a need for private fences and a security force. The price for a house here was in the millions. They liked their privacy and paid very well for it.
For the most part you are treated well, and it's an easy going job while on the graveyard shift. But tonight was particularly slow and Max found himself nodding off. He usually brings something with him to pass the time; books, a DVD player, a small dumbbell. However Max felt none of those activities would do little to defeat his boredom.
He grabbed his smartphone out of his pocket and began checking his favorite news sites. The biggest topic of course was still the global catastrophe avoided thanks to the Justice League. It's only been a day since The Reach had shown its true intentions of attempting to enslave the population and tried to destroy the planet when that plan failed. Even more interesting was Lex Luthor being credited with providing the means to stop the Reach's world ending EMF devices. G. Gordon Godfrey then championed Luthor as the perfect replacement for the vacant U.N Secretary General position.
The conspiracy theory boards were on fire.
Max never really joined in on any of the conversations on there but he loved reading all the topics. Between the things that are too crazy to be believed, or someone's imagination going wild, the truth is somewhere in the middle. This is hard to say when there are beings out there that can push the moon out of orbit.
The topic of Luthor being a part of a secret order called "The Light" was still the hottest on the boards. The order was said to include several other prominent super villains. However one of the more disturbing rumors was that The Light helped bring earth to The Reach's attention in the first place. No one knows why The Light would join forces with a race that has the capability to enslave or destroy the earth. But everyone can't help but wonder how did Luthor create an anti-virus for a completely alien technology so quickly? The two must have been working together for some time until one betrayed the other.
Max soon had to come back to earth when he realized he had to make his early morning rounds. But that didn't stop him from trying to figure out all the angles while he was walking. It's probably why he loved reading the boards and news so often, it made him feel a part of that world. It wasn't hero worship; he grew out of that years ago. Max admired the ideals and the stand against injustice that he wished he could be a part of. It was their example that helped him through his darkest times...
"Ok maybe it is a bit of hero worship…"
He said out loud to himself as he walked back to his guard booth. He often found himself talking out loud during the quieter parts of the night.
A coping mechanism he developed from working the long lonely hours of a graveyard shift. Or maybe it was something he learned growing up as a lonely kid, getting picked on for being known as the smart kid who never fought back. Max shook his head trying to push back down those old memories. "Great... Made myself feel bad. I need something to punch."
Sitting back down in the booth he rubbed his eyes from underneath his glasses trying to get the last bit of sleep out of them. When he opened them his vision was still blurry for a moment even with his glasses on. Max let out an annoyed sigh realizing he needed another visit to the eye doctor. Horrible eyesight unfortunately ran in both sides of the family.