Barbara grinned, a little envious of the carefree girl, and intently studied the lesson.  She wanted to commit everything to money,  so she could be more useful to everyone

The bell rings and between classes she sees a small figure running down the hall and around a corner all dressed up in hero or villain costume. Hard to tell as it was bright colored but not one she was used too.

Too curious for her own good, Barbara zipped off after the costumed figure,  wanting to know more.  She tried not to be noticed

Rounding the corner Barbara could see the figure is already at an open window.
They are wearing a gray hoodie and they put their hands to their head giving you the antler look and sticks their tongue out.

They then zip upwards.

Feeling a bit dissed and always up for a challenge, Barbara raced to the roof to see what was going on.  Was this person a spy?  A saboteur??  Perhaps even...A SUPER VILLIAN???

Using your cape your a blur as you reach the rood and see the small figure a child most likely looking down the side of the building possibly waiting for you to come up.

Their costume is gray and violet and kind of hand made now that she gets a better look at it.
It doesn't look like a professional made super suit.

Barbara landed on her feet and looked at the young costumed interloper.
She smiled wryly.
"So, what's your deal, then?  Did you want to try to attend this school, or were you just checking it out?"

"Aaaaaah !" the figure jumped not hearing you come up from behind.

"You scared me !" sniffle.


The figure looks up, up, up at Barbara in a domino mask violet eyes bright.
"I came to give you this."

She reaches in a little pouch at her side and takes out a slightly crumpled package.

Barbara blinked in surprise and suspicion.
"What??  Me??  Who are you, anyway?"

She took the package if it was offered.

"I am a message delivery girl, can't you see I'm in costume. I can't tell you my name that is my secret ID."

The package is labeled to Barbara Gordon from Jessica Gordon. It was handed over.

The small figure sits on the ledge of the roof.

Barbara chuckled.
"Sorry, I never had this kind of service before.  It's a little sketchy, you have to admit."
She opened the package

Inside was a beautifully ornate key and a half smooshed cupcake along with a note in lovely cursive handwriting.

Barbara looked at the cupcake dubiously, but held the key and read the note.

Dearest cousin, Barbara:

If you are reading this note then something nefarious has befallen me and I entrust this most prized of possessions to you. The very key to our world. With it many dangers can be locked out even though our world has trials and tribulations of it's own they are all things it can handle. I was made a guardian for the things our world could not handle. Guard this key, keep it safe for with it you will learn many, many things, strange but ultimately true.

P.S. Give the cupcake to Xan, she works for me and charges so very little. She might be able to help you if treated well.

Yours by blood,

Jessica Gordon

Barbara looked at the messenger.
"Excuse me, but do you know anything about this?   And who's 'Xan'?"

The figure nods and points at herself and then covers her mouth.
After a moment she covers her pointing finger instead.

Barbara chuckled a little.
"You're an odd one, aren't you?   Well, this is for you."
She handed over the cupcake, glad she didn't eat it immediately (though that would have violated her ethics for 'finding clues', anyway)

"The note says that you are friends with Jessica Gordon, who claims to be my cousin.  I've never heard of her, but Dad never talks about his family, so maybe that's not a surprise.   What's going on here?"

"Jessica went missing, I don't know where she is." The small figure held up her hands and shook her head.

She then ate a bit of the cup cake, "Mmmmmm."
"She was investigating something when someone broke through the Door. I tried to check it out but got knocked out." at this she starts to cry.

Barbara sad down with the little girl, patting her shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting way.
"There, there....we'll figure this out.  Which 'door' do you mean?   You said it in kind of a weird way, so I'm presuming that you don't mean the front door to your headquarters?"

Xantastic shook her head, "No it is Jessica's special Door, the Door to this world. We are it's guardians. I can show you, she said I should work with you."

She starts drying her eyes with the back of her hand.

Barbara took a hanky out of her utility belt and gave it to the little girl.
"Well, I'll tell you what....I'll take a leave of absence from school, since this if family matters.   We'll take care of this 'door' thing.
Now, what do you mean 'door to this world'?   Is that like a metaphor for a computer data bank or something?   Is this key to the secret hideout? "

"Follow me, I could show you."

She motions and finishes eating the cupcake.

"We did build a base around it to help protect it."

Barbara smiled.
"Give me a minute to hack the school computer and make the arrangements.  Would you be okay up here for a moment, or do you want to come with me?"

She will follow along.

Barbara gets comments about her little friend most thinking it's a little sister or something like that.

Trying to stay out of sight for the most part, Barbara gets all sneaky, and gets to a computer terminal to fake a leave of absence signed by her father, and sends a message to her father that she's "studying abroad" for a semester.
Once her prolonged absence will be covered, she headed out with Xan to wherever it was she was leading her.