"It was a dark and dreary night. Lightening flashed across the sky as thunder rumbled loudly through the empty streets. A lone figure stood atop a tall and imposing tower. Another streak of light revealed his dark form. Cape fluttering in the strong wind, the vigilante known as Batman surveyed his city."

Oh, who am I kidding!?! I'm definitely no Stephen King. Might as well write this story right out.

After I had finally found a way to access Oracle's systems, I set to work on my first case as her sidekick…The Hacker. One problem, though…Oracle was not too keen on accepting info from an anonymous source. I had to prove myself.

Oracle's current case was finding the big dealers of a drug ring between Gotham and Bludhaven. Ah-ha! A Batman/Nightwing case! My personal favorite. Just don't tell the `Wingster! It'll go to his head!

While listening to Oracle run over the details of her findings, Batman patrolled downtown Gotham. Nightwing was "visiting" the clocktower, which has become a regular event. I stealthily listened in on their conversation. It went like this:

"…drugs are being imported from South America into Bludhaven's harbor. I found that the shipments are recorded to be rare Amazon herbs used in medications. It probably wouldn't be hard to blend the illegal plants in with the legal ones." Oracle was all business.

"So why run the drugs into Gotham by land? We've got a port here, too." Batman sounded as grim as ever.

"Jealous?" Nightwing quipped and then said, "Well, Bludhaven's harbor shipments are not as thoroughly inspected as Gotham's…unfortunately."

"Then the next question is how are the drugs being pumped into Gotham?" Batman questioned.

"Well, in the last month, 16 drug related arrests have been made by GCPD on routine traffic stops on the Interstate between Gotham and Bludhaven," Oracle stated.

"How many by the Bludhaven Police?" Batman inquired.

"Only one," Oracle answered.

"Hey! That was me! Well, I guess it was Amy, too. But we made that arrest!" Nightwing exclaimed.

"Are there any similarities in the reports? Type of vehicle? Owner of vehicle? Known henchmen of gangs?" Batman continued his interrogation.

"What? No, `Way to go, Dick!' `Great job, Son!' `Knew you were doing fantastic police work!' Just one little compliment wouldn't hurt, you know!" Nightwing grumbled.

"I'll give you a Scooby Snack after this case is solved. Happy?" Batman growled.

"You know about Scooby Snacks?" Oracle asked.

"He liked Scooby because he reminded him of Ace the Bathound. Besides, Batman knows everything!" Nightwing stated with some exaggeration.

"Only because you hogged the remote in the Cave," Batman muttered under his breath.

Nightwing scowled at Batman's image on the screen and said, "Yeah, but if I had let you pick the channel, I would be quoting Court TV. Of course, Alfred would be even worse…the History Channel!"

"What's wrong with Court TV and the History Channel?" Batman challenged.

"See, you don't know! That, my friend, is why I hogged the remote…" Nightwing began, but was interrupted.

"Back to those police reports, guys. I haven't had time to run through them. But I'll get on it right now," Oracle promised.

"Nightwing, meet me at the old Iron Works Factory," Batman ordered, as he returned to business.

"Can't I stay and help Babs?" Nightwing questioned.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Your flirting will distract her."

"Spoil sport."

"Brat."

"Bossy."

"Whiney."

"Crabby."

"STOP IT! Both of you!" Oracle shouted. "I'm getting a headache!"

I just love my family! All the members are soooo entertaining! Even though Bruce and Dick have their problems, they really were made for each other. Oh, not in the romantic sense! But as fathers and sons go, you couldn't find a more perfect pair. They are so much alike, yet so different. It's almost freaky! So it comes as no surprise that both Batman and Nightwing are at their best when working together.

Oracle, on the other hand, has been a loner in her field of expertise. Then again, she never had me as her sidekick, either! As soon as I heard Batman ask about the police reports, I was all over it. I didn't wait to find out if Oracle had already run through each report for any coincidences. Good thing too! I found exactly what Batman was looking for…a pattern within the vehicles.

Each vehicle had been a rental car from a company located in Bludhaven. The End of the Line Car Rental was owned and operated by Desmond Industries. Hmm…wonder who's behind the drug trafficking? Maybe Roland Desmond, or better known as Blockbuster? What a no- brainer!

So I sent a neat little non-traceable message to Oracle spelling out all the details. What I got in response lacked the enthusiastic thank-you I was hoping for! Instead, Barbara's fiery temper exploded.

"What the…?!? Who are you and how did you hack into my system?" Barbara growled, using Oracle's electronic voice.

"I'm a friend. I hacked my way into your system in order to help. Please send Batman and Nightwing that information for me." The answer to Barbara's question appeared written on her screen.

"I most certainly will not send information given to me by an unknown source! You will either identify yourself immediately or I will boot you off into oblivion!" Barbara's fingers flew across the keyboard giving out commands to find who had infiltrated her system.

Jason was prepared for this moment. He was well hidden in the technological world of the information highway. "I am a friend, whose sole purpose is to help you. If you don't believe me, why don't you run through those police reports right now and see if the details on the vehicles are accurate? Test me. I dare you! :0)"

"Look, whoever you are! This is not some kind of game you stumbled onto!" Barbara suddenly got an image of some nerdy kid sitting at home thinking he had come across an elaborate role-playing game. "This is for real! Now log off!"

"I double dog dare you!" The words appeared on the screen menacingly.

Barbara sighed. Whoever had tapped into her system was good. They knew how to cover their tracks. Too good. Had to be a professional. Her equal…or better! Maybe the government had decided she was too much of a threat. With Luthor as President…that was a very good possibility. Now Barbara was placing Batman and Nightwing, plus the rest of her friends and loved ones, in harm's way. What could she do?

Play along…at least for now…

Babs accepted my dare, somewhat begrudgingly. After rechecking my work, Oracle contacted Batman and Nightwing with the evidence. The two brought down the main ringleaders of the drug shipments. Unfortunately, there was not enough evidence to show Blockbuster's involvement; but still, a small victory to say the least.

Oracle is still hesitant about my involvement. I feel like she is only humoring me, while keeping her distance. Why? Does she suspect who is hacking into her private world, located on the great information highway? I don't know. She treats me so cold and indifferent. Yet once she discovers that my intentions are true, Oracle will welcome me as her sidekick with open arms. I'm sure of it!