Haven
Author's note: Just a little (well, maybe not so little) piece inspired by a recent re-reading of old "New Mutants" comics. I don't recall them ever really nailing down the character's ages, but this is set during the time when Wolfsbane, Mirage, Cannonball, and Magik were all members of the New Mutants - and are 18 or older, of course. And it is definitely rated M. Oh, it is so very definitely rated M.
Cast of Characters: Danielle "Dani" Moonstar: Code name Mirage. Cheyenne Indian. Can create illusions of a person's fondest wishes - or worst nightmares.
Sam Guthrie. Code name Cannonball. Flies, is virtually invulnerable while flying, has trouble steering himself. From a family of Kentucky coal miners.
Rahne Sinclair. Code name Wolfsbane. Can transform into a wolf, or a wolf/human mixture. From Scotland. Has a mental bond with Dani when in wolf or transitional form.
Finally: I wrote this story somewha differently than I have in the past. The entire story is finished (13 chapters, 18K words), but I'm going to post it a chapter at a time, probably once a day. And I might revise it as I publish it, if reader's reviews prompt me.
Chapter 1
"Well done, students." Professor Xavier lauded the youths. "That was a very difficult assignment, but you persevered - and won. You're all dismissed - except for you, Rahne. I know you say you feel fine, but that was a rather severe hit you took. I'd like you to stop by the infirmary first."
As the students left the office, Dani grabbed Sam's arm and pulled him aside. "You know, Rahne saved our lives there."
"Well, yeah, she did take that hit for us, but I don't think I'd go quite that far. It woulda hurt like the dickens, but I don't think it woulda killed us." At Dani's glare, Sam reconsidered. "But yeah, you're right. We definitely owe her." He paused. "You got that look like you got something in mind."
Dani let the glare fade into a smirk. "Oh, I think we owe her a lot. And I have just the idea on how to show her how much we appreciate her - if you're in."
"A surprise for Rahne? Count me in. What do you have in mind?"
Dani let her smirk continue. "Just trust me on this one. I have a few things to line up first, but I'll give you enough of a heads-up so you'll be ready when the time comes." And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving a somewhat mystified Sam Guthrie in her wake. Sam shook his head and decided he'd go to the infirmary, too, and see how Rahne was doing while Dani plotted... whatever she had in mind.
A few days later
"Girl, are you out of your mind?" Sam forced himself to not shout. "How the hell could you think this would be a good idea?"
"Sam, I know it's a hell of a crazy idea, but just trust me on this."
Sam shook his head. "Trust you? Look, I know Rahne, and there's no way in hell she'd ever go along with this, let alone want it!"
Dani shook her head back. "No, you know the public Rahne. The outside Rahne. The part she shows to the world. But you forget - she and I have a mental link. I know her better than she knows, even better than she knows herself. She's actually fantasized about something like this." Sam looked positively scandalized at the thought. "Yeah, she forces herself to feel guilty about it, but this would be a dream come true for her. And I've set it up in a way that she won't have to feel guilty about it."
Sam was still stunned. "I don't think I wanna know how you talked Illyana into helping."
Dani smiled. "That part was simple. I just reminded her how much she owed Rahne, too, and how all she had to do was help set it all up - nothing more. It took a little persuading, and a couple of promises, but she's getting it ready now."
Sam slumped into a chair, barely aware he was no longer standing. "You're really serious about all this, Chief?"
Dani sat down next to him. "Totally serious, Sam. I know this is what Rahne wants, even if she doesn't. I know that I want to do it, too. The only question is: do you want to? Because if you're not in, we can still call it off and Rahne need never know we considered anything."
Sam sat for a long moment. "Geez... I dunno..." He sighed. "Dani, look me in the eye and tell me that Rahne really wants this."
Dani held his gaze and spoke with total conviction. "Sam, I give you my solemn word: in her heart of hearts, she wants this more than almost anything. She's just too afraid to admit it - even to herself. But I am certain that, given the chance we're preparing, she'll love it."
There was a long pause. "OK, I'm in. When did you have in mind?"
Dani held back a cheer. "I was thinking Saturday evening, right after dinner."
"How are you gonna explain the three of us just disappearing?"
"Don't worry, Illyana and I have that all worked out. No one should notice we were ever gone."
"Dani, I dinna understand. Why do ye want ta give me a surprise?"
"Because you saved Sam and me in that last fight."
"I did no such thing! I kept ye from getting hurt a bit, that's all. You'd have done the same for me. You have done the same for me."
"Then consider it a birthday present."
"My birthday was four months ago!"
"Then an early Christmas present. Anyway, just come along. I promise, you'll love it." And with that, Dani dragged Rahne into an empty classroom, where Sam and Illyana were waiting. Sam looked slightly embarrassed, Illyana a bit irritated.
Illyana immediately started talking. "OK, you're all here. Good. I'm only going to explain this once. The place I'm sending you is what I call 'Haven." It's one of the few undisguised perqs of being the ruler of Limbo. It's part of Limbo, but it's completely sealed off from the rest of that world. I'm the only one who can come and go - or send others to and from. So once you're there, you're totally safe and alone until either I come and get you, or you use the trigger phrase to bring you back here." She glared at Dani. "And that trigger phrase is to say 'there's no place like home' three times."
Dani shrugged. "It's simple to remember, and it's a classic."
Illyana resumed. "I'm not going to tell you all of Haven's secrets, but there are some things you need to know. First, it's not so much a place as a state of mind. Its physical existence is... debatable. I'm still working on it, but it seems to actually not be a place, but a mindset. And it's influenced by the thoughts of those who are there. I've trained Dani in some of the more basic functions, but for the most part it'll hold on to the identity I've imposed on it for your trip.
"Next, as you know, time flows differently in Limbo. In Haven, I can control it however I like. For your trip, each hour there will equal one second here. So if you're gone a day, you'll return in about half a minute." She smiled. "So take your time. Oh, and one last thing: once you separate, you won't run into each other again unless you want to. Haven will cater to each of you individually, and only bring you back together if one of you wishes it. So you'll have as much privacy as you want."
Illyana then stepped back from the trio. "Now go and enjoy yourselves." There was a brief flash of light, and they disappeared.