Last Rites

I left the Xavier Institute that day disappointed and discouraged. I had failed to find a mutant team worth guarding.

Perhaps my standards had been too high. Had my expectations been unreasonable?

It didn't matter. The test was not quite done yet. Magneto had failed, but Xavier still had a chance to pass. If he examined my behavior and my memories, he would realize the purpose of the test, and would likely send one of the X-men to find. If he did that he would pass. Otherwise he would fail.

I was back at my apartment before I realized that I had one for thing to do before I left.

Pulling a out my phone, I made a brief call to my bank, then packed my gear.

It didn't take long. I've never been a material goods person. When you live as long as I do, things fall apart no matter what you do.

An hour later I walked into my bank.

They were ready for me, and showed me back to the safety deposit boxes.

It took me a minute to find my box, then I was shown to a private room to open it.

Once the door was closed I opened the box.

The only thing contained within was my costume.

I took it out and inspected it.

The suit had held up well. The arms, torso, and legs were black, with crimson coloring on the undersides of the forearms and the backs of the legs. A black ankle length cape and crimson sash mask completed the outfit.

Well, almost completed it. The concealed body armor helped, as did the pair of long knives sheathed on the thighs.

I folded the suit and put it in the case I had brought with me.

I hadn't worn the suit in twenty-five years, and had hoped that I wouldn't need it.

Foolish me. I had a duty, and I had to fulfill it no matter the personal cost.

Six months later...

I ran across one roof and jumped to the next one.

Ahead of me my quarry took enough time to glance back, then kept running.

I ran on.

Summers was good, but I was better. He didn't have a chance of escaping.

Of course this was all academic. He had of course brought the team, who were probably closing in as we ran.

Moments after the thought had occurred to me, I was tackled from behind with a familiar growl.

I smiled. This was going to be fun.

Pulling my knives from their sheaths, I stabbed them into the arms holding me.

Wolverine somehow managed to hold on.

Before I could strike again we hit the rooftop.

Rolling across the roof I lost one of my knives. The one I still had I plunged into Wolverine's arms until he was forced to let go.

I gained my footing, before being knocked down again by a beam of ruby energy.

Now I could drop the pretense.

"Wait a minute!"

"That's not going to happen."

"Darn right it isn't. Wolverine got to his feet. In his hand was my missing dagger.

"You seem pretty handy with these toys. Here's it back."

The knife shot toward me, severing my jugular before I caught it.

The world spiraled into blackness as I fell to the ground.

Seconds passed.

I got to my feet. Summers and Wolverine were heading for the edge of the roof.

"Hey, wait a minute." I said, and pulled my mask off as they turned around.

"Eternal?"

"That would be me. Were you looking for me?"

A/N That's all for this story! Review and let me know if I should write more stories with Eternal. Or email and say that you thin I shouldn't. There will be a tally on my page. As soon as it reaches 10 I will make a decision based on that.