Magneto's Annex was a magnificent chamber where the Lord of Avalon could go when not in need of his people. It was completely private, no cameras or listening devices of any kind lingered here. The entire room seemed as though it was made of a singular piece of metal. The lone desk and matching chairs seemed to have been grown directly out of the floor. The lights as well appeared to emerge from the walls and ceilings as though they weren't hung or placed there, but simply grown. Adorning the top of the magnificent chair behind the desk was a single letter, just like that which adorned the throne in the room that this chamber shot off from.

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"We can speak privately here, little one." Cortez said as he moved to sit behind the desk. "What is your proposal?"

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"I need you to super charge my powers. I know you can do it, you just did it to your soldiers out there." Rhydian said as he took the seat opposite the ruler. He winced as he sat down, that last show of power on his half had hurt him considerably. He made no effort to hide the blood that dripped from his nose at this moment. "As you can see, my mutation is killing me...I have no wish to not use my abilities, nor do I have any wish to die from them. I want you to fix me, permanently. And don't bullshit me, I know you can do it." He took that moment to wipe the blood from his face.

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"And for this, you will bring me the X-men?" Cortez asked him curiously. "You would betray your friends to save your own life? I thought the X-men were all about self-sacrifice."

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"I've done enough self-sacrifice for a lifetime." Rhydian retorted, he looked back at the door with a worried expression. "Do we have a deal? Because if we do, you better supe me up quickly, those doors won't hold them for very long. Especially once Junior takes care of Rakkus."

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"Rakkus is more than capable of fending off your pitiful friends." Cortez told him with an over confident grin.

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"You have no idea what he's capable off, once he absorbs enough energy." Rhydian warned the ruler with great caution. "I saw that orb he had growing, he could destroy Rakkus's host body with that." He swallowed hard and looked back again, "And he probably has by now."

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Cortez was growing impatient and rather angry at the incompetence of his henchmen. He growled and ran his fingers through his hair. "Rise, Kavon, was it? I don't give power to those who cannot stand."

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Rising slowly, Rhydian stood before the ruler of Asteroid M, hoping he wasn't making a grave mistake. "Make sure it's permanent. I can't do anything if this boost wears off, Cortez."

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Grimacing, Cortez nodded. "Very well...just fulfill your end of the bargain and you can keep the power." He told him as he clasped his hands down on the young man's shoulders, sending his mutant ability surging into every cell of Rhydian's body.

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Rhydian's scream could be heard outside of the supposedly sound-proof annex chamber. Pure energy surged through his body, fortifying every fiber of his being, strengthening areas he didn't even know were weak. He could feel it deep inside that he was becoming more than he was. He was confident now, confident that he could use his powers now without any complications.

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Cortez released him and stumbled back a few steps, granting so much power took a drain on him physically. He grimaced at the forced show of weakness. "Now go and make due on your bargain, or I shall return what is mine."

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Now filled with his new found power, Rhydian nodded. "I am a man of my word. You'll have them in no time. Starting with the two on the other side of this door." He lifted his hands and in a manner to pay homage to the true ruler of Avalon, he shifted the metal doors apart and stepped into the asteroid m throne room