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He strode into the poorly lit cell, observing the bald prisoner bound to a wheelchair. Though the prisoner was not facing him, he could tell that the captive was aware of his presence. "Well, Xavier? How does it feel to know that before long, I shall cripple the X-Men, and with them, you're dream for mutant and human coexistence?"

"I have nothing to say to you Bastion." He remained facing away from his captor. Xavier knew that his X-Men could handle the most dangerous of threats, even himself. Yet at the same time, there was something about Bastion that allowed doubts to form in his mind.

"Of course you don't, Xavier, because there is nothing that you can say. Everything that you have struggled for, that you have sacrificed for, that you have strived for, gone. In the blink of an eye." Bastion turned on his heel, and headed back towards the door. "Now that all of the pieces are in place, only one thing remains in order to acquire the means to finish the X-Men, and take my seat of power in this country, and soon perhaps the world: my sale of you." Leaving Xavier to wonder what was meant by his words, Bastion exited the cell, heading back to his center of operations.

With a sigh of contentment, Bastion sat himself down in the command chair of the op center. Completely surrounded by banks of video screens displaying various scenes, the flashing computer terminals, and workers scurrying about, Bastion turned his attentions inwards to his ultimate plan that was rapidly becoming realized. From the beginning where he first started to analyze the X-Men, to finding their weaknesses, to capturing the young one, Jubilee and destroying the clone of the one they called Mondo. To killing Graydon Creed and making the man a martyr for his cause. But the move of mastery was getting Xavier. What a foolish woman Valerie Cooper was. Handing the man right to him. Bastion was so lost in deep thought, that he didn't even notice that the workers who had been everywhere were no longer present. It wasn't until a couple of moments later that Bastion noticed the complete silence. That meant only one thing. He smiled.

"Well done, Bastion. You have fulfilled your part of the bargain admirably," the deep voice said from behind him. Bastion stood and turned, taking in the sight of the man who promised him the power to finish his conquest.

"I thought so, Nathaniel. But then, haven't I always come through for you, ever since we attended the University together?" Bastion replied.

"Mm. Yes, I'll agree that you have always been a more than acceptable associate, even during our days as Horsemen together." Sinister replied, out of sincerity, but more so in order to judge the other man's reaction.

Bastion cringed at the memory. He made a mental note to kick himself for reacting to Sinister's obvious ploy. "Even still, I was surprised to hear from you after all of these years, after..." he trailed off.

"After Apocalypse stripped you of your powers?" Sinister offered, a little too readily.

"Yes," Bastion uttered somewhat ashamed. "But then, that's where you come in, no?"

"Yes," Sinister grinned widely. "In exchange for Xavier, I will return to you, your powers with the new process that I have told you about."

"I am more than ready to undergo the process as soon as possible, Nathaniel," Bastion said eagerly. "To finally return back to my former self, after so many years..."

"Indeed. It should not be difficult. As I said, when my telepath looked into your mind, she reported that Apocalypse has placed blocks in strategic places in your mind that repress your powers. Removing them shouldn't be difficult." Sinister replied.

"Excellent," Bastion hissed.

Like being blindfolded. A perfect analogy. Losing telepathy is like losing one of your senses. Especially when it came as easily as it did to Charles Xavier. But it wasn't just losing a sense. It was losing a form of communication. No longer could he feel his X-Men's minds... Scott's confidence, or lack of it, Bishop's fierce protectiveness, Logan's wildness, Jean's calmness. No longer. He was mentally naked now. All that was left was his mind, and his mind only. *Just like the billions of humans on this planet, Charles,* he thought to himself. *There's no reason to complain about being a normal human now. Except when I'm being held prisoner by this madman,* he thought. God how he missed his powers now. *What had Bastion meant about selling me?* he wondered for the thousandth time since his captor's departure.

Suddenly he heard the lock of the cell door click, and light flooded the dark cell as the door was flung open. In the bright light, he could make out several silhouettes, none recognizable.

"Charles Xavier. The world's foremost telepath. Or former telepath," an unfamiliar woman said, as she strode to his wheelchair. She leaned down to look him in the eyes, and cupped his chin in her palm. "At one time, Charles, I wouldn't have even thought to challenge you and your limitless powers. But now, you're no better than a human. And you are no match for my telepathic powers."

Charles could hear snickers from the group outside the door. "Get 'im, 'Down" one voice said. "Let's go, Breakdown, put him under and let's get him to Sinister," another said.

"Never time for conversation, eh Charlie?" She closed her eyes, and Xavier soon found it impossible to stay awake. As his eyelids shut, his last thoughts were of who these people entering his cell could be, and why would Sinister want him?