double-vacancy states undergo strong amplification in relativistic self-trapped plasma channels on 3d → 2p transitions in the λ = 2.78–2.81 Å region. The ²P_3/2 → ²S_1/2 component at λ 2.786 Å exhibits saturated amplification demonstrated by both (1) the observation of spectral hole-burning in the spontaneous emission profile and (2) the correlated enhancement of 3p → 2s cascade transitions (²S_1/2 → ²P_j; j = 1/2, 3/2) at λ = 2.558 Å and λ = 2.600 Å. The condition of saturation places a lower limit of ~10¹⁷ W cm⁻² on the intensity of the x-ray beam produced by the amplification in the channel. The anomalous strength of the amplification signalled by the saturation mirrors the equivalently anomalous behaviour observed for all 3d → 2p transitions corresponding to single-vacancy Xe^q+ arrays (q = 31, 32, 34, 35, 36) that exhibit gain. The conspicuous absence of amplification involving states with double-vacancy configurations suggests the operation of a selective interaction that enhances the production of states. Overall, the generation of double-vacancy states of this genre demonstrates that an excitation rate approaching ~1 W/atom for ionic species is achievable in self-trapped plasma channels.