Double or Nothing

***Double or Nothing*** is the seventeenth *Ultimate Alien* chapter of *Clock 10: Choose Your Own Adventure*.

## Plot

Upon enjoying a meal in McRonald's, Clock and his group have their attention grabbed by the advertisement for a live show called Clock 10 Live, featuring somewhat miscolored versions of Chromastone, Slapback, and Spidermonkey, as well as an uncannily similar person to Clock portraying him. Clock decides the group should go, and attempts to invite Charmcaster, though to no avail.

The group arrive, with Clock having to bribe the usher to let them in. The play starts with a crude looking version of Vilgax threatening to destroy Earth using his moon base which is located on the moon. The actor Clock "transforms" into Slapback, including duplications that "transform" into Chromastone and Spidermonkey, and act out the fight, which includes a song and dance number by Kevin and the Tarynettes.

Although Clock loved the cheesiness of the play, Taryn was angered and determined to find the person responsible. Getting backstage with ease, they find the dressing room of the lead star. Clock greets him with praise, only for the individual to reveal themselves as Albedo. Clock utilizes a portal spell taught by Charmcaster to send Albedo out of the building, which draws the attention of the alien actors.

Caught off guard, Clock instinctively uses a spell that turns the Chromastone actor into a fern, though he's able to recover. The actors believe Albedo to have left without paying them on purpose, which Albedo upon return claims isn't true. Albedo also explains needing money and a place to stay after the events of *The Final Battle*, which explains the reason for creating Clock 10 Live, and having used a spacial communicator to send a signal that he was looking for actors for the show, eventually hiring Sugilite as Chromastone, Simian as Spidermonkey, and Nadropa as Slapback. He also explains this show is the last one, and uses a duffle bag full of Tayenite to sway the odds into his favor.

The three take their leave, but are stopped outside by Simian. Simian warns the group of Albedo's plan to turn everyone into a Clock copy so he's no longer alone in that regard, as ridiculous as it sounds. Clock uses a portal to the warehouse, where they see Albedo inside with an odd device. Simian explains the device is meant to protect himself, which Taryn tries to say doesn't make sense as Albedo already looks like Clock, but is unable to as Simian disappears.

Clock transforms into Frankenstrike and breaks into the warehouse. Albedo orders the actors, including Simian, to attack him and his team. Simian goes after Frankenstrike, telling him to "go with the act." Simian then uses his webs to flip Frankenstrike, getting him closer to the bomb. Frankenstrike tries attacking Albedo, but it is blocked by a force field generated by the bomb. Instead of a distance attack, Frankenstrike goes for a direct one up close, but the force field from the bomb reverts him to human.

Clock tries to use another portal on Albedo, but to no avail. The bomb then detonates, though with no injuries. The group finds a small figure lying on the ground in the rubble, and it is revealed to be Albedo in his Galvan form. Realizing what happened, Albedo reveals his actual plan was to fix his own DNA, which he admits is still somewhat corrupted from his first encounter with Clock, but being Galvan again is enough for him to wish to leave and never interact with Clock again. He also elaborates he can access any regular transformation now without a device.

However, Albedo ends up becoming human again, despite several attempts to become Galvan and remain as such. Enraged, Albedo is able to determine the Ultimatrix is what caused the issue. Simian reveals himself to have lead the group there, because he is "an actor, but also a dick." He also confirms himself to be "a 100% a-hole" when prompted. Still fueled by rage, Albedo takes on the form of Negative Astrodactyl, and flies into the air with Simian trapped in an energy whip.

Clock initially is willing to let Negative Astrodactyl do as he wishes with Simian, but is prompted by Taryn to go after him. Cursing his superhero mentality, Clock changes into Big Chill and gives chase. After a few attacks, Negative Astrodactyl lets Simian fall, and Big Chill catches him, only to be tackled by Negative Astrodactyl. Negative Astrodactyl changes to Negative Echo-Echo and attacks Big Chill with sonic waves.

While Big Chill tries freezing his clones, Negative Echo-Echo becomes Negative Brainstorm, blasting Big Chill violently with electricity. Taryn and Kevin attempt to help, which increases Negative Brainstorm's anger as he becomes Negative Rath. While Negative Rath goes for his team, Big Chill proceeds to become Atomix.

Atomix charges an attack, which backfires as Negative Rath levels the playing field by becoming Negative Atomix. Although conflicted on what exactly to do, Atomix decides upon changing into Chromastone. Negative Atomix charges up an attack, which Chromastone partially absorbs, seeing the rest of it being absorbed by Sugilite. Taryn shields herself, Kevin, Simian, and Nadropa, as Negative Atomix charges up an attack so overwhelming it knocks himself out and reverts him to human. Chromastone is forcibly changed into NRG due to the Ultimatrix's protection failsafe, but Sugilite was completely destroyed in the blast.

Simian wraps Albedo in webbing. NRG hopes to find those close to Sugilite to tell them of his demise, though Nadropa explains that with Mor' Otesi abandoned (as well as Petropia destroyed, one of the planets Crystalsapiens would've gone to post-abandonment) it's not likely anyone would be concerned. The episode ends with Sugilite getting a posthumous award for his efforts, while Albedo is apprehended by the Plumbers.

## Major Events

* Albedo returns, and gains the ability to transform without an Omnitrix or Ultimatrix, albeit without the Ultimate forms.
* Clock utilizes spells taught to him by Charmcaster for the first time.

## Characters

* Clockwork Firefly
* Taryn Firefly
* Kevin Levin

### Neutral

* Sugilite *(debut, death)*
* Nadropa *(debut)*
* Simian *(debut)*

## Aliens Used

### Clockwork Firefly

* Frankenstrike
* Big Chill
* Atomix
* Chromastone
* NRG *(unintentional)*

### Albedo

* Albedo's True Form *(3x)*
* Negative Astrodactyl
* Negative Echo-Echo
* Negative Brainstorm
* Negative Rath
* Negative Atomix

## Trivia

* The actors Albedo mentions rejecting are a Methanosian, Necrofriggian, Vaxasaurian, Piscciss Volann, Cerebrocrustacean, and Gourmand. The first three are a nod to Swamps, Fridge, and Hugh, who were the hired actors in the canon version of the episode, while the latter three are a nod to the unnamed rejected actors.
* Sugilite's death is a nod to the two-time occurance of Chromastone dying in the canon.