Consequences of Quicksilver

It spells bad news when the mercury rises in every thermometer across the entire planet. Ask any phase II suzerain of the Cybertronian Empire and they will tell you that the most economical way to cyberform an organic world is to start with raising its temperature. It was in these early stages of the cyberforming of Earth during the 24th Century that Ultra Magnus and his cadets undertook a covert mission to the surface of the planet.

Defeat the monster and save the world, he had once told Optimus Prime. Defeating the monster would have to wait until after he had saved the world.

London, England. 2359.

Most of the city had flooded when the icecaps had melted, but now, with the planet’s atmosphere completely drained away, there was almost no water left. An Autobot shuttle rested in the trough where the river Thames used to flow. Ultra Magnus (trying not to step on anyone) tried his best to direct as many survivors as possible onto the craft.

Not that there were many survivors. Roughly 70% of the entire human race had died from either radiation burns or dehydration. Without the atmosphere, there was no protection from the Sun’s harmful rays. Nearly every river had evaporated in the heat, leaving the Earth without fresh water. The oceans were drying up fast, but even then, the salt water was poisonous.

The streets of Westminster pulsed with the panic of the fittest and most determined survivors. They screamed, fought, and clawed their way to the shuttle. If Ultra Magnus could at least transport enough people to maintain the human race while he found a suitable replacement for Earth, then he would consider his mission a success.

His loyal cadets were in similar situations in ten other locations around the world. He kept his thoughts with them, praying that they would be successful too. Magnus had ordered a radio silence, just in case the machines above found out what they were up to. He was sure they’d be found out eventually; Star Saber had his minions everywhere, but Magnus would deal with that at the time.

The Earth was in a bad shape, and soon it would be covered under millions of tonnes of metal. Mother Nature would be sealed within an alloy coffin. If the Earth was important to Optimus Prime, then by extension as an Autobot, it was important to Magnus, too. And he would do everything in his power to somehow save the human race.

Ultra Magnus squeezed his temples, and his thoughts returned to this alternate Earth in 2002. It was if the nightmare had begun again.

“Sir, I’ve got Warcry and Ox digging out any survivors that Chicane can find,” reported Hot Shot. “Crosswise, Sideburn, Daytonus and Rev are ferrying the injured to the nearest hospitals. Speedtrap and Oilslick are directing the walking wounded to safer areas of the city.”

“Good work, Hot Shot,” praised Ultra Magnus.

“The Build Team are on their way to help with the rebuilding. But Fire Convoy is not happy about this at all.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll deal with him. Repairing the damage here is our priority right now and if he doesn’t realise how—"

A sudden tremor shook the city. Ultra Magnus made a quick optical sweep to make sure no more buildings would collapse. “Chicane, see if you can trace the source of the tremor.”

The small green and black robot flipped his visor over his helmet and began scanning. “Tecton sensors indicate surface movement radiating from a bearing of four-zero-seven.”

Ultra Magnus glanced around. “That would be… this direction,” he said, pointing into the mist above the city.

Chicane glanced in the same direction. “Sir, I’m scanning radio frequencies coming from that mountain.” He paused and adjusted the visual frequency of his visor. “There’s some kind of metallic building on the summit.”

“What?”

“Yeah, looks like some kind of giant plug. A stopper, maybe?”

Ultra Magnus immediately recognised the description. “It can’t be,” he whispered. “Galvatron’s volcanic energy siphon?”

A second tremor hit the area, stronger than the first. Chicane was caught off guard and lost his balance. “Sir, I get the feeling that’s a volcano and it’s about to blow.”

“Then we better work faster and get these humans to safety.” Ultra Magnus spoke into his communicator and transformed into car carrier mode. “Autobots, get as many humans into my trailer as you can.”

A third tremor hit and nearby buildings began to crumble and fall.

“Hurry!” called Ultra Magnus. “We’re running out of time.”

On the outskirts of the city, David Siddons and Jennifer Butler piloted their transport vehicle through the mist. David kept his eye on the dashboard scanners.

“I’m picking up eleven Transformers in the middle of the town.” He pointed out of the windscreen. “Down there.”

“I see them… ten cars and a transporter.”

“White cab, blue and grey trailer… is that Ultra Magnus?”

“Bloody good luck if it is!”

Jennifer pushed forward on the steering wheel and brought the vehicle in to land. She felt a powerful rumbling as they touched down. “I thought you’d given this thing a tune-up!”

“I did,” said David. “Didn’t you know El Salvador is a highly volcanic region.”

“Not another volcano!”

“Looks like it,” said David as he glanced into the rear-view mirror to see the eruption of the San Miguel volcano.

With a full payload of ten Autobots and roughly one hundred residents of downtown San Miguel, Ultra Magnus sluggishly pulled away and accelerated. David’s transport vehicle folded in its wings and afterburners, converting to its unassuming BMW mode and roared up behind Ultra Magnus.

“Is he running away from us or the volcano?” asked Jennifer.

“Just keep your foot down while I try to attract his attention.”

“And how are you going to do that? Throw stones at his window?”

The volcano spat out its molten lava, which immediately flowed towards the city. Unlike Mount St Hilary, the magma was quick and runny. It reached the outskirts of the town within minutes and was accelerating fast.

“Shields!” cried David as hot rocks and mud rained on top of their car. An energy shield enveloped the car.

“This is going to sting,” said Ultra Magnus as he too was hit.

Both vehicles pushed their engines in an effort to out-run the lava flow. Buildings caved into the flow as it melted their foundations. Ultra Magnus could feel the heat at his rear, but it was no good. The extra weight he was carrying was slowing him down.

“We’re not going to make it!” said Jennifer through gritted teeth, her knuckles white at the steering wheel.

She was right. The lava caught up with them and coated Ultra Magnus and the BMW in red-hot magma. From the sounds of overheating engines to deathly silence, their views blurred from red to black.