Disclaimer: I do not own either Power Rangers or Mazinger Z. No profit is being made from this story.
It was a quiet day at the Photon Power Labs. It had been several weeks since Dr. Hell had launched an attack and everyone was making the most of the peace wave while it lasted.
Yumi Sayaka was sitting in her room contentedly reading a book. She wondered what her father was currently up to. Whatever it was she hoped he was relaxing. While she understood that they needed to be vigilant as long as Dr Hell was still at large, she also knew that everyone needed at least some time to enjoy themselves or they would collapse from exhaustion.
She looked up as her father, Dr Yumi's voice came over the intercom. "Sayaka, please report to the hanger bays" he said.
Curious, Sayaka put her book down and stood up. If she needed to go to the hanger bay then her robot, Venus A, was probably involved somehow. But there hadn't been an alert and her father's voice hadn't sounded urgent so it couldn't be anything serious. Still, she had a feeling that something interesting was going to happen.
"Ah hello Sayaka" her father said as she arrived in the hanger bays, now wearing her white pilot suit with grey boots and gloves, and a cherry-red sash around her waist. With him were Koji, Shiro, the three professors and the other pilots of the Mazinger Army; Roll, Lori, Azuma and Maseo. Koji smiled at her and she smiled back.
"I have something very important to tell you."
"What is it father?"
"The professors and I have been developing a new Photon Power cell. We believe that when combined with their existing photonic engines, it will increase your robots' capabilities by 300%."
"That's amazing!" Sayaka exclaimed. "We'll easily be able to beat Dr. Hell's Mechanical Beasts now!"
"If it works" Azuma pointed out.
"Of course it will work!" Professor Morimori yelled indignantly. "We've been working on it day and night!"
"We want you to test the prototype in Venus A," said Dr Yumi. "If it's successful we'll install identical cells in the rest of the Mazinger Army."
"Right away father" Sayaka replied.
Soon afterwards Sayaka was in the cockpit of Venus A, running a few instrument checks. Everything seemed to be working fine.
"Are you sure about this Sayaka?" Koji's voice came over the com. "I can test the power cell in Mazinger Z if you like." He was trying to sound casual but she could tell he was concerned.
She giggled softly, touched by his regard for her well-being. "It's okay Koji-kun" she replied. "I'm just taking Venus A for a quick flight. I'm sure it will be fine."
"Okay. I'll see you soon."
"See you soon Koji-kun."
She activated Venus A's systems and flew out of the hanger bay, up into the bright blue sky. Its polished armour gleamed brightly in the sun.
In the Photon Power Labs, everyone was gathered in the control room and staring at the monitor eagerly as Venus A soared through the sky, the red glow of its thrusters clearly visible even in the sunshine. Sayaka's voice issued from the console speakers.
"All systems functioning properly. I'm activating the new power cell now."
Instantly Venus A was engulfed by a field of crackling yellow energy and the line filled with static. Everyone's eyes bulged in fear, especially those of Dr Yumi and Koji.
"Sayaka, what's going?" Dr Yumi asked frantically.
"Systems overloading… Trying to… But… aren't responding…" Sayaka answered, her words fading in and out of the hissing static. She sounded afraid but focused. Despite his own terror at what was happening Dr Yumi also felt a swell of pride for his daughter.
Everyone was forced to shield their eyes as the energy field around Venus A flared up, bright as a star. When they opened their eyes again the field was gone and so was Venus A. They all stared in horrified disbelief and dismay, each one hoping that what they were seeing was nothing more than an awful hallucination.
The colour had drained from Dr Yumi's face as he brokenly said, "Sayaka…" His voice was empty and hollow.
For a long moment Koji was silent, staring at the monitor in frozen shock. Then he began to tremble violently. Finally, he uttered a scream of pure anguish.
"SAYAKA!"
Sayaka cautiously opened her eyes. To her surprise everything seemed fine. Venus A's controls were responding normally and a quick scan detected no damage to its systems except for the experimental power cell which was completely burned out.
She closed her eyes briefly and sighed in relief. I'd better let father and the others know I'm okay she thought. They must be worried.
"Photon Power Labs, this is Venus A. Everything's fine" she said.
There was no reply. Puzzled, she checked the communications array. It was functioning normally. Then she looked through the canopy, down at the ground below, and her eyes widened.
There was no sign of the Photon Power Labs or Atami. Instead, below her was an unfamiliar cityscape.
What's going on? Where am I and how did I get here? Her head reeling, Sayaka's fingers moved over the controls almost automatically as she guided Venus A downwards and landed in the middle of a park. She opened the canopy, removed her helmet and stood up. Eyes closed she took several deep breaths of fresh air. Just as she was regaining her composure, she heard the all-too familiar sound of something huge and metallic approaching her. She glanced to the side and her jaw dropped.
"Mechanical Beasts!"