Chapter 3: Confrontation

Martin hesitated for a moment before running to the door. He looked out and saw the dragon and rider below, both falling toward the land. The two slowly merged into one figure and swept back upward to the ghost ship that was drifting slowly away.

Martin turned and ran back to the control room and arrived in front of the captain. After he had explained his short meeting, the captain flew into action.

"Full right rudder, down ten degrees, left engine ahead full, right back. Let's turn this ship around!"

The Wind Rider turned very slowly and came to course on the tail of the ghost ship. The captain realigned the ship and ordered that the ship be brought along side. The slowly caught up the other vessel and pulled along side. Just as the engines were being slowed, a message came up from the hanger.

"Captain, intruders in the hanger, two dragons and their riders. No words from them yet but the haven't seen us. They are armed but don't seem hostile. Orders?"

The captain responded and told the workmen to stay hidden while he formed a party of crewmen to meet the visitors. Martin was not one of them, but he followed them from a distance. The party arrived in the hanger and formed a group a safe distance from the riders and dragons. Martin saw that the captain had his revolver tucked in his belt.

One of the riders looked up at the captain and walked slowly forward. He was the same man as Martin had seen. He was lanky and was a few inches taller than the captain. He wore a blue jacket with strange ribs on the sleeves that Martin supposed were metal to protect the rider's arms. He also wore thick pants and boots that rose to his knees. A pair of goggles was situated on his forehead in a comical manner and he had a smile on his face. He saluted the captain in the same manner as he had Martin and spoke.

"Hi there. This is Tron, my dragon. That's Matthias and his dragon Hoth. My name is Carn. You must be the captain of this fine ship. The Wind Rider, no?"

The captain nodded, stunned. He shook Carn's outstretched hand and nodded again. He didn't know what to do with this strange person who had flown into his ship on a dragon.

He didn't need to do anything as Carn turned and yelled to the other rider. "Matthias come here and say hello. We should be friendly to these people."

The other rider got up from his position by the door and came forward. He was shorter that Carn and not as lanky. He wore a white jacket with a red fur around the neck. His pants and boot were the same as Carn's and he also wore goggles. His face was something Martin had never seen. The eyes were sharp and bright yellow. His hair was white and spiky. A very long sword hung at his side and a dagger stuck out of his boot.

"Hello," he said simply as he also shook the captain's hand.

"Welcome gentlemen," the captain replied and motioned the men to come further into the ship. "Would you care to join us in the lounge? Food is available if you want to…"

Matthias shook his head. "No, we must return to our ship. You are welcome there any time if you wish. We are in troubled airspace and it would be best for the ships to stay together. Come Carn, we have work to do."

With that, he sprinted to the door and jumped out into open air with his dragon behind him. Carn shrugged, smiled at the captain, and followed into thin air.