She looked at me, then Tucker, and then Sam in a stately fashion, letting her eyes quickly appraise each of us in turn. Satisfied, she relaxed into an easy smile, and became comfortable enough to stand rather than float- a comfort for us all, actually.
The power plant whirred with silent energy. Forgotten machines randomly discharging sparks and the creatures that had made homes within them scratching and rustling amongst wires and metal. But it was a cold silence, and it was less appreciated by me than it was this stranger. Sam shifted her weight to her left boot, skepticism written all over her face and crossed arms. Tucker looked mildly unsettled, and I caught him trying to catch my eye for further instruction. For my part I was impatient, and the sounds and hums of this destitute building were amplifying my annoyance.
It bothered me that I didn't know anything about her. The Ghost Zone was infinite; there had to be billions of ghosts I didn't know. But only a handful ever featured recurring appearances in Amity Park, and they all had a beef with me. If there was a ghost I hadn't met it usually ended up in a fight. And then more once the relationship had been established. But the regulars had been quiet; Vlad had been even more so. If there was a new ghost, one of the others might have shown her the ropes to get their own edge. My reputation was enough that most of my usual opponents knew what they dealt with, and they weren't above partnering up if it put them ahead of the game, especially if that 'partner' was naive enough to work as a pawn. The only time I saw a ghost without attachments was if they had their own agenda, and that made them unknown, and dangerous.
I cleared my throat. "Are we gonna do this the easy way or do I have to bring out the big guns?"
She looked mildly offended as she broke out of her reverie. She tightened her lips as she regained her easy composure.
"My apologies, Mr. Pha- Danny." She smiled again as she corrected herself.
"Can we speed this up? I have a curfew to maintain if I want my allowance." Tucker tapped the screen of his PDA.
Sam looked at him strangely. "Your allowance?"
Tucker shrugged. "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do if he wants to keep Nasty Burger privileges."
Sam rolled her eyes.
"What's your name?" I tried again. Tucker was right, it was getting late, and my parents already had their suspicions about my 'extracurricular' activities.
She looked at us all again before answering.
"I have been called many things: Augury, Cataclysm... But I prefer Calamity."
"Calamity? That's a little… catastrophic, don't you think?" Tucker looked concerned.
Sam just looked put off. "Really? You have all eternity to pick a name and you choose Calamity? What is it with ghosts and names?"
I ignored them. "Fine. Calamity. What are you doing here?"
Now it was Calamity's turn to look irritated. "Danny, I've come with a warning."
She didn't bother with formalities this time. Her face crossed with complete sternness and severity. All traces of her former etiquette and royal demeanor had disappeared.
Tucker threw his hands up. "A warning? Now? Where have YOU been?"
Calamity didn't acknowledge him. "Heed my words and heed them well, Phantom.
"Two paths lie ahead in wake
One exists with your mistake
Make careful what your choices bring
Or fear the wrath of tyrant king."
We watched her fade away, quickly enveloped by spectral light and leaving nothing behind her.
There was silence for a moment.
"You know, I bet she'd get along with Mr. Lancer." Tucker supplied, squinting at the spot Calamity had taken moments before.
Sam moved to stand beside me. "Looks like the dry spell's over."
"Yeah. But now comes the storm."