Happy Halloween!!
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
That Time La Sirena was Briefly Haunted
“There seems to be something wrong with the ship.” “Aye,” Ian piped up, “that’s the problem. She’s in ship-shape. There’s nothin’ seemingly wrong with her.” “Then maybe it’s a ghost,” Jurati offered. The crew turned to stare at her. “You can’t seriously believe in ghosts.” Seven groaned. “Well, not actually-” Jurati fumbled, “it was just like... it’s October back on earth. Ya know?” She offered. “Spooky month!” She joked, adding jazz hands for emphasis.
if you don't have AO3, the fic is under the cut!! (tho if you do have AO3, please come give me some love on there)
It all started with a sound.
A long, rattling, creaking, moan that didn’t sound unlike something you’d expect to be the strangled last cry of a Star-ship on its final days. The sound started at nightfall and kept on until dawn. Or rather, the subsequent times on a clock that one would associate with night and day when drifting aimlessly in the vast emptiness of space.
The sound had been going on for just about 10 days when someone finally said something.
“Rios, how long exactly have you had this ship?” Admiral Picard asked, staring at Captain Rios expectantly over his third cup of earl grey.
“I don’t know,” Rios answered pacing, “but not long enough that she would be expected to be...” he turned around and gestured vaguely, “Doing that.”
“Doing what?” Elnor asked, emerging from his quarters with his usual inquisitive look.
“Rios thinks La Sirena’s dying.” Raffi interjected. She was seated at her usual spot at the console with a warm cup of coffee in her hands.
“Ah!!” Rios exclaimed, waving his hands around as if batting an imaginary fly, “No. No. No jinxing it."
“I'm just saying, with those sounds?” Raffi shook her head, “I'm surprised the hull isn’t already splintering apart as we speak.”
“What sounds?” Elnor asked again, glancing between the stunned looks on his crew mates faces. “Are you all attempting to ‘prank’ me again?” he asked with a nervous expression.
“Nah lad,” Ian said as he fizzled into existence beside him, “they’re all just a wee bit dumbfounded that those Romulan ears haven’t been picken’ up the racket every night.”
Elnor pursed his lips in thought.
“Oh!” he exclaimed, eyes lighting up, “If you mean Seven and Raffi, I usually tune them out because I know humans are uncomfortable with people acknowledging they’re having sex even though I can smell it on them every morn-”
“NO!” Raffi and Seven shouted in unison, both of them turning a shade of red.
“N-no, Elnor, not... that.” Picard chimed in, shaking his head as he let the deep-space lesbians recover for a second. “There seems to be something wrong with the ship.”
“Aye,” Ian piped up, “that’s the problem. She’s in ship-shape. There’s nothin’ seemingly wrong with her.”
“Then maybe it’s a ghost,” Jurati offered.
The crew turned to stare at her.
“You can’t seriously believe in ghosts.” Seven groaned.
“Well, not actually-” Jurati fumbled, “it was just like... it’s October back on earth. Ya know?” She offered.
“Spooky month!” She joked, adding jazz hands for emphasis.
“The sounds do only happen at night,” Soji offered, coming into the conversation with a warm cup of chai in her hands. “That is traditionally when paranormal activity happens.”
“You can’t seriously think that we’re dealing with a ghost.” Raffi groaned.
“I'm just saying; if Ian says that La Sirena’s fine, then maybe we should explore other possibilities.” Soji shrugged.
“And if on the very slim chance it does turn out to be a ghost, what do you expect me to do about it, hija?” Rios asked, crossing his arms.
“I don’t know,” Soji shrugged again. “Talk to Mister H, maybe he can exorcise it. Dealing with ghosts does seem to be more of the hospitality department than an engineering one.”
“Okay, but nobody’s died on La Sirena. There’s no way that there’s a ghost on the ship.” Seven argued, shaking her head.
“Well Jurati did kill Bruce Maddox.” Elnor piped up. “Maybe it’s him.”
Jurati shifted in place. “I did tell him I was sorry-”
“Maybe it’s the ‘spirit of whimsy’ all of you have apparently lost.” Soji mumbled.
“Elnor,” Raffi interjected, “you’re like... a nun? Kind of?” She asked. Elnor just blinked at her. Confused. “Do the Qowat Milat have anything to help with banishing spirits?”
“We don’t believe in human ghosts.” Elnor shrugged. “They’re only in fake stories that parents tell to their kids to make them eat their kranyah.”
“So we’ve just decided that what is probably a rationally explained sound is a ghost haunting us?” Seven asked, exasperated.
“Yes.” Elnor nodded.
“No-” Raffi sighed, “I think we’re all just tired.” She sighed.
“Yes,” Picard nodded, “I do believe we should be heading to bed sometime, it’s late.”
“Shouldn’t someone stay up and keep watch for the ghost?” Jurati asked.
Seven groaned, turning on her heels and making her way to hers and Raffi’s shared quarters.
“I can,” Elnor offered, “I’m not tired.” He said with a shrug, reaching his hand back for his Tan Qalanq.
Raffi stood up, walking over to rest a hand on Elnor’s shoulder. “Sweetie, you conk out almost every night at 22:30. You’re going to bed.”
Elnor grumbled something under his breath in Romulan as he let Raffi lead him to his quarters.
“Okay, so we’re just... going to bed?” Jurati asked.
“That’s all we can do.” Rios shrugged. “If it makes you feel better, Emmett can watch out.” He added, yelling out Emmett's name again. A short moment later, the Emergency Tactical Hologram appeared, already kicking his feet up on the dash and throwing an arm over his eyes.
“That is, if he stays awake,” Picard chuckled.
“Emmett!” Rios exclaimed, kicking the stand-in pilot’s chair. “Keep your eyes open for ghosts, okay?”
“Ghosts?” Emmett groaned, muttering something that probably amounted to calling the idea silly in Spanish under his breath.
“Alright, now that that’s sorted, I’m heading in too.” Picard said with a weary sigh. “Goodnight,”
After a few more moments of watching Emmett completely disregard his previous instructions in favour of a nap, Soji, Jurati, and Rios decided to turn in for the night as well. Even Ian fizzled out to get some well earned downtime from a day of running ship diagnostics.
Soon enough, the sound started again. Just as haunting and horrible as the previous nights before it. A groaning, rumbling, moaning noise that shook the metal plates of the vents and floor. It would ebb and flow, fading a bit before coming back louder again, never quite dying out until the clock struck 06:00.
“So,” Rios asked the next morning over a strong cup of coffee, “how did everyone sleep?”
A collective groan was the general answer throughout the crew, only Elnor answering with a chipper smile over his bowl of fruit.
“You still didn’t hear anything?” Soji asked, bewildered.
“No,” Elnor asked, “am I supposed to?”
“Kid, I think you should go see Emil and get your hearing checked.” Seven muttered into her sad bowl of cornflakes.
“Yeah, it was louder than ever last night,” Soji exclaimed.
“Maybe we should dock at the next station for a while, just to be safe,” Raffi offered.
Rios pushed himself up from the table, meandering his way up the stairs to the bridge. “I’ll lay in a course for Deep Space 14.”
“Maybe Elnor should stay up tonight, see if he can hear anything.” Jurati offered. “Maybe he’d be able to pinpoint the sound for us.”
“That is, if his ears even work.” Seven mumbled.
“My ears work just fine.” Elnor mentioned, “I can hear the fact that you’ve been tapping your foot against the floor in frustration for the last fifteen minutes.”
“Still wouldn’t hurt to check,” Emil offered, appearing with his hand on Elnor’s shoulder, behind him. “Come on, young man, it won’t take very long.”
Elnor dejectedly walked off to the med bay, lead by Emil, who was already scanning him for any possible red flags.
“How can he not hear it?” Jurati asked once Elnor had left, puzzled.
“Well, the boy did live through multiple crises,” Picard offered, “maybe he’s grown so his brain blocks out any noise that’s not an immediate danger to him.”
“That’d make sense,” Raffi mentioned, “the ship we helped the Romulans escape on was not quiet in the slightest, and he was sleeping like a baby in my arms.” She offered. Her expression warmed at the memory.
“That’s because he was a baby, Raffi,” Picard poked at her with a chuckle.
“It’s great it’s not affecting him, but we need a solution for us.” Rios interjected, “Or else we’re all going to be zombies by next Tuesday.” He added, frustrated.
“Zombies!” Soji exclaimed, standing up from the table with shocking speed. “That’s it!!”
The whole table just stared at her, confused.
“Agnes, when you’re done, I need you. Meet me in my quarters,” she instructed, running quickly up the stairs. “You too, Elnor!” She shouted from the stairway. Jurati followed her swiftly, closely tailed by Elnor, who had been given a clean bill of health, ears and all.
“So, seriously,” Seven started, “what are we going to do about this mystery noise?”
“I don’t know. I’ll keep getting Ian to run diagnostics, but if he can’t find anything...” Rios sighed and raked a hand through his hair. “We might have to be docked for several weeks to figure it out,”
“Or we invest in earplugs.” Picard joked.
After their morning discussion, life went on as usual. Chris took up the helm, Raffi joining him at her usual station. Picard and Seven found their areas to sit and watch space go by as they made their trek through the stars, ever closer to Deep Space 14.
About thirty minutes later Soji emerged from her quarters in a pair of black medical scrubs. Her hair was tied back in a low ponytail with an old stethoscope slung around her shoulders. She was followed closely by Jurati and Elnor. The pair wearing a beige jumpsuit with a crudely drawn crossed out cartoon ghost on it, and a blue and red Letterman jacket over a red university t-shirt respectively.
“What’s this all about?” Raffi asked once the trio got within earshot.
“Dress-up!” Soji explained proudly. “It’s an old earth tradition for people to dress up in costumes to ward off ghosts and evil spirits.”
“Though, for historical accuracy we should probably be carrying a carved turnip or pumpkin or something.” Jurati added.
“Okay, so you’re trying to scare off a ghost dressed as...” Raffi trailed off, taking in the trio’s costumes. “A nurse, a cleaner-”
“I’m actually a ghost-buster.” Jurati interjected, “it’s an Earth movie from somewhere around the 1980s. They remove ghosts from places.”
“Fitting.” Rios added.
“Okay, then what’s he supposed to be?” Seven asked, pointing at Elnor’s bland combo.
“I’m a werewolf.” He stated with a shrug, as if it was obvious.
“Is that my old jacket?” Rios asked, puzzled.
“Where’s the wolf part?” Seven asked.
“Oh!” Soji exclaimed, dashing over to Elnor and popping a headband with two fluffy brown dog ears onto his head. “I forgot that.” She added.
“How is this going to help, exactly? It’s not like any of you are actually... scary.” Picard asked.
“Are you kidding?” Emil interjected, appearing beside Soji. “The 21st century’s medical tactics were downright barbaric!” Soji nodded beside him.
“Alright then,” Rios said with a sigh, “go have fun with whatever this is,”
“Now that I think about it, I do remember history saying something about... candy on Halloween?” Jurati offered.
“Ooh! Great idea!” Soji cheered, leading the group down to the mess hall.
“That’s not going to end well.” Picard sighed.
“Don’t let Elnor have any chocolate!” Raffi called after them. “You know what that makes him do!” Though, her warnings fell on seemingly deaf ears.
“I’ll go make sure they don’t harm themselves,” Emil muttered, fading out to go supervise.
The rest of the day went on as usual, with little of note happening, except for a few minor brushes with a paring knife when the festive trio attempted to carve any type of gourd that the replicator would spit out at them.
And that night, once everyone had gone to bed, like clockwork, the noises began again. The “ghost” hadn’t been scared off, and Ian had still found nothing that could make the ghastly sound. Pillows were tossed over heads, computers played music or white noise or anything that could possibly distract from the rumbling groan of the walls around them.
“Elnor!” Rios exclaimed the second that the boy emerged from his quarters in the morning, “you’re staying up with me tonight.”
“Why?” Elnor asked.
“You might not be able to hear it in your quarters...” Raffi started with a yawn.
“...but we need your help to at least pinpoint where the noise is coming from. So you’re with Rios on night watch duty.” Seven finished.
“Oh.”
“So take it easy today, hermano,” Rios instructed, “I don’t want you falling asleep tonight and missing it.”
--- --- ---
That night, when the rest of the crew of La Sirena was getting some much needed, peaceful sleep, Rios and Elnor sat at her helm, waiting.
Though, then the computer’s clocks struck what would be considered “nighttime” nothing happened.
La Sirena -except for the soft humming of the engine and the occasional beep of the computer systems- was silent.
“Are you hearing something I can’t?” Elnor asked, head tilting like a puppy as his ears twitched to try to pick up whatever fabled sound the crew had been complaining of.
“Figures.” Rios spat. “The one night you’re awake and the ship’s silent.”
“Maybe it’s stopped?” Elnor offered.
“Maybe.” Rios muttered under his breath. “Hopefully.”
The whole night, and on through until dawn, La Sirena remained quiet. Leaving nothing for Rios or Elnor to do but chat quietly and twiddle their thumbs.
“Did you find the problem?” Picard asked in the morning.
The rest of the crew looked well rested, having relished the quiet of the night for their sleep.
“No, actually.” Rios said quietly, rubbing his temples. “There was no noise for him to track.” he groaned, gesturing to Elnor who was nodding off in his chair.
“Maybe the ghosts like Elnor?” Jurati offered.
“Maybe,” Rios acknowledged. “Whatever the cause, it doesn’t matter anymore. I’m heading to bed.” The added yawn at the end punctuated his choice as he made his way to his quarters. “Make the kid sleep too!” He called as he shut his door.
Raffi nodded, making her way over to where Elnor had curled up in one of the chairs at the helm. “You heard him kiddo, let’s get you to bed.” She said, squeezing his shoulder gently.
Elnor was already sound asleep, breathing softly and quietly purring as Raffi rubbed his shoulder.
“C’mon kiddo,” She said quietly, rousing him from his slumber.
The others talked quietly around the breakfast table as Raffi guided Elnor to bed, chatting about dreams and other things.
Though, it wasn’t too long until the morning’s peace was broken by none other than that same rumbling moan that had haunted them for the past weeks.
Rios burst from his quarters, hair still messed from sleep a few minutes after it started, shouting some curses that thankfully the universal translator aboard knew better than to translate them.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Again?” Raffi groaned, throwing back her head in defeat.
“Where’s the kid? We need the kid. He can show us where it’s coming from.” Rios exclaimed, dashing down the hall and already knocking on Elnor’s door. The others rushed to join him, eager to get Elnor’s input.
“Hermano! Open up!” he exclaimed, knocking on his door to no avail. “Hermano?” Rios called again, knocking louder. “Elnor? Kid?”
“Maybe the ghosts got him.” Soji offered sarcastically.
Rios moved quickly, typing in the access code override to Elnor’s keypad and stepping in the door. The noise got louder as the door opened, a deep rumbling emanating from somewhere inside the Romulan boy’s room.
“You’ve got to be joking.” Raffi said flatly as she stepped in after Rios.
Elnor was curled up in bed, sleeping soundly and purring quietly, cuddled comfortably in his blankets with his back against the wall. Just above where him and his blankets connected to La Sirena’s steel wall, was an air conditioning vent cover.
It was him.
His sleep-purring had been echoing through the air vents like a massive noise machine.
Elnor was the “ghost”.
Soji burst out in laughter at the sight of the “ghost”, waking the poor boy. And sure enough, as soon as Elnor’s back was off of the wall, the noise stopped.
Elnor’s confused gaze darted from one person to the next as he wiped a thin trail of sleepy drool from the corner of his mouth. His long dark hair was tangled every which way and the soft t-shirt and shorts that he slept in were wrinkled beyond belief. “Wha-?” he mumbled, squinting at the light that the hallway behind his friends let in.
“Elnor!” Picard exclaimed, a hearty laugh punctuating his words, “It’s you! You’re the ghost!”
“What?” Elnor asked again.
“Up!” Raffi squawked, “Up! Up!” She waved him out of bed, Elnor's socks sliding ever so slightly on the floor as he stumbled out of his nice warm bed. He watched in confusion as Raffi and Rios tugged on his bed, pulling it away from the wall and pushing it to the other side of the small room.
“Were you aware you purr in your sleep?” Picard asked him, offering a steadying hand on Elnor’s shoulder.
“Most Romulans purr when they feel safe,” Elnor nodded softly, mind clumsily kicking into gear, “and loved.” He added after a yawn.
“Good to know you feel safe with us, kid.” Rios smiled, patting the young man on the shoulder. “Now that all is right with the world, Elnor, Hermano, for the love of god, stay away from the air vents or else you’re sleeping in an airlock, alright?”
Elnor nodded, eyes starting to fall closed again. He held tight to the blankets around his shoulders like a cape.
“He doesn’t actually mean that last part,” Picard reassured Elnor as the rest of the crew filed out of his room. Elnor just nodded again.
“Can I go back to sleep now?” He asked quietly, blinking slowly as he sat back down heavily on the edge of his mattress.
“Of course kiddo,” Raffi offered. “You get your rest.”
Elnor flopped over like a rag-doll onto his pillow again, already beginning to purr again as he drifted back off. This time, no sound echoed. Picard smiled to himself as Raffi shut the door behind them.
“Teenagers.” Picard said with a chuckle.
“Romulans.” Rios replied, eyebrows raising as punctuation.
And with that revelation, and Elnor’s bed having been moved to a different wall, the threat of ghosts on La Sirena greatly diminished. The glorious allowance of sleep was restored to the crew, and new diagnostic criterion was added to Ian’s systems.
When in doubt: check for ghosts. Or Romulans.
