It was 9312.24 and Noel was saying good-bye to the handful of girls that had come to her birthday party. Though she was suppose to be sixteen, the two yahren's in cryogenic suspension had made sure she was only turning fourteen. Her sister, Electra had made sure that the quarters had been decorated in red, green and white with streamers and balloons. She had even made a cake with white frosting and red roses. This made Noel very happy and feel very special. They were still new in the Fleet and they were working hard to fit in, but they were also determined to keep their own traditions . . . One of which was a holiday called Taa-Osh.
 As Noel's last friend left, she turned to find Electra standing by the large portal staring out into space. Her dark hair was pulled back away from her face and decorated with green ribbons that set off her eyes. She wore a green blouse with darker green pants and a golden bead necklace fell around her neck. Electra held the beads up to her lips as if she were lost in her thoughts.
     "Well, everyone's gone," Noel smiled.
     Electra turned to gaze at her beautiful little sister. She had made sure to arrange everything perfectly for this night. She had even made a beautiful dress for Noel to wear at her party that  had the color theme for Taa-Osh. She had also placed Noel's hair in a pollyanna-style and curled it. She looked like an angel, Electra thought.
     "Did you like your party?" she asked.
     "I loved it!" Noel replied enthusiastically.
     Electra smiled. "Good! Now get your nightgown on and go to bed. I'll be there in a little while."
     "Okay . . ." Slowly Noel grabbed the stuffed daggit she had received as one of her gifts, and headed to bed.   But as she reached the entryway, she stopped and turned to her sister. When will we put up popcorn strings and paper chains?"
     "Tomorrow . . ."
     "But it'll already be Taa-Osh."
     Electra sighed and went to Noel, gently caressing her cheek. "I know . . . But this is how it has to be for now."
     "We don't even have a tree . . . Dad would have insisted on a tree . . ."
     "But dad didn't live in space," Electra countered with a tender smile.
     Noel looked down as if ready to cry and without hesitation, Electra took her in a warm embrace.
     "Noel, I know it's difficult . . . Last year we didn't celebrate Taa-Osh at all while you were going through your intensive therapy and I was going through Colonial Warrior training, and this year . . . Well, we just have to make due with what we have for now . . . We're strong. We can do this . . . I love you . . ." Gently, she kissed Noel's forehead and sent her to bed.
     For several moments, Electra stood staring at the now lonely room. Slowly, she made her rounds, gathering up the party decorations. This Taa-Osh was going to be the most difficult for them, she thought. Truly their first out in space. Back when she had been a child, she remembered the tree had always been what had made Taa-Osh so special when their father would suddenly appear with one. Then, after it was decorated it was as if it had been touched by magic. Yes, she thought, this Taa-Osh would be bleak indeed.
 She went to the kitchen area, and fixed herself a cup of tea, then wandered to the portal to, once again, stare out into the un-ending darkness beyond. It was as if the darkness had entered her heart, as she moved away to the couch, sinking into the semi- softness. Slowly, she took a sip of the lightly minted tea, and closed her eyes briefly. As they opened, she found herself standing, staring out at a captivating view of space from the Celestial Dome and from a refection, she noticed that she was now in a floor-length, green satin gown with long sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. Her dark brown hair was curled and teased out, decorated with a matching stain bow, and her face was softly done with make-up. The sound of an old Taa-Osh song played in he background. However, when she heard a bottle of sparkling wine being opened, she wasn't startled. Slowly, she turned around smiling.
     "Merry . . . Taa-Osh," replied the man facing her, pouring two glasses of sparkling wine. His blue eyes twinkled.
     "You . . ." she replied.
     He smirked. "Is that all you have to say?"
     "I didn't really think I'd see you again."
     Laughing, he replied, "I told you I'd be back."
     He went ot her with the grace of a cat and handed her a fluted glass filled with wine.
     She turned her green eyes away from his stare, almost ashamed of herself. "I haven't told anyone about you, you know . . ."
     Gently, he played with one of her curls. "Not even your dear Captain?"
     "Well, I was going to . . . But then I just couldn't . . ."
     As he stepped closer to her, she wasn't afraid. He tenderly ran a hand through her long, dark hair. His eyes looking her over once again.
     "You are very beautiful . . ."
     Electra could sense him draw even closer. His crimson uniform almost touching her. Without thought, her eyes closed as her head was tilting. She could feel his breath hot against her cheek. Then suddenly, he moved away. She opened her eyes, following him with her gaze as he went to a basket on a blanket that had been spread out on the floor the old console. He retrieved something and returned to her.
     "I have something for you," he said, as he handed her a small, red box. "I believe on your world it is appropriate to give gifts on Taa-Osh."
     "How do you know so much?"
     "I have my ways . . ." he replied devilishly.
     She smirked and opened the gift. Inside was  a beautiful silver necklace with a charm of a scorpion. In its tail was a brilliant red ruby. Her eyes grew wide with surprise. "Is this real? Is this really happening? Or is this some crazy dream?"
     "We're still aboard the Galactica, if that's what you mean."
     "Are we really in the Celestial Dome? Is the dress real? Is the wine . . . ?"
     "You ask so many questions . . ." He could see the mild confusion in her eyes as she turned back to the view. he let his hands rest on her shoulders, gently squeezing. "Just let your feelings guide you."
     She turned to look into his blue eyes momentarily, before breaking away from his captivating presence to wander around the Dome, touching and feeling as many objects as she could. They felt real to her. The wine tasted real . . . This man, Scorpio, was certainly real . . . The fist time he had appeared in her life, he had frightened her. This time, there was no fear. it had been several hectaurs since that first meeting and periodically she had caught herself thinking about him . . . Especially when she'd go into the closet and see the black dress.
     "Why are you doing this?" she asked curiously.
     Again, he went ot her, caressing her cheek. "I told you before, that I was going to make you forget about everyone, except me."
     With that, he kissed her. Part of her knew she should be fighting to get free, and yet, she couldn't. This man had a part of her soul, though she didn't know why. But as her senses returned she slowly withdrew from his embrace.
     "You know I can't  let this happen," she replied.
 But  again, he kissed her. In his embrace, they sank to the blanket. Electra was on her back staring into the handsome face of the man who had come into her life for one purpose and one purpose only . . . To seduce her. His hand caressed her hair and face as he gazed at her with an unusual warmth. She was sure that somehow, this time, he was different. But she also knew, instinctively, that he was capable of making himself out to be anything to get what he wanted. Yet, she sensed more to him.
     Without warning, a sadness encompassed her. It had come on so sudden that she didn't know why. Perhaps it was caused from the stress of the last few days, the effort into her sister's birthday party, and a lack of a true Taa-Osh that added to the emptiness in her heart left by her father's death and Nico's disappearance. She hadn't realized it, but tears were streaming down the corners of her eyes to dampen the blanket beneath. Seeing this, Scorpio gently touched a falling tear.
     "Don't cry, little one," he replied, softly, "Don't let that emptiness destroy you . . ." Tenderly, he kissed her, trying to drive away the pain.
     "I feel so empty . . . This is suppose to be the time of the yahren on my world where love prevails . . . That's what my father believed . . . Though he was one of the very few. But there is no love anymore . . . Without that, Taa-Osh is slowly becoming just another day! And I can't bare it!"
     As he sat up, he pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair. Soothing her and trying to bring her a sense of calm. Before he knew it, she was asleep. No more questions, no more pain, no more tears . . .  Just the steady rhythm of her breath. He knew she was emotionally and physically exhausted. His seduction would just have to wait for another evening. But he had learned to take her slowly. After their first meeting, he knew what he had to do to win her over. He had to worm his way into her heart inch by inch. This evening had merely been a stepping stone. he would succeed with his goal, he knew, but at what cost to himself . . . ?
     Regretfully, he sighed, caressing her hair and gazing down into her lovely face once more. "Good-night, little one," he whispered.
 
 

     Electra awoke with Noel's excited voice, squealing with joy.
     "Electra! Electra! You're not going to believe this!"
     Quickly, she rose from her bed to discover she was in her white nightgown. She didn't remember getting changed or even going to bed last night. The dense fog of sleep still clung to her mind as she carefully made her way to the other chamber. As she looked to Noel, her green eyes widened in surprise. Noel, in her light blue nightgown stood before a greenivery tree decorated for Taa-Osh, in the way their father would have done it. Under the tree were gifts for both Electra and Noel.
     "Can you believe it?" Noel cried, "It's magic! Just like dad would have done!"
     Then the images of the night before came back to Electra and it was obvious where the magic had come from. She smiled. On impulse, she returned to their room where her suspicions were confirmed. In the closet was the green satin gown, with her necklace around the hanger. A note of pinned to the gown.

                                                               We'll meet again,
                                                               But until then,
                                                               Wear this for me tonight.
                                                               Merry Taa-Osh, little one . . .

                                                                                                      Scorpio

     She went back to Noel, keeping her secret as they opened their gifts. Noel was sure that somehow the magic their father had created for them in their childhood had found them and turned their dark Taa-Osh into a bright, happy one. Electra was not about to dispel her sister's absolute joy. It was as if their father were with them.
     Later that evening, as Noel went to a holiday party that was being held by some of the Colonials who also celebrated a similar holiday around the same time. Many people were there. Some with children and adolescents. Electra wore she green gown and silver necklace. Noel wore a white satin dress she had been given as a gift from the mysterious  magic  Taa-Osh. Noel had a great time talking with friends while Electra just wandered around. She didn't really want to be there. She wanted to be alone and to think . . . She found a porthole and stared out into the darkness. Suddenly a young man named Dax came up to her.
     "You look lovely tonight," he began.
     "Thank you . . ." she smiled.
     But then his eyes traveled down to her necklace. "You have an interesting charm. Where did you get it?"
     For a moment she was silent, then smiled. "From a friend," she replied. "It was a gift from a friend."
 Instantly, a strong sensation swept through her. She was being watched . . .
     Then, as clear as day, she heard his voice echo in her mind, "You look beautiful, little one . . . We'll meet again . . ."
     "Will you excuse me?" she asked Dax, hoping she wasn't being rude.
     "Of course."
     Swiftly, she made her way through the small crowd to the corridor and smiled. Scorpio had given her something more than just gifts. he had given her a sense of adventure. A unique hope for the future. Yes . . . she was sure they'd meet again, but how far would things go? As much as she wanted to say she was in control, she knew she wasn't. But no matter how it turned out, it would give something to her life. Perhaps, just the dream that there was a man who cared about her, whether or not her loved her. But he did care. She was sure of that.
     Once again, she caressed the charm on her necklace and smiled, then headed back to Noel and the party.