We are home. I should be overjoyed, but I am not. We are not without casualties. The Admiral did not make it back with us, but where the Borg are concerned I should know now not to expect a one hundred percent success rate. But we are back in the Alpha Quadrant and shortly we shall see home.
Before the Admiral left us she handed me something. In the midst of battle I could not see what it was. But afterwards I retreated here to my ready room and opened the box. It was her diary.
Three hours later and I am still sitting here. I've just finished reading it. It makes for sorrowful reading. And I now know why she wanted to come back to her past to change the future.
We got home earlier than she and her crew did. We have not lost Seven. And, quite maybe, if I am brave enough to accept it, I have not lost Chakotay. He might still be waiting for me, unless he has already quietly moved on. The Admiral's diary suggests that she only realised how she felt when it was too late. And then for them to argue the last time they saw each other. I cannot allow this to happen. The Admiral told me that I had the opportunity to make my own future. Perhaps I can.
After all, my first priority was to get my crew home. He knew that. Now my crew are home.
Do I still have that chance? And if I do, and if I take it, what will become of Seven? Knowing what I do, can I take away the one chance of happiness she might have?
There's always the doctor I suppose. After all, he did tell her not too long ago that he was in love with her. Told all of us in fact. I'm not sure what will remain with me longer – Seven's expression when he told her or his when he found out that B'Elanna was able to fix his program remarkably quickly. How Chakotay and I laughed that night.
Chakotay. Do I take that chance?