Mourning Words
"Chakotay, I am sorry it had to come to this. I have thoroughly enjoyed our time together and considered you an important part in my life. You mean a great deal to me and will always be with me." Seven said.
Chakotay listened as Seven's voice projected from her personal log. The week since Seven's death was a hard blow for the entire crew. Chakotay could not help but weep for the woman he had loved and lost. Sometimes he hated Seven for leaving him this way, for tearing himself apart. Inside though, he loved her more than ever for making such a brave sacrifice, which made him hurt more. By putting the lives of the crew ahead of her own, she had become truly human. The door buzzed.
Giving himself a minute to straighten himself out, he said, "Come."
Kathryn Janeway walked through the door, wearing mostly black, as were many of the other crew members, including Chakotay. "It's time."
"I'm not sure if I'm ready to let her go yet Kathryn." Chakotay confessed through tearful eyes.
"What Seven did, the way she saved us, she could never be forgotten." Kathryn replied, taking his hand for comfort.
"It doesn't change how I feel." Chakotay said, feeling hollowed out by grief.
"Nothing I say will." Kathryn replied. "But we need to look forward, she wouldn't have wanted you to be miserable. She gave up her life so we could continue on with ours."
"We never found the body, she deserves a proper human funeral." Chakotay claimed.
"We looked, but it wasn't there. Nothing could have survived an explosion of that magnitude." Kathryn said as gently as she could.
"I just…" Chakotay was lost for words.
"I know." Kathryn hugged him in understanding. She lost Seven as well.
"I can't understand how she knew how we were going to react. It could have turned out differently." Chakotay argued.
"The fear of loss drives you to do crazy things." Kathryn said. Looking each other in the eye, she said, "We must attend the funeral."
Chakotay nodded. "I know one thing's for sure. Voyager will never be the same without her."
THE END