26 years in the past... It is night aboard the starship Voyager, which is still stuck in the Delta Quadrant on her way home. B'Elanna wakes up Tom and tells him that it's time. The baby is coming, the still asleep Lieutenant realizes, and calls Sickbay. Before he knows what exactly to do, B'Elanna has left the quarters, and he runs after her. However, their excitement was unnecessary, as the Doctor tells the young couple, since it's another false alarm.
Later in the Ready Room, Captain Janeway and Chakotay are discussing this latest event on Voyager, along with Crewman Chell's proposal to take over Mess hall, now that Neelix has left Voyager and no one provides the crew with delicious meals anymore. Though Chell shows a strange humor with his sample menu, Janeway invites her First Officer to join her for lunch. Sadly, he has to refuse, as he already has an appointment.
This appointment is his third date with Seven of Nine, the former Borg drone and head of Astrometrics. They have a picknick, prepared by Seven with a sense for "perfection" in cargo bay 2, and seem to enjoy their time together.
Meanwhile in the mess hall, their is a far more serious meeting. Icheb has challenged Tuvok for a match of Kal'toh, and as usual it seems that Tuvok is about to win. Yet, Icheb beats the Vulcan with the next turn, a surprising development Harry, who is sitting next to Tuvok, notices with malicious pleasure. He wants to challenge Tuvok as well, however, the security chief seems to be bewildered by his loss.
He heads for sickbay, where the Doctor confirms his assumption: his lack of concentration is another symptome for his progression mental disorder. He hasn't told anyone about this illness yet, and he doesn't want to do so until it affects his duties.
At the same time, Seven has returned to Astrometrics for a game Kadis-Kot with Neelix. Of course, the Talaxian is still in his people's colony dozens of light years away and interacts with Seven via the viewscreen. He plans to marry Dexa, and asks Seven about her own love life. Seven is relucant, but admits that her picknick with Commander Chakotay was enjoyable. Fortunately for her, a sensor alarm interrupts their conversation. Seven detects increased neutrino emissions in a nearby nebula.
Later on bridge, all senior officers are present. Seven has found an explanation for the readings. It seems that the nebula is full of wormholes. Naturally, Harry Kim understands what that means. A good chance for a quick trip home, since at least one wormhole has to lead to the Alpha Quadrant. The other officers are amused of Harry's neverending optimism, but seem to be hopeful as well.

In the future, Tuvok seems to have a serious spasm. The physician can't calm him down until the Doctor arrives. As he learns, Tuvok is outraged because of the disappearance of Admiral Janeway. He believes she has been replaced by an impostor, and his friend is in danger. While the Doctor is unsure about Tuvok's conclusions, he is concerned as well because of Janeway sudden departure.
At Pathfinder, he asks Reg for the reasons and destination of her journey. The Commander tells him he knows nothing as well, however, the former EMH gets suspicious when Reg starts to stumble, what he hasn't done for years. The Doctor wants him to tell him everything.
In the meantime, Janeway has reached a Moon-like planet with her specially-equipped shuttle. In the caves below the surface, she meets Miral, who is accompanied by some Klingons. Miral is eager to start the exchange with Korath, however, Janeway tells her that she did a good job, but her mission is finished now.
Together with the Klingons, the Admiral enters what seems to be a hidden Klingon base of the House of Korath. Unforunately, Korath has changed the terms of their agreement and now wants not only the seat in Klingon High Council, but also the specs for the defensive systems of Janeway's shuttle. Of course Janeway doesn't agree, even if that means that she doesn't get the device she's come for. She leaves Korath's hideaway without further discussions.

In the Delta Quadrant 16 years earlier, the crew has decided to take the chance and explore the mysterious nebula. The radiation interferes with their sensor so that they can't detect anything, however, they are still confident. When suddenly, sensors detect several tritanium signatures directly ahead of them, and a huge Borg cube emerges from the nebular clouds of dust and gases, almost colliding with Voyager. Janeway orders to leave the nebula immediately. Even if there was a way home here, Voyager wouldn't survive long enough in this Borg-infested region of space. Outside the nebula, it seems that the Borg haven't detected Voyager due to the radiation. Yet, the Borg Queen knows of their presense in "her" nebula, and carefully observes Voyager's position and course from that moment.
In the conference room, the senior offices evaluate their encounter. Since there seem to be at least 47 cubes in the nebula, Janeway sees no possibility and orders to resume course. All officers agree - except Harry, who still thinks they can somehow outsmart the Borg and reach the road home. But, Janeway has made her decision.
Later, Harry meets Tom in the corridor. He is still eager to convince the Captain to return to the nebula, and wants to persuade Tom as well. However, now that he's married and will soon become father, the former "Captain Proton" isn't as adventurous and daring as Harry anymore.
In Astrometrics, Chakotay joins Seven to talk with her about the development of their relationship. They both enjoyed their last date very much, and the Commander suggest to continue with a candle light dinner. Seven is unsure, but finally agrees.
In sickbay, the former drone asks the Doctor to remove the failsafe mechanism that might harm her if she deepens her romantic relationship. Unaware of her recent encounters with Commander Chakotay, the Doctor is happy about her decision. He has worked out a solution to the problem in the last months and can now help Seven with a single surgery. He hopes that she might use her new ability to experience the full spectrum of emotions for some further "social lessions" with him, however, she assures him that she has all the help she needs.

In the future, Admiral Janeway has returned to Korath's base. Seemingly she has reconsidered his new offer and now agrees to give him the shield technology of her shuttle. However, when she inspects the temporal device she wants in return from the Klingon, she transports the piece of technology and herself to her shuttle and departs. Korath's huge battleship pursues the shuttle, but since it is protected by a regenerative armor it jumps to warp without any damage.
Soon after the shuttle has reached its destination, another vessel approaches. It's Harry's ship, the USS Rhode Island. Harry was told about Janeway's plan by the Doctor, who got his information from Cmd. Barclay, and now wants to take Kathryn into custody. In Harry's ready room, Janeway tries to persuade Harry to let her continue her mission to bring Voyager, to bring the entire crew home 16 years earlier, when they have already grown together to a family, but haven't endured too many hardships. He think it's not only a violation of protocol, but far too risky, but Janeway remembers him that he was willing to take risks as well when he was younger. Finally, Harry gives in and beams with Janeway to her shuttle, where the Admiral says goodbye to the former ensign.
Just when Janeway projects the tachyon beam to open a temporal rift to the past, two Klingon vessels jump out of warp and attack the vessel. The armor fails before Janeway can active it, and she has to call Harry to help her. With the USS Rhode Island distracting the Klingons, the shuttle can safely enter the rift and travel to the past - seven years after Voyager had been stranded in the Delta Quadrant...

TO BE CONTINUED