Title: The Highwayman
Author: Khylaren
Contact: Khylaren@earthlink.net 
Series: VOY
Part: 1/1 (short)
Rating: G
Codes: J/C

Summary:  Another dull night in the DQ.  Janeway goes to the holodeck to run her new favorite program, a recreation of Alfred Noyes’ poem ‘The Highwayman’.  What is it about the charismatic Highwayman that has her heart all a-flutter?

Disclaimer:  Paramount et al own the characters, and the words the highwayman speaks are nearly verbatim from Mr. Noyes’ wonderful epic poem.  He gets credit for that, not me.  The story idea is mine alone.  This was purely for fun, and to break my writer’s block.  You’ve been warned.  Feedback should be sent to Khylaren@earthlink.net .

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“Computer, begin program Janeway Omega One.”

“Program is in progress.  Enter when ready,” the computer’s cool feminine tones replied.

Janeway absently brushed a hand over her costume.  The brown and russet tones of the skirt and bodice suited her, she thought.  The computer had replicated this costume at her request for an 18th century middle class garb for a female.  The long sleeved blouse under the bodice was made of coarsely woven cotton; it was cream colored with a low, scooping neckline.  The corset wasn’t made of real whalebone of course, but Janeway could feel it beneath her clothing and wondered how women of this age had ever managed to do anything wearing one of these devices.  She had to admit, however, that her body seemed to have more feminine contours; her waist was narrower, her breasts were uplifted and confined tightly, and her hips were far more accentuated.  Janeway shook her head, feeling the long curls of the wig she was wearing tickle the back of her neck.  If anyone walked by now, they wouldn’t recognize her, she thought, with all this long black hair.  The costume and wig had the desired effect of transforming the Captain of a Starship in the 24th century into the daughter of an innkeeper in rural 18th century England.

She stepped into the holosuite, hearing the doors shut behind her.  The scene around her was one of an empty inn.  It was almost midnight, and the inn was closed.  All the lamps along the walls had been extinguished except for one, which Janeway took.  Using it’s light to guide her, she made her way over to the nearest casement window and waited.  She heard a tap and a whistle at the window and smiled. Quickly, she blew out the lamp and opened the casement.

Her love looked up at her in the moonlight, his features hidden by the mask he wore over his eyes.  His horse pranced nervously beneath him as he stood up in the stirrups to reach for her hand.  

“One kiss, my bonny sweetheart.  I’m after a prize tonight.”  His voice was velvet in the night.  “But I shall be back with the gold before the morning light. Yet,” he paused, his gloved hand reaching up towards her as she leaned out the casement, smiling down at the highwayman. “if they should press me sharply, and harry me through the day, then look for me by the moonlight.  Watch for me by the moonlight.”  His gloved hand nearly touched hers. “I’ll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way!”

She smiled hearing the fierce conviction, the love in his voice. She couldn’t reach him from the casement, so she loosed her hair from its pins, letting the long black tresses spill out into his hand.  He kissed her hair, rubbing the silky tresses against his lips.  Then he tugged at his horse’s reins.  Without a backward glance, he spun his horse away and galloped out into the night.

Janeway smiled and withdrew from the casement, sighing softly.  “Computer, save program.”

The doors to the holosuite opened and she left, giving the computer the command to end the program. A small smile graced her lips. It was silly, she knew, to feel this way about a holodeck character, especially since she never had seen his face.  But his voice was so beautiful, it struck something inside her and she found herself sighing again.  As she stepped into the turbolift, it occurred to her then that someone else’s voice had the same effect on her, someone who was real, not a holocharacter.  She leaned back against the lift wall as it began to move and she closed her eyes, briefly allowing her mind to play with the memory of her recent holodeck program.  Instead of an unknown highway man, Chakotay looked up at her, declaring he would return to her no matter what, love and passion shining in his eyes.  She knew it was a silly fantasy, and quickly brought her imagination under control.  Her smile faded and her eyes turned wistful.  
					
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Commander Chakotay smiled to himself as he began shedding the elaborate costume.  *You’re playing a dangerous game, old man*, he told himself as he removed the mask that so carefully hid his features from his captain.  *One of these days she’s going to end program before she leaves the holosuite and you’ll be caught*.  Still, he couldn’t help grinning.  Even if he was caught, it was worth it.

The End