Back on the bridge, the officers analyze this "particle density anomaly," the result of a neutron star collision. Its effects are already felt -- the ship can't go to warp speed. They'll just have to ride it out, "batten down the hatches," using an inverse warp field and radiation inoculations to stay safe.

There, she chats with Michael, the welcoming, earnest bartender, revealing that she had an aunt who lived in nearby County Clare.

She and Michael, who calls her "Katie O'Clare," laughingly arm-wrestle and play a ring-tossing game. They discuss reading, but it turns out Michael rarely does any. Then, his wife Frannie enters, and Janeway, a bit discomfited, takes her leave.

The Doctor is eager to elaborate upon his priestly role, noting that local clergy were "held in the highest regard." Tom suggests a "vow of silence."

The officers are called to the bridge. Voyager is entering the leading edge of the particle storm. There are sparks and smoke, but only minor damage. It will be three more days until they're clear.

Janeway goes to an empty holodeck and has the computer display the character of Michael Sullivan, bartender. She then proceeds to adjust his parameters -- making him taller, better educated and single.

Costumed now in period clothing, Janeway returns to Fair Haven. She finds Michael reading poetry at the train station. He's now quite a literary adept.

He's also a bit forward, asking her if she's "looking for a man," and suggesting "What about a barkeep who reads poetry in strange places?" He also mentions the legend of a local castle: After dark, it's ruled by fairies, and once you've tasted their world, you never go back.

Chakotay walks up, in uniform, interrupting this reverie. He chats with Janeway and Michael. After he leaves, Michael is momentarily puzzled. "Did he call you 'Captain'?" he asks her.

We next see Janeway at an Irish dance. She orders the computer to remove all characters except Michael. They kiss.

Still, later, in her Voyager quarters, the captain looks sad as she dumps her Irish poetry books into the recycle bin. When Neelix stops by to tell her there's a ring-tossing tournament soon, Janeway says she wants to "stick to reality."

But if she's sad, Michael is distraught. He sits at a table, gloomily drinking in clear contradiction to his original programming not to touch alcohol.

Sick bay. There has been an altercation in Fair Haven, one that required Harry and Tom to rush for the holodeck controls. Someone had grabbed Harry's leg. Apparently even a "talking pig" had taken part in the fracas.

Janeway walks down the hall with the ecclesiastically garbed Doctor. She confesses she's become romantically involved with the holographic barkeep, and that she'd repeatedly altered his programming to suit her needs.

"Maybe I needed to be sure he'd love me back," she says, her voice breaking.

The Doctor is sympathetic to her need for companionship. But he advises her not to tinker with Michael's programming; romance involves compromise, the unexpected. "Let him snore," he says gravely.

But the particle storm is now raging. The ship's makeshift defenses are failing. To cut through the disturbance, Voyager needs to use a deflector beam -- one that would require all available power, including from the holodeck. And there's no time for a proper shutdown. Most of Fair Haven will be lost.

"Do it," Janeway orders.

Amid much turbulence, Voyager passes through the particle storm's perimeter, reaching safety. The officers sit in a darkened bridge, all power temporarily drained.

Later, when they get a free moment, Tom and Harry return to Fair Haven. The town is now a flickering chaos of "photonic decay" and disintegrating characters.

Yet perhaps 10 percent of the program can be saved. Tom asks Janeway for permission to reconstruct the simulation from what can be salvaged, something that will take six or seven weeks. What, he inquires thoughtfully, would she like to save? Janeway smiles.

She goes to an empty holodeck and activates the Michael Sullivan character. They talk. She tells him she's leaving Fair Haven. He presses her to give a reason; she has trouble articulating one.

"I love you, Katie," he says. She responds that she may be passing through again in six or seven weeks and will try to stop by.

After kissing Michael and ending the program, Janeway makes one final modification. She instructs the computer to deny her any future access to Michael's behavioral subroutines. "Save program," she says.