THRESHOLD
Episode 31
Part E

 

Paris carries the unconscious Janeway onto the shuttlecraft Cochrane.

He lays her down in the aft section.

He takes the helm.

Kim: "Commander, someone's depressurising Shuttlebay 2." Chakotay: "What?!"

Kim: "There's a launch in progress." Chakotay: "Tractor beam!" Kim: "It's offline."

The Cochrane launches and flees.

Tuvok, via comms: "Tuvok to Bridge. We found the Captain's phaser on Deck 6, but there's no sign of her." Chakotay: "Maintain a sensor lock on that shuttle." Kim: "I've got main power back." Chakotay: "Engage warp engines. Follow them." Female helmsman: "Aye, Commander." Kim: "They're approaching warp 9.9." Chakotay: "Increase speed to match." The ship starts shaking. Computer: "Warning. Nearing maximum warp velocity. Structural collapse is imminent." Chakotay: "Are we in tractor range?" Kim: "No. And they're still accelerating. Warp 9.97." The ship shakes even more. Computer: "Warning. At present speed, structural failure in 45 seconds." Chakotay: "Reduce sped to warp 9.5." The ship stops shaking. "Keep a sensor lock on them as long as you can." Kim: "I've lost them, Commander. They've gone to transwarp."

Shuttlecraft Cochrane. Janeway recovers consciousness and looks round.

She sees Paris at the helm and the view through the window shows they are travelling at transwarp speed. The shuttlecraft Cochrane accelerates then crosses the transwarp barrier. (pop-up window)

Then they hit warp 10, infinite velocity.

Chakotay: "First Officer's log, stardate 49373.4. It's taken us three days to locate the shuttle. It appears to have dropped out of transwarp in an uninhabited star system."

Sickbay. Doctor: "I've re-examined the data on Mr Paris' transformation, and I think I understand what's happening to him. The mutations we observed are natural." Chakotay: "Natural?" Doctor: "The changes in his DNA are consistent with the evolutionary development of the human genotype observed over the past four million years - increased brain capacity, the loss of vestigial organs." Tuvok: "Are you saying Lieutenant Paris is evolving?" Doctor: "That's my theory. The only difference between natural evolution and what happened to Mr Paris is that his changes took place over a 24-hour period. Somehow, travelling at infinite velocity accelerated the natural human evolutionary process by millions of years. It's possible that Mr Paris represents a future stage in human development, although I can't say it's very attractive." Chakotay: "What do we do about it?" Doctor: "I think my anti-proton approach was correct. However, I'll need to intensify the treatment to restore his original DNA."

The com. signal sounds. Kim, via comms: "Bridge to Chakotay."
Chakotay, via comms: "Go ahead."
Kim, via comms: "I think I've found the shuttlecraft, Commander. It's on the fourth planet in one of the jungles near the equator."
Chakotay, via comms: "Acknowledged." Contact ends. "Tuvok, have a security team meet us in Transporter Room 3."
Tuvok and Chakotay leave.

On the surface of the fourth planet.....

.....in the jungle.....

.....are two amphibians.

Chakotay, Tuvok, and a security guard beam down onto the planet surface.

They see the two amphibians....

....by the light of their wrist beacons.

They stun each one.

Chakotay, scanning them with his tricorder: "There are traces of human DNA. It's them, but I have to admit I'm not sure which one is the Captain." Tuvok: "The female, obviously."

The baby offspring of the two amphibians leave a hole in the ground.

They head for the water....

....and drop into the water.

Chakotay: "I don't know how I'm going to enter this into the log."

Tuvok: "I look forward to reading it."

USS Voyager, cruising at warp speed. Chakotay: "First Officer's log, supplemental. We've transported the Captain and Mr Paris back to Sickbay. As for their offspring, I've decided to leave them in their new habitat."

Sickbay. Doctor: "I've eradicated all traces of the mutant DNA from your system and restored your original genome. Congratulations. You're human again." Janeway: "Thank you, Doctor."

Doctor: "Captain, it'll take some time for your genetic codes to stabilise. I'd like you to remain in Sickbay for the next three days, just to be safe." She nods then says: "Excuse me."

She gets up and goes over to Paris. Paris: "Captain, er-" Janeway: "I've thought about having children, but I must say I never considered having them with you." Paris: "Captain, I'm sorry. I, I don't know what to say except I don't remember very much about, er, you know."

Janeway: "What makes you think it was your idea? Sometimes it's the female of the species that initiates mating. But apology accepted nonetheless. You may be interested to know I'm putting you in for a commendation. Regardless of the outcome, you did make the first transwarp flight."

Paris: "Thank you, Captain."

But Paris' smile does not last long. Janeway: "Is there something wrong, Lieutenant?"

Paris: "I don't know. I guess this whole experience has left me feeling a little overwhelmed. Flying at warp 10, evolving into a new lifeform, mating, having alien offspring."

Janeway: "You've broken more than one record, that's for sure." Paris: "Breaking the threshold, it was incredible. But somehow it doesn't mean as much as I thought it would." Janeway: "Oh?" Paris: "I guess I went into this looking for a quick fix. I thought making history would change things, not just my service record — my reputation." Janeway: "If I'm not mistaken, you've changed quite a few minds on this ship. You've earned a lot of people's respect and admiration."

Paris: "Yeah. But I'm starting to realise that it's not other people's opinions I should be worried about. It's mine. Huh, it seems, Captain, that I still have a few barriers to break. I just hope they're not theoretical impossibilities." Janeway: "Somehow, I don't think they will be."