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SUMMARY: Paris carries out the first successful flight at warp 10 (infinite velocity) but after his return he begins mutating.
During the survey of an asteroid field in the previous month, the crew discovered a new form of dilithium which remains stable at a much higher warp frequency. They upgraded a type-9 shuttlecraft, the Cochrane (named after space warp pioneer Zefram Cochrane) to a type-12 class, and have spent the rest of the time carrying out transwarp testing in simulated conditions on the holodeck. The theory is that if a person could reach warp 10, that person would be traveling at infinite velocity and would occupy every point in the universe simultaneously, meaning a person could go anywhere in the wink of an eye, and time and distance would have no meaning. However, the holodeck transwarp simulations, carried out with Paris at the holo-shuttle's helm, fail because the subspace torque rips a nacelle off the shuttle every time it is about to reach the warp 10 threshold.
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| Paris at the helm of a holographic re-creation of shuttlecraft Cochrane.....and the explosion that destroys it whenever he is about to attain warp 10 |
Eventually, after Neelix prompts them to look at the problem from a fresh perspective, Paris and Kim realise that actually the shuttlecraft is ripped from the nacelle because it is moving at a higher rate of speed. The hull of the shuttle is made of tritanium alloy which depolarised and created a velocity differential causing the fuselage to travel at a faster rate of speed than the nacelles. They solve the problem by setting up a depolarisation matrix around the fuselage to remedy the problem.
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| Neelix prompt Kim and Paris to see the torn off nacelle problem from a different perspective, leading them to work out how to solve it, for which Paris hugs Neelix |
After the engineering team has sorted out the technical glitches, Janeway congratulates them and they prepare to send Paris out on a real flight. But during a late night visit to Paris' quarters, Janeway tells him that Kim should perform the historic test-flight, due to biometric readings from the shuttle simulations which reported a slight enzymatic imbalance in his cerebellum yielding a 2 per cent chance of a brain haemorrhage under the subspace stress. Paris successfully argues that he should be reinstated as the test-pilot, not due to the small size of the medical percentage against him, but by persuading Janeway how important the test-flight means to him: "Captain, this is the first time in ten years I feel I have a life to risk. Captain, I've never been so sure about anything. Please, please let me make the flight."
The next day, the crew watches as Paris takes the shuttlecraft Cochrane to Warp 10, crosses the transwarp threshold, and abruptly vanishes.
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| when Paris disappears from Voyager's sensors the crew try desperately to locate him |
The crew are unable to locate Paris on ship's sensors. But moments later the Cochrane emerges from subspace. His lifesigns are weak so they beam him directly to Sickbay. He appears healthy, but weakened but exhilarated by the experience: "For a moment, I was everywhere. I mean everywhere, Captain, with the Kazon, back home, with the Klingons, other galaxies."
As Torres and Janeway examine the shuttle's collected data and discuss the data's potential, Crewman Michael Jonas eavesdrops on the conversation and later transmits a detailed report on Paris' warp 10 flight to the Kazon-Nistrim.
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| Jonas communicates secretly with the Kazon |
Paris in pain |
Shortly afterwards, Paris collapses in the Messhall. He cannot be beamed to Sickbay as, for some reason, the transporter is unable to get a lock as his pattern keeps changing. He is rushed to Sickbay by a medical team, where the Doctor tracks dramatic changes in Paris' biochemistry — his organs are mutating and his cell membranes are deteriorating rapidly. Despite the Doctor's best efforts, Paris dies. But hours later he begins breathing again! |
Paris asks for a kiss from Kes as a last request |
after Paris dies, Kes kisses him as he had requested |
When the Doctor examines him, he is amazed to find that Paris now has two hearts. A series of accelerated mutations transform Paris. The mutations are unlike anything in Starfleet medica records. His internal organs are re-arranged, some having atrophied and been absorbed into his body, and there are at least three other organs which appear to have no identifiable function at all. There are neuro-electrical transmutations at work. His synaptic patterns are changing almost every second. He still recognises the Doctor and the ship, he knows who he is, but while he still is Tom Paris is is becoming something else as well. His personality is erratic, unpredictable. There are moments of lucidity interspersed with almost deranged behaviour. When Janeway tries to talk to Paris, to reassure him, she ends up on the sharp end of the mutating Paris' paranoia and violence.
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| Paris insults Janeway |
Later, the ever-mutating Paris pleads with the Doctor, begging to leave the ship. But the Doctor and Kes do not understand what appear to be ramblings.
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| Paris fails to make himself understood |
The Doctor devises a medical procedure to restore Paris. It involves destroying all the new DNA in his body with highly focused anti-proton radiation, to oblige his cells to use the original DNA coding as a blueprint. The warp core is the only place on the ship that generates antiprotons. Paris is placed in a sealed chamber in isotropic restraint, and then radiation applied in doses. But before the treatment progresses far, Paris escapes.
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| the isotropic chamber, with Paris inside |
Paris kidnaps Janeway and takes her to the Cochrane, launching them both on a journey, travelling at higher and higher warp speed then warp 10. Voyager is unable to follow, not being capable of such high speeds.
Three days later the crew locates the abandoned Cochrane on a planet, in one of the jungles near the equator. The Doctor reports to Chakotay and Tuvok: "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. ..... 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."
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| the Doctor reports that Paris' mutations are normal, but accelerated, evolutionary development |
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The away team, consisting of Chakotay, Tuvok and a security guard, discover that Paris and Janeway have mutated into amphibians and mated, producing offspring. |
The away team remove Janeway and Paris but leave behind the offspring. Once Paris and Janeway are brought back to Voyager, the Doctor is able to perform the anti-proton procedure to eliminate the mutant DNA from their bodies and return them to normal, though he requires them to remain in Sickbay for three days for observation. Paris, whose strained relationship with his father was in his mind earlier, confides to Janeway that he needs to stop worrying about what other people may think of him.
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| Janeway and Paris, after being successful restored |
 | | PARIS TO JANEWAY, ABOUT THE TRANSWARP FLIGHT: I was, I was staring at the velocity indicator. It said warp 10. And then, as I watched it, I suddenly realised that I was watching myself as well. I could see the outside of the shuttle. I-I could see Voyager. I could see inside Voyager. I could see inside this room. For a moment, I was everywhere. I mean everywhere, Captain, with the Kazon, back home, with the Klingons, other galaxies. It was all there. I don't know how else to explain it. It was like..... Well, no, it wasn't like anything. |
| | PARIS: 'Here lies Thomas Eugene Paris, beloved mutant.'
DOCTOR: A fitting epitaph, but I don't intend to let you use it just yet.
KES: Radiometric emitters are charged and ready.
DOCTOR: Begin with 45 rads per second.
PARIS: Great. Now it'll read: 'Beloved radioactive mutant'. |
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