Threshold ( episode ) A specially - outfitted warp - capable shuttlecraft piloted by Tom Paris successfully reaches Warp 10 , breaking the transwarp barrier . But the side effects of breaking the barrier may cost the crew of " Voyager " their best helmsman . Summary . Teaser . Tom Paris is in an experimental shuttlecraft , attempting to break the warp 10 barrier . He brings the Class 2 shuttle up to warp 9 . 95 , when the nacelle s are suddenly ripped from the shuttle and it seemingly explodes . Paris appears , sitting on the holodeck floor , as if nothing happened ; it was all a holographic simulation . Harry Kim looks despondent , and B ' Elanna Torres responds matter - of - factly , " " You ' re dead . " " Act One . The trio go to the mess hall to consider how to fix the problem . Neelix offers to help , but they don ' t believe he can contribute anything to the discussion . Paris inquires if he knows anything concerning quantum warp theory and multispectral subspace engine design . Insulted , Neelix informs them that serving for two years as an engineer ' s assistant aboard a Trabalian freighter makes him well versed in warp theory and demands to know what they ' re up to . They finally fill him in : after months of experiments , Paris , Torres and Kim believe they have found a way to cross the transwarp threshold using a new form of dilithium they discovered in a survey of an asteroid field that remains stable at higher warp frequencies . Achieving warp 10 would allow a person to be in every point in the universe , simultaneously . Kim notes that getting home could be as quick as the push of a button . A problem occurs when the ship reaches warp 9 . 95 , when microfracture s appear and tear the nacelles from the ship . Neelix recalls an anecdote from his past when his ship was traveling through a dark matter nebula . Kim is initially dismissive , as this is a totally different phenomenon , but Paris realizes that it is actually the shuttle being ripped from the nacelles , not the other way around . While Kim confirms the tritanium alloy hull could depolarize at that speed , Paris continues , saying that could create a velocity differential , the fuselage traveling faster than the nacelles . As Kim infers , they could fix the problem by installing a depolarization field around the fuselage . Paris refers to the confused Neelix as a genius and runs out to the holodeck with Torres and Kim . In the briefing room , the senior staff watch the holodeck simulation on the computer monitor and grin as Paris successfully brings the shuttle to warp 10 and crosses the transwarp threshold . Captain Janeway gives Paris the opportunity to start a manned test flight in a real shuttlecraft . She says he has the opportunity to join such great names as Orville Wright , Neil Armstrong , and Zefram Cochrane . Everyone is excited because , if this works , then it would mean much more than just getting home ; it could begin a whole new era of exploration for Starfleet . Janeway enters Paris ' quarters that night , with news that The Doctor discovered an enzymatic imbalance in his cerebellum that appeared during the holodeck simulation ; the subspace stresses could kill him from a brain hemorrhage , although the chance is only two percent . Not wanting to risk this chance , Janeway plans to assign Ensign Kim to the flight . Paris begs her to reconsider , stating that people have always said he was going to do something special someday , and that this is it . Janeway agrees to it , and the next morning Paris boards the , and launches it . The shuttle kicks into warp , followed closely by " Voyager " . After running a few scans on the " Cochrane " s warp field at warp 9 . 7 , Torres clears Paris for transwarp . " Voyager " increases to warp 9 . 975 , its maximum velocity , for as long as it can but , as Paris quickly surpasses that speed , " Voyager " must slow and switch to long - range sensors to track him . As the crew waits in anxiety , Paris goes faster and faster until , finally , sensors record warp 10 . Then , Paris vanishes . Act Two . A search fails to turn up the lieutenant , but the " Cochrane " reappears , where they find Paris alive , but with weak life signs . In sickbay , The Doctor scans him and observes that Paris is merely sleeping . The Doctor abruptly wakes Paris and he recounts his transwarp flight to Captain Janeway . He says he was staring at the velocity indicator ( which read warp 10 ) and then , suddenly , he noticed he was watching himself . He could see the outside of the shuttle , " Voyager " , the inside of the ship , and the sickbay . For a moment , he was everywhere , with the Kazon , the Klingon s , on Earth , and he even saw other galaxies . He says it wasn ' t like anything he has ever experienced . According to Paris , he only returned because he noticed that the crew was looking for him . Torres bursts into the room and says that the on - board shuttle sensors confirm he flew warp 10 , making Paris the first Human to break the transwarp barrier . Paris asks Torres to download the shuttle ' s data core while The Doctor runs further tests on him . Kim downloads the shuttle ' s data into the engineering computer core – over five billion gigaquad s of information – including detailed information on " literally every cubic centimeter " of the sector . Janeway orders the data sent to stellar cartography for analysis and the creation of a star chart . After being released from sickbay , Paris is in the mess hall with Torres , where they are planning another flight to replicate the results of his first test . He begins to say the shuttle ' s memory core should be increased when , all of a sudden , Paris feels ill . First , he thinks he ' s experiencing a stomach ache . He then collapses to the floor , however , writhing in pain . Torres asks the transporter room to beam him to sickbay but they respond by saying that they can ' t lock onto him ; his pattern keeps changing . Torres calls for medical assistance and tells Paris to hold on . Act Three . The Doctor examines Paris in sickbay and says he had an allergic reaction to , of all things , the water in Neelix ' s coffee . In fact , Paris ' entire body is mutating and his lungs are no longer processing oxygen . The Doctor replaces the atmosphere in the room with 80 % nitrogen and 20 % acidichloride . Paris can now breathe but a bigger problem has also developed ; he is suffering from cellular degradation and is consequently dying . The Doctor and Kes begin using radiation to try to stop it , with little success . Paris becomes delirious , asking for a huge funeral , saying he doesn ' t trust anyone that doesn ' t cry ( like Torres ) and remembering his childhood , when he used to cry in his room . He tells The Doctor that he lost his virginity at seventeen , in his room , which The Doctor says he will note in Paris ' medical file . Paris exclaims he wants a pizza with pepperoni and Kavarian olive s . He wants a kiss from Kes but she can ' t grant him that wish , because of the atmosphere in the surgical bay . Before he dies , he makes a last request ; to tell his father that he did it . He tries to form another sentence but falls unconscious . The Doctor uses a neural stimulator to attempt to revive him but fails . The Doctor announces Paris ' time of death and plans to perform an autopsy in the morning . Kes kisses Paris ' apparently lifeless body before she leaves sickbay . That night , as The Doctor is working in his office , he hears a strange rattling in the other room . He walks to Paris ' body , where he discovers him alive and well . Paris looks at his hand , then reaches up and pulls out a clump of his hair and demands to know what ' s happening to him . The Doctor scans him and finds something peculiar ; Paris now has two hearts . Act Four . Crewman Michael Jonas , in his quarters , covertly sends data on the warp 10 shuttle flight to Rettik , his contact among the Kazon . Although Rettik doesn ' t believe it , Jonas sends him the entire file in an attempt to prove his worth to the Kazon - Nistrim . The Doctor briefs Janeway on Paris ' condition . He cautions her that not just Paris ' body but also his personality is affected , he keeps switching from his original personality to one that seems deranged . Janeway walks into sickbay to see a mutated Tom Paris lying on the biobed behind an isolation field . Paris says he feels " like a lab experiment that went wrong . " She offers to help , but Paris ' personality switches and he becomes furious . He says he is glad that he ' s changing and thinks that whatever he will become will be better than what he ever was . He demands that they stop trying to reverse his mutation . He doesn ' t believe anyone likes him and , in fact , he suspects they ' re jealous that he broke the warp 10 barrier . Janeway walks away and concedes there ' s nothing she can do . Paris ' personality switches back again and he pleads with Janeway to help him , but then he lashes out , hitting the isolation field in front of him . He begins to tell Janeway how small and insignificant she is , when he starts to choke . Paris then pulls out his tongue and smiles . Later , Kes discovers that Paris ' rate of genetic mutation has accelerated by another 12 percent . The Doctor and Kes must hurry to save the last fragment of Paris ' original Human DNA . Paris pleads to be let off the ship . They refuse . After further analysis , The Doctor derives a treatment . He plans to revert Paris ' body back to its original genetic coding by destroying the mutated DNA using anti - proton radiation from the warp core . They have to have the system set up in an hour if they hope to save him . Paris has mutated even further . He is in a restraint situated next to the warp core in main engineering . The core shuts down to give Paris a two - second burst of anti - protons , but it ' s not working . Paris begins to struggle out of the restraints . The Doctor asks Torres to start a five - second burst of anti - proton radiation , when a commotion is heard in the background . Paris bursts out of his restraints . Phaser fire erupts in engineering , then the engineering screen where The Doctor was observing the procedure goes dark . The lights in the room start to flicker ; Paris ruptured the port plasma conduit on his way out of engineering , causing power failures all over the ship . Tuvok announces a level 3 security alert over the comm system . Act Five . Janeway is on Deck 6 outside a turbolift when Paris attacks her from behind . She manages to fire her phaser , triggering the internal sensor s , but they are malfunctioning due to the power failure . Consequently , the bridge can ' t localize her exact position . However , Kim is able to report that the captain is between sections 21 and 27 Alpha . Chakotay orders Tuvok ' s security personnel to that section of the ship , but it is too late . Paris takes Janeway to shuttlebay two and launches the " Cochrane " . The shuttlecraft immediately speeds to warp . Just then , main power on " Voyager " is restored and the ship heads after the " Cochrane " in pursuit . " Voyager " capably follows the shuttle until it reaches warp 9 . 975 . Chakotay pushes the ship ' s acceleration even more , but slows back when the main computer issues a warning that " Voyager " s structural integrity will fail in 45 seconds . Paris and Janeway meanwhile cross the transwarp barrier , becoming no longer visible from " Voyager " . After summoning Tuvok and Chakotay to sickbay , The Doctor observes that what happened to Lieutenant Paris was an accelerated form of natural Human evolution that would otherwise have taken millions of years . It is possible that Paris shows an advanced form of Human life . The Doctor comments that the lifeform isn ' t very attractive . He is still confident that the anti - proton radiation will work to revert Janeway and Paris back to their original Human DNA . Kim reports , from the bridge , that ship ' s sensors have located the " Cochrane " on a remote planet in one of the jungle s near the equator . Chakotay and Tuvok beam down with an away team to investigate . On the planet , they see two amphibian - like beings . Chakotay checks them with his tricorder and finds traces of Human DNA . They then notice a number of " children . " Chakotay stuns the two creatures with his phaser and brings them back on the ship . Chakotay has no idea which creature is Janeway . However , Tuvok notes the obvious deduction that Janeway must be the female . Paris and Janeway are reverted back to their Human selves using The Doctor ' s anti - proton treatments , although Paris is extremely embarrassed about having mated with the captain . Janeway accepts his apology , but admits that she might have also been active in the mating process ; she may even have been the one who initiated it . Janeway puts Paris in for a commendation for his achievement . " Regardless of the outcome , you did make the first transwarp flight . " Paris admits he has a few more barriers to break to build his self esteem , but Janeway believes he will eventually overcome them . Memorable quotes . " " Can you wake him ? " " " " I don ' t see why not . " WAKE UP , LIEUTENANT ! " " " " " You ' re not going anywhere . At least not for a few hours . I have some tests I ' d like to run on Your Majesty before I release you back into the realm of ordinary Humans . " " " " You may proceed . " " " " My teachers at school , all the kids , everyone used to say ' Tom Paris is gonna do something important when he grows up . ' Obviously , that didn ' t happen . " " " " Do you have anything to eat ? " " " " Sure , there ' s some Kalavian biscuits somewhere in the kitchen . " " " " I guess I ' ll go get them myself . " " " " In principle , if you were ever to reach warp 10 , you ' d be traveling at infinite velocity . " " " " Infinite velocity , got it . So , that means very fast . " " " " Maybe we ' ve been looking in the wrong place . What if the " nacelles " aren ' t being torn from the ship ; what if the " ship " is being torn from the nacelles ? " " " " The hull of the shuttle is made of tritanium alloy . At the speeds we ' re talking about , that alloy could depolarize . . . " " " " And create a velocity differential ! The fuselage would be traveling at a faster rate of speed than the nacelles ! " " " " That means we just have to set up a depolarization matrix around the fuselage ! " " " " That ' s it ! Neelix , you ' re a genius ! " " " " I have no idea what they just said . " " " " If this works , you ' ll be joining an elite group of pilots . Orville Wright , Neil Armstrong , Zefram Cochrane . . . and Tom Paris . " " " " I kind of like the way that sounds . " " " " If " Voyager " achieved warp ten , we could be home in as long as it takes to push a button . " " " Wow ! " " " Transwarp engines are stable , so are the nacelle pylons . I ' m going to try to . . . Oh my God ! " " " " Commander , someone ' s opening the shuttlebay doors . " " " What ? ! " " " For a moment , I was everywhere . I mean , " everywhere " , captain . With the Kazon , back home with the Klingons , other galaxies , it was all there ! " " " " Ugh , I wish Neelix would name something after me that tasted a little better . " " " " What did he ingest ? " " " " Just a cup of Neelix ' s coffee . " " " " It ' s a miracle he ' s still alive . " " " " You are losing me , aren ' t you ? I ' m gonna die . " " " " You are too stubborn to die , Mr . Paris . " " " " Pepperoni ! God , I ' d love a pepperoni pizza with Kavarian olives right now . I ' m starving ! " " " " Here lies Thomas Eugene Paris , beloved mutant . " " " " Great ! Now it will read ' . . . beloved " radioactive " mutant ! " ' " " " I lost my virginity in that room . Seventeen . Parents were away for the weekend . " " " " I ' ll note that in your medical file . " " " " I don ' t know how I ' m going to enter " this " into the log . " " " " I look forward to reading it . " " " " I ' ve thought about having children , but I must say I never considered having them with you . " " " " Kiss me . " " " " What ? " " " " Not you , " her . " " " I ' m picking up traces of Human DNA . . . it ' s them . Although , I have to admit , I ' m not sure which one is the captain . " " " " The female , obviously . " " " " It ' s possible that Mr . Paris represents a future stage in Human development . . . although I can ' t say it ' s very attractive . " " " " The present and the past , they ' re both in the future ! " " Links and references . References . acidichloride ; alloy ; alveoli ; AMU ; antiproton ; ; asteroid field ; atrophy ; auxiliary power ; bedroom ; bio - suppressor field ; brain hemorrhage ; centimeter ; cerebellum ; class 2 shuttle ; ; " " ; commendation ; dark - matter nebula ; dilithium ; dilithium matrix ; duranium ; electrolyte ; engineer ' s assistant ; epitaph ; flight plan ; genie ; gigaquad ; Human ; hyper - evolution ; hyper - evolved Human ; hypothalamus ; internal organ ; interstitial fluid ; isotropic restraint ; Kalavian biscuit ; Kavarian olive ; Kazon ; Klingon ; level 3 security alert ; liver ; lung s ; lymphatic system ; Maquis ; medical tricorder ; microfracture ; mitosis ; multispectral subspace engine design ; mutation ; nacelle pylon ; neural stimulator ; nitrogen ; olive ; parsec ; ; Paris Delight ; pepperoni ; pizza ; plasma conduit ; quantum surge ; quantum warp theory ; rad ; serotonin ; space ; subspace torque ; subspace stress ; synaptic pattern ; technobabble ; Theory of Infinite Velocity ; Trabalian freighter ; transwarp ; transwarp drive ; transwarp threshold ; tritanium ; velocity indicator ; vestigial organ s ; virginity ; warp 10 ; warp factor ; warp field ; water ;