| “ | You want to know what I remember? Somebody saying 'this man is my friend. Nobody touches him.' I'll remember that for a long time. | „ |
| ~ Tom to Harry |
| “ | And you, Tom Paris. Sexy, in a Howdy Doody sort of way. Pretty goofy, although sometimes I think you're the smartest man I've ever met. | „ |
| ~ Rain Robinson on Tom as they say goodbye. |
Thomas Eugene "Tom" Paris was a secondary hero on the television series Star Trek: Voyager.
History[]
Coming from a family that had given centuries of service to Starfleet, Tom was the son of Owen Paris - who was an Admiral by the mid 24th century. Tom grew up feeling inadequate to his father. When he came of age he went through Starfleet Academy and graduated to become an officer.
After he caused the deaths of three fellow officers in an accident Paris was cashiered out of the fleet. He drifted around before finding his way in to the Maquis, an organization defending border colonists from the Cardassian Empire. Paris was captured during his first mission and was sentenced to the penal colony in New Zealand.
Recruited by Captain Kathryn Janeway to help track down a missing Maquis ship, he was on board USS Voyager when it was pulled into the Delta Quadrant. After Captain Janeway destroyed the Caretaker's array they were left stranded over 70 years from home. Janeway gave Paris a field commission at the rank of Lieutenant (jg) and he became the crew's helmsman.
Over the next seven years Paris became an integral part of the Voyager crew, becoming friends not only with Ensign Harry Kim but a fair number of the crew as well. He dated Megan Delaney briefly and was very attracted to Kes. Paris was attracted to B'Elanna Torres, who at first made it clear she did not like him, calling him a pig. As the ship made it way home over the next seven years her feelings changed and the two feel in love and were married in 2377. The following year just as Voyager was finally reaching home they had their daughter Miral.
Even though Paris was a valued member of the crew he had a rebellious streak that at times annoyed Chakotay, Tuvok, or even Janeway. However, Tuvok and Janeway were able to put this rebellious streak to good use when they realized someone on Voyager was betraying them to the Kazon. Paris agreed to take part in an elaborate ruse where he would act in an insubordinate manner over a period of a few months and eventually "leave" Voyager over dissatisfaction with life on the ship. When Paris left the ship the traitor - crewman Michael Jonas alerted the Cardassian spy Seska who had the Kazon working with her take him prisoner. While on the Kazon ship Paris was able to find out Jonas was the traitor. Escaping back to Voyager he informed Janeway, and Jonas was killed in a struggle with Neelix.
However, his rebellious streak would still get him in trouble at times. Janeway sentenced him to 30 days in the brig and demoted him to Ensign for about a year after Paris violated her orders when he tried to help a member of the Monean race to keep their world from falling apart. He would regain his Lieutenant (jg) rank the following year when Janeway felt that he had redeemed himself.
After Voyager returned to the Alpha Quadrant, Paris remained in Starfleet and by 2382 had been promoted to full Lieutenant. At that point in time Starfleet had him visiting various ships and installations as part of a morale boosting effort by providing stories about Voyager's journey back to Earth. During one such stop on the USS Cerritos he met Ensign Bradward Boimler.
First Splinter Timeline[]
After Voyager returned to Earth Paris along with the rest of the crew were promoted two steps in rank, becoming a Lieutenant Commander. He went with his wife and daughter to the Klingon world of Boreth on a quest to locate B'Elanna's mother, who had disappeared in the jungles of that world.
Paris later rejoined the Voyager crew as first officer under Chakotay, and was still aboard when the ship was fitted with a slipstream drive and returned to the Delta Quadrant.
Online Timeline[]
Paris remained in Starfleet after Voyager returned to Earth. By the early 25th century he had become an Admiral but took a voluntary reduction in rank to Captain in a manner similar to what James T. Kirk did in order to take command of a fast escort ship called USS Mercury.
Trivia[]
- "We'll Always Have Tom Paris" of Star Trek: Lower Decks marks the only time where Tom Paris wear the First Contact-style uniform as opposed to his usual Voyager-style uniform that he wore while being stranded in the Delta Quadrant for seven years alongside the Voyager crew.
- Tom Paris is the second character in Star Trek history to lose a rank (Lieutenant junior grade to Ensign). The first was James T. Kirk when he was demoted from Admiral to Captain. Tom eventually regains his rank at the end of the show's sixth season.
- His personality is very similar to Blake Bradley from Power Rangers: Ninja Storm.
