A xenophobic alien race attack Paris and Torres while they are on a shuttle mission. This alien race is known for attacking intruders entering what they consider their territory. The aliens surprise Torres and Paris by beaming aboard the shuttle and knocking them unconscious with a strange weapon. The Aliens leave and Torres awakens and gets the still unconscious Paris back to Voyager.

Janeway decides to proceed ahead as no one in the system knows the boundary of the alien's space. The Doctor can't determine how to help Paris recover from the strange weapons effect. The Doctor is also feeling the effects his program being run beyond its design. The crew must fight the aliens through their space, while restoring the Doctor's program in order to save Paris from death.

David and Mark throw a big party at their house. Clare catches Steve kissing another girl and dumps him; she is tired of constantly fighting and listening to Steve's apologies. A fire sweeps through the hills and threatens the house. Kelly experiences flashbacks about being burned, but decides to stay and help everyone protect the house. The house is spared because of a shift in the winds. David drinks too much and spends the whole day throwing up. Donna slips and injures her knee while trying to save a baby deer. The firefighters - including hunky Cliff Yeager - rescue Donna and the deer. Kelly accepts a date from the persistent Mark. Valerie comes clean with Brandon about her affair with Kenny; he warns her to break things off. Kenny and his wife finally agree to seek a divorce. Kenny tells Val that he cannot see her for the time being because he does not want to give ammunition to his wife's attorney. Valerie storms into Kenny's office and announces that she is pregnant. Music: 'Friday on My Mind' by The Easybeats, 'Devil with the Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly' by Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels.

The cops tackle identifying a corpse left in an elevator, and McCoy finds his prosecution of the suspect later hampered by a vindictive judge who resents Ross's in-court rebuke for sexual harassment.

Melissa hasn't been herself lately and has been rude and condescending to everyone. She insults Sarah's friend even before they are formally introduced. In another incident, Melissa snags a personal letter that Dan wrote to a friend and reads it out loud to everyone. Finally, Melissa and Dan have an all-out war. The two make up the next morning when they open up to each other in a sincere moment.