Christopher Pike (Star Trek)

Depiction

Born Christopher Robin Pike, April 11, 2214. According to dialogue in The Cage, he is from the city of Mojave on Earth and once owned a horse named Tango.

Pike is the second captain of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 and the first to be shown in Star Trek canon. The animated Star Trek series reveals that Captain Robert April predated Pike, and printed Star Trek fiction and reference books also identify April as Pike's predecessor. Pike took command of the USS Enterprise in the year 2252, at the age of 38, taking over command from Robert April, who commanded the Enterprise for nine years.

The Cage

At the beginning of The Cage, set in the year 2254, Pike and his crew are recuperating from a mission to Rigel VII during which several members of the landing party were killed by the inhabitants.The incident filled Pike with so much guilt that he is considering resigning his commission.

Meanwhile, the Enterprise is en route to Vega Colony to drop off wounded crew members when it receives a distress call from the survey vessel SS Columbia, lost eighteen years previously. Pike orders the ship diverted to Talos IV to rescue survivors.

Pike soon learns that all but one of the survivors are illusions created by the Talosians in order to lure the Enterprise crew to Talos IV. The Talosians make every effort to provide sexual fantasies that they hope will appeal to Pike, using Vina, the only real Columbia survivor, as the object of desire. After Pike escapes from his prison cell with the aid of his first officer, Number One, and Yeoman J.M. Colt, the Talosians reveal, to Pike, Vina's real appearance as a disfigured older woman. The Talosians saved her life after the Columbia crashed, but they had no guide on how to repair a human body. Pike requests that the Talosians restore her illusion of beauty and the Enterprise leaves Talos IV.

The Menagerie

At some point prior to The Menagerie , Pike is promoted to fleet captain. He is severely injured while rescuing several cadets from a baffle plate rupture on board a J-class training vessel, the delta ray radiation leaving him paralyzed, mute, badly scarred, and dependent on a brainwave-operated wheelchair. His only means of communicating is through a light on the chair: one flash meaning "yes" and two flashes indicating "no".

In The Menagerie, the Enterprise, now under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, travels to Starbase 11. Spock, who had served with Pike for "eleven years, four months, and five days", makes clandestine arrangements to take Pike back to Talos IV, despite travel to Talos IV being the only criminal offense still punishable by death in Starfleet. Spock undergoes court-martial, with his evidence presented during the trial being footage from "The Cage". At the two-part episode's conclusion, it is revealed that the entire procedure was a Talosian-generated illusion to ensure that the Enterprise reached Talos. The Talosians invite Captain Pike to spend the remainder of his life among them, "unfettered by his natural body", which was the entire purpose of Spock's actions. Pike accepts the offer and Spock, now cleared of all charges, sees him off. The Talosians then show Captain Kirk an image of Pike in perfect health and reunited with Vina (another scene from "The Cage").

Later references

Pike is referenced in the episode "Mirror, Mirror". An alternate-universe version of Captain Kirk reportedly assassinated Pike to become captain of the ISS Enterprise (the Mirror Universe version of the USS Enterprise).

In the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Most Toys", the name Pike can be seen briefly on the side of the shuttlecraft Lt. Commander Data was going to pilot at the beginning of the episode.

A citation named for Pike is revealed in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Tears of the Prophets; Captain Benjamin Sisko receives the "Christopher Pike Medal of Valor" for his actions during the Dominion War.

Reboot

Captain Pike appears in the 2009 reboot Star Trek, this time portrayed by Bruce Greenwood. In the film, Pike encourages a young, directionless James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) to follow in the footsteps of his hero father and enlist in Starfleet. Pike is the first Captain of the USS Enterprise, with Kirk on board as a stowaway. During the Battle of Vulcan, Pike is taken prisoner by Nero (Eric Bana) and tortured for information about Earth's defenses. He is later rescued by Kirk, whom Pike also manages to save from an attacking Reman (a close cousin of the Romulan race), despite his wounds. At the end of the film, Pike is promoted to the rank of admiral and is confined to a wheelchair. Unlike his counterpart in The Menagerie, however, Pike still retains the ability to speak and to use his upper body. He proudly yields command of the Enterprise to Kirk while he recovers from his injuries, stating that Kirk's father would be proud of his actions.

Greenwood reprised his role as Pike in the next film, Star Trek Into Darkness. In the film, Pike has partially recovered from the trauma Nero inflicted, and is no longer confined to a wheelchair, although he still requires the use of a cane. After Kirk violates the Prime Directive to rescue Spock (Zachary Quinto), Pike briefly retakes command of the Enterprise and warns Kirk that the Admiralty is threatening to put him back into the Academy. Pike confronts Kirk about his reckless behavior and how his own actions can get those nearest to him killed. Despite his anger at Kirk, however, Pike retains him as his First Officer, sparing him from having to return to the Academy. He later explains to Kirk that he still believes in him and that he also sees a "greatness" behind his recklessness. During a meeting with the Starfleet commanders, including veteran Admiral Marcus and Captain Kirk, Pike is killed in a terrorist attack on Starfleet by John Harrison. Pike's death incites a desire for revenge in Kirk, who seeks to hunt Harrison down, which nearly brings the Federation into a full-scale war with the Klingons. It is revealed that "John Harrison" is an alias, and Harrison's true identity is Khan Noonien Singh. Khan reveals a secret agenda of Admiral Marcus to militarize Starfleet via war with the Klingons and the use of the huge Dreadnought class starship, USS Vengeance, which was designed by Khan. At the end of the film, a memorial service is held for Pike and all of the other people who died as a result of Admiral Marcus' and Khan's actions. Pike's death also deeply affects Kirk and Spock, Kirk because of their close relationship and Spock because he'd been mind-melding with Pike as he died and felt his death.

Novels and short stories

Pike has significant roles in the Pocket Books novels Enterprise: The First Adventure (Vonda N. McIntyre, 1986), Final Frontier (Diane Carey, 1988), Vulcan's Glory (D. C. Fontana, 1989), Burning Dreams (Margaret Wander Bonanno, 2006), and Child of Two Worlds (Greg Cox, 2015).

A mirror-universe version of Pike (established in "Mirror, Mirror",as having been assassinated by the mirror James T. Kirk.)

He also appears in the novel Dark Victory (William Shatner, 1999), and the short story "The Greater Good" (Margaret Wander Bonanno) in the anthology Star Trek: Mirror Universe: Shards and Shadows (2009).

Dave Stern's 2010 original series novel The Children of Kings was set aboard Pike's Enterprise.

Star Trek: Early Voyages

In the Paramount-licensed Star Trek comic book series published by Marvel Comics, Star Trek: Early Voyages chronicled the adventures of the Enterprise under the command of Pike. The earliest issues lead up to the events seen in "The Cage", which was retold from Yeoman Colt's point of view. Although extremely popular, the comic series ended on a cliffhanger when Marvel lost the Star Trek license rights.

Star Trek Annual #2 - The Final Voyage (DC comics, 1986)

In this issue, the Enterprise tries to return home to Earth only to find itself around Talos IV. They discover that the Klingons have gone to the planet reasoning anything that scared the Federation enough to maintain the death penalty could be used as a weapon. While on the surface they also discover two Klingons torturing Pike, who is back in his chair due to the Klingons having partially mastered the Talosian's mind powers. One of the Klingons then tortures the crew of the Enterprise by making them live their worst fears. Kirk, forced to relive the death of Edith Keeler, goes berserk with rage and breaks the illusion. Kirk then beats the Klingon tormenting them to death with his bare hands. The crew quickly free the Talosians, who mentally imprison the Klingons in illusions of peaceful, tranquil settings as they purge their memories of Talos IV. The crew returns home with Pike remaining on Talos IV to continue his illusionary life.

Starfleet Academy comic series

In the Paramount-licensed Star Trek comic book series published by Marvel Comics, Starfleet Academy, Nog and some fellow cadets encounter a solid image of Pike on Talos IV.

Star Trek Captain's Log: Pike (IDW Publishing, 2010)

Captain's Log: Pike published by IDW details the events leading up to and including Pike becoming disabled from the baffle plate rupture aboard the USS Exeter (NCC-1788) under the watch of Captain Colt, Pike's former yeoman on the Enterprise. The story also reveals Colt's unrequited love for her former Captain.

Star Trek: The New Voyages

In an episode of the non-canon fan film series Star Trek: New Voyages, a time-traveling Kirk and Spock attempt to warn Pike not to attempt to rescue the trapped cadets. Pike attempts it, in spite of what future-Kirk and future-Spock say, causing him to be injured by the delta rays and subsequently transition to a life in the wheelchair and its light communication device.