Poor Chris. It seems like he can’t get a break no matter which timeline he inhabits.
Those Trek fans who are familiar with Captain Christopher Pike’s place in history will nod saddly and knowingly of what I speak.
For those of you who are not so familiar, allow me to explain:
Christopher Pike in command of the Enterprise in the original timeline
In the original timeline: Captain Christoper Pike was commander of the Enterprise for ten years before Jim Kirk. In 2263, Pike was promoted to Fleet Captain and a year later, Kirk sets out on his historic five year mission.
We then learn that in the early part of 2266, Pike suffers a crippling dose of Delta radiation when he saved several Starfleet cadets from certain death during an accident. Pike became a wheelchair-bound hunk of flesh who could only communicate by use of a blinking light which was activated by his brainwaves.
He was in really bad shape.
Pike with new Delta Ray action
So bad was he, that a few months later, logical Spock broke a number of Federation and Starfleet rules, including General Order 7 (which calls for the death penalty) in order to save his former Captain and bring him to Talos IV where Pike could live a better life (“The Menagerie“, Parts I and II).
In the Nero-altered timeline of the new Star Trek movie: Pike assumes command of the Enterprise in 2258 – seven years later than he had in the original timeline, commands it for a few hours before he is captured and tortured by Nero and as a result – ends up in a wheelchair. He is promoted to Admiral and command of the Enterprise is given to Jim Kirk.
Captain Pike in the altered timeline
Now, one has to wonder if Pike’s destiny is to be a cripple no matter how the timeline plays out. In the original timeline, his suffering from the Delta Rays is horrific, but at lease he had command of the Enterprise for ten years! That’s a lot of life experience that a man like Pike probably craves, so that bythe time he is crippled, he has at leasted lived!
In the altered timeline, Pike never goes on his first five year mission, let alone a second one. He goes straight into the wheelchair. Granted, he is not nearly as disabled as he was before and we really don’t know if his wounds are permanent — but it doesn’t look good. Add to the fact that we know that most Starfleet captains seem to hate being Admirals and now he’s stuck being one without ever commanding the Enterprise.
Admittedly, we don’t we really know a whole lot about either Chris Pike and since the timeline has shifted considerably, we may see more adventures with him. But for now, it seems that the soul that is Chris Pike is cursed.
I think I’d rather be a red shirt.
Article by Matt Rashid
My impression was that because he is older, he has commanded a number of vessels before and has been given the Enterprise because it is the newest and he is the best. Had the ship been built earlier, he would have commended it longer. My 2¢.
You’re right, I’m sure he has commanded other starships, but come on, we all know the Enterprise is the best!!
On a geek note: it’s interesting to note that in the original timeline, the Enterprise was built earlier and its first commander was Captain April. Pike followed, but in the altered timeline, Pike is the first commander and we don’t know what’s happened to April.
He must have commanded other ships. Why would starfleet give the flagship of the federation to a new captain?