Christopher Pike (Star Trek)
Christopher Pike is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe. Jeffrey Hunter portrayed him in the original Star Trek pilot episode, "The Cage", as captain of the USS Enterprise. The pilot was rejected, and the character was dropped during development of the second pilot when Hunter decided that he did not want to continue with the series.[1][2] Sean Kenney portrayed him for new footage in a subsequent Star Trek episode, "The Menagerie", which also uses footage featuring Hunter's Pike from "The Cage". Bruce Greenwood plays Pike in the new Star Trek movie, directed by J. J. Abrams.[3]
Character history
Little is known about Pike's personal life. According to dialog in "The Cage", Pike is from the city of Mojave in North America on Earth in Southern California, and at one point owned a horse named "Tango".
Pike is the first captain of the USS Enterprise to be recognized in Star Trek canon. However, 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.[4][5]
"The Cage"
At the beginning of "The Cage", 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. [6] 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 18 years previously. Pike orders the Enterprise to Talos IV to retrieve 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 as the object of desire the only real Columbia survivor, Vina. After escaping from his prison cell with the aid of his first officer, Number One, and Yeoman J. M. Colt, the Talosians show Pike Vina's real appearance as a disfigured older woman. The Talosians saved her life after the Columbia's crash, 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 soon after.
"The Menagerie"
At some point prior to "The Menagerie",[7] Pike is promoted to fleet captain. He is severely injured while rescuing several cadets from a battle plate rupture onboard a J-class training vessel, the delta ray radiation leaving him paralyzed, mute, badly scarred, and confined to a wheelchair at Starbase 11. Pike's wheelchair is operated by brainwaves, and his only means of communicating is through a light on the chair: one flash meaning "yes" and two flashes indicating "no". This was a device the producers used to recast Pike, when Hunter didn't return.
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 more than a decade, 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 is court-martialed, with evidence during the procedure including footage from "The Cage". At the two-part episode's conclusion, Pike is reunited with Vina and given the illusion of perfect health.
"Mirror, Mirror"
Although not seen in the Mirror Universe episode "Mirror, Mirror",[8] the alternate reality's Enterprise computer reveals that the Mirror Universe's James T. Kirk achieved command of that ship after assassinating Pike.[5]
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.[citation needed]
Starfleet Academy comics
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.[citation needed]
Christopher Pike Medal of Valor
In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Tears of the Prophets",[9] Captain Benjamin Sisko receives the Christopher Pike Medal of Valor for his actions during the Dominion War.[5] Dialog in the Deep Space Nine episode "Take Me Out to the Holosuite"[10] indicates that Captain Solok of the USS T'Kumbra received the medal twice.[5]
Star Trek film
Captain Pike is featured in the 2009 'reboot' of Star Trek, this time played by Bruce Greenwood. In the film, Pike encourages James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) to follow in the footsteps of his father, and challenges him to enlist in Starfleet. Pike is taken prisoner by Nero and tortured for information on Earth's defenses. Pike is later rescued by Kirk and Spock and promoted to fleet captain, since the experience has left him in a wheelchair, although unlike in the past timeline when he was debilitated, he is not scarred and unable to move or talk. He is merely paralyzed.[11]
References
- ^ David Alexander, Star Trek Creator: The Authorized Biography of Gene Roddenberry, p. 244. Letter from Gene Roddenberry to Jeffrey Hunter, April 5, 1965:
- I am told you have decided not to go ahead with "Star Trek". This has to be your own decision, of course, and I must respect it. You may be certain I hold no grudge or ill feelings and expect to continue to reflect publicly and privately the high regard I learned for you during the production of our pilot.
- ^ Herbert F. Solow and Robert H. Justman, Inside Star Trek, p. 63.
- ^ Hollywood Reporter Star Trek announcement
- ^ Carey, Diane (1995). Best Destiny. Pocket Books. ISBN 0517139057.
- ^ a b c d Okuda, Mike (1999). The Star Trek Encyclopedia. Pocket Books. ISBN 0-671-53609-5.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Cage". Star Trek.
{{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter|episodelink=ignored (|episode-link=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=ignored (|series-link=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Menagerie". Star Trek.
{{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter|episodelink=ignored (|episode-link=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=ignored (|series-link=suggested) (help) - ^ "Mirror, Mirror". Star Trek.
{{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter|episodelink=ignored (|episode-link=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=ignored (|series-link=suggested) (help) - ^ "Tears of the Prophets". Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
{{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter|episodelink=ignored (|episode-link=suggested) (help) - ^ "Take Me Out to the Holosuite". Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
- ^ RadioFree.com: Star Trek film clip