10 Star Trek Timelines That Were Erased
6. Pike Can Walk And All It Cost Was The Life Of One Vulcan Officer
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has been adding further depth to what is known about Captain, later Fleet Captain, Christopher Pike. Where previously there were only The Cage and The Menagerie for Pike, we now know far more about his role as Captain of the Enterprise - and when that role was not in Starfleet's best interests.
Pike became aware of his wheelchair-bound fate ten years before it happened. As part of his accident, he discovered that several cadets would perish. When he later came face to face with one of those cadets (though when they were only a child) he made the decision to warn them, thus saving their life.
It came with a cost. Pike would be spared his fate, rise through the ranks to Admiral, and serve in Starfleet as their war with the Romulans raged on. As Captain of the Enterprise, history swerved to put him in Kirk's place during the events of Balance Of Terror. Pike, skilled as he was in many areas, simply was the wrong man for the job in facing them down. This not only led to war but also to the death of Spock, who was killed in the opening battle.
Pike, knowing this wasn't an option, accepted his fate, put history back to the way it was meant to be, and went on knowing that his day was coming.