<P> 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 . </P> <P> 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, unable to speak, badly scarred, and using a brainwave - operated wheelchair for mobility . His only means of communicating is through a light on the chair: one flash meaning "yes" and two flashes indicating "no". </P> <P> 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"). </P> <P> 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). </P>

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