In the Star Trek pilot episode The Cage, Captain Christopher Pike has been captured by the Talosians. With the aid of their other human captive, the beautiful Vena, they have forced him to relive the recent fight on Rigel 7, as well as explored a dream of his, to retire from Starfleet and return home. As they sit on their picnic blanket in a small park outside the metropolis of Mojave, Vena ponders why this new dream isn’t working for Pike. She wonders: perhaps one’s strongest dreams are about what he can’t do.
Earlier, in his quarters, Pike confessed to the ship’s doctor that the deaths and injuries incurred back on Rigel 7 still plagued him. Perhaps he was not cut out for the life and responsibilities of a starship captain. When pressed on what he might do if he retired, Pike mused that he could return home, ride his horses and enjoy the quiet life. Or he could go into business on Regulus or in the Orion colony. Dr. Phil derides these notions: to the latter, he asks: You, an Orion trader in Green Animal-Women Slaves?
Having failed to capture Pike’s interest by making him live out his first notion of a quiet life, the Talosians now present him with the second. Two men sit with Pike in an opulent palace. As he watches Green Vena dance, one suggests to him that these green women actually enjoy being taken advantage of. In fact, this is almost like the secret dream a bored ship captain might have. The other asks him: If you could have anything, and this was just a sample, wouldn’t it’d be worth a man’s soul? Pike grows tense, and his palms sweat as he watches Vena’s sensual display. Then, abruptly, he flees the room, only to find himself trapped in a cave with this green animal-woman slave named Vena. Her triumphant expression and posture suggests that she believes she’s finally hooked Pike, and is looking forward to reeling him in. Yet, later, when the dream ends and they are returned to the cell, Vena’s reaction suggests that, once more, Pike has rebuffed her.
How could Vena fail so incredibly with Pike? She has spent decades living with the Talosians, a race adept at delving into the minds of their subjects. And how could the Talosians fail to captivate Pike? Don’t they give him everything he has wished for?
When we are struggling with failure or loss, it is tempting to think: I must be on the wrong track. If only I’d done something different with my life, I wouldn’t be here now. Yet, when the Talosians let him explore these alternative life paths, Pike rejects them, seeing them as fallacies. Perhaps, the next time you’re feeling down, a better question might be: How wise is it to ponder a major life change when I’m at my weakest? Weren’t there good, sound reasons why I made the major life-decisions that I did?
Perhaps the definition of a successful life includes the necessity of navigating your way through the occasional failure.
Earlier, in his quarters, Pike confessed to the ship’s doctor that the deaths and injuries incurred back on Rigel 7 still plagued him. Perhaps he was not cut out for the life and responsibilities of a starship captain. When pressed on what he might do if he retired, Pike mused that he could return home, ride his horses and enjoy the quiet life. Or he could go into business on Regulus or in the Orion colony. Dr. Phil derides these notions: to the latter, he asks: You, an Orion trader in Green Animal-Women Slaves?
Having failed to capture Pike’s interest by making him live out his first notion of a quiet life, the Talosians now present him with the second. Two men sit with Pike in an opulent palace. As he watches Green Vena dance, one suggests to him that these green women actually enjoy being taken advantage of. In fact, this is almost like the secret dream a bored ship captain might have. The other asks him: If you could have anything, and this was just a sample, wouldn’t it’d be worth a man’s soul? Pike grows tense, and his palms sweat as he watches Vena’s sensual display. Then, abruptly, he flees the room, only to find himself trapped in a cave with this green animal-woman slave named Vena. Her triumphant expression and posture suggests that she believes she’s finally hooked Pike, and is looking forward to reeling him in. Yet, later, when the dream ends and they are returned to the cell, Vena’s reaction suggests that, once more, Pike has rebuffed her.
How could Vena fail so incredibly with Pike? She has spent decades living with the Talosians, a race adept at delving into the minds of their subjects. And how could the Talosians fail to captivate Pike? Don’t they give him everything he has wished for?
When we are struggling with failure or loss, it is tempting to think: I must be on the wrong track. If only I’d done something different with my life, I wouldn’t be here now. Yet, when the Talosians let him explore these alternative life paths, Pike rejects them, seeing them as fallacies. Perhaps, the next time you’re feeling down, a better question might be: How wise is it to ponder a major life change when I’m at my weakest? Weren’t there good, sound reasons why I made the major life-decisions that I did?
Perhaps the definition of a successful life includes the necessity of navigating your way through the occasional failure.
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