Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) told a few trusted people in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds about his dark future, but why didn't he tell his girlfriend, Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano)? Pike was haunted by the detailed knowledge that he would be horribly disfigured less than a decade into the future, which was a vision he received from a Klingon time crystal in Star Trek: Discovery season 2. It took Pike all of Strange New Worlds season 1 to come to terms with what this foreknowledge means for him, with the help of his friends, and even his future self - but not Captain Batel.
Pike has full knowledge of his tragic future. As he told Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) and his Number One, Lt. Commander Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), Pike knows exactly where and when his accident will take place, as well as the names of the Starfleet Cadets he will save from a delta ray accident. Later in Strange New Worlds season 1, Pike told his former lover, Minister Alora (Lindy Booth), about his future. Alora even offered her planet, Majalis', advanced medical technology to help him, but Pike refused on moral grounds after he discovered the twisted source of Majalan society is murdering children. Yet Pike was closed-mouthed about his future to Captain Batel, who he is in a relationship with.
Why Pike Didn't Tell Captain Batel About His Future
Captain Pike had at least two opportunities to tell Captain Batel about his future, but he refused. In Strange New Worlds' premiere, Batel pointedly asked Chris "what happened" that caused him to take refuge in his Montana cabin, grow a beard, and led him to contemplate not returning to Starfleet. Yet Pike was closed-mouthed. Batel returned in Strange New Worlds' season 1 finale, but Pike still didn't clue her in, even though he'd divulged his future knowledge to a handful of people by that point. Batel is a fellow starship Captain and his girlfriend, so one would think she would be an ideal person for Pike to confide in.
However, it's possible Pike knows Batel better than the audience does, and he hesitates to tell her the truth for a good reason. Batel seems like a compassionate person, but perhaps her first loyalty is to Starfleet, and she might reveal Pike's future to the chain of command. After all, Pike is also withholding the truth from Admiral Robert April (Adrian Holmes), his commanding officer and friend. Pike obviously doesn't want Starfleet brass to know what he knows, but he's comfortable revealing his future to Spock and Number One, who work with and are loyal to him. Maybe Pike suspects Batel won't be.
Pike & Batel Could Become Enemies In Strange New Worlds Season 2
Pike's relationship with Captain Batel could sour after the cliffhanger of Strange New Worlds' season 1 finale. After Starfleet learned that Una lied on official records about being a genetically engineered Illyrian, Batel followed her orders to arrest Pike's Number One. Batel took no pleasure in doing so, but she did what she was told. Obviously, Pike opposes this, and it could get worse for him since he knew Una was Illyrian, and he kept the information from Starfleet out of loyalty to her. Pike even promised to fight Starfleet on Una's behalf, which puts him at odds with Batel and Starfleet Command.
Strange New Worlds season 2 will hopefully divulge more information about Captain Batel (including, perhaps, her first name), and it could shed more light on why Pike withheld the information about his future accident from his girlfriend. Batel possibly finding out that Pike told Alora, his ex, but not her, could also drive a wedge between them. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 may also reveal that Batel may not be the person she appears to be, and that could explain why Pike kept his cards so close to his chest about the future accident that will leave him horribly disfigured.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2 premieres in 2023 on Paramount+.