The Baby

by Neemps

Pike rescues an infant girl after a colony is destroyed by a hostile race intent on hunting them down.

The Baby

By Neemps

Star Trek Strange New Worlds (Short Treks)

Drama: Christopher Pike

Rating: M

Rights: Paramount Plus / Secret Hideout

Pike rescues an infant girl after a colony is destroyed by a hostile race intent on hunting them down.

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Captain Christopher Pike and his three-member away team were helping the last of some refugees evacuate the colony of Alondera, which had been taken over by a hostile race. Their mission was to get all the colonists onto the Enterprise as soon as possible where they would be safe until they could be relocated.

A woman with her baby was distraught because she just learned that her husband had been killed in a recent attack. Pike was trying to console her, while at the same time trying to get her to come with him to the beam out site.

Suddenly, without any warning, a bomb exploded, sending debris everywhere. Pike was knocked out for a moment, but he quickly awakened, only to find the woman dead and her baby screaming.

Pike gently lifted the child out of her mother's limp arms and tried to soothe the baby's piercing cries by holding her close, smoothing her hair, and speaking softly to her. They were definitely still in danger and they needed to get out of there. He noticed a diaper bag next to the women. He grabbed it and placed the strap around his neck and shoulder. He also used it as a sling to hold the baby. With his phaser out and ready, he started to make his way through the dust and smoke, and out of the area. He noticed that the three away team members were also lying dead amongst the rubble.

As the captain walked through the town for a while, the baby started to calm down because of Pike's movements jostling her. He came upon a large chunk of concrete from one of the destroyed buildings that could serve as temporary shelter. He crawled under it, and sat for a moment to catch his breath and check on the baby. He rummaged through the diaper bag to see what provisions were within. A few diapers, some wipes, and a few bottles of milk. He quickly changed the baby's diaper so to help with her fussiness, and then gave her a bottle. He also, thankfully, found an energy snack bar in the bag, so he unwrapped it and wolfed it down. After he swallowed the last bite, he took out his communicator and contacted the Enterprise.

"Pike to Enterprise." he spoke quietly, watching the baby drink her bottle.

"Captain!" Number One answered, concerned. "Are you all right?"

"For the moment. Can you beam me up?"

"Negative, sir. We're under attack up here."

"Same down here. Lost the entire landing party in an explosion. I was lucky. I've got an orphaned infant with me. We're safe for the time being, but probably not for long."

"We'll beam you up as soon as we're able to. I'll make arrangements for the baby."

"Thank you, Number One. I'll try to hold things together down here."

"Good luck, sir."

Determining that they were relatively safe for the moment, Pike risked taking a short nap now that it was dark outside. He snuggled up with the baby, keeping her warm. He used one of the phasers to heat up a small chunk of concrete to keep them warm as well.

As dawn neared, Pike was slowly awakened by the gentle coos of the baby, and she was grabbing at his mouth and jaw, her little fingers scratching at his sprouting whiskers. He smiled at the baby and chuckled at her cuteness.

"So, you like my scratchy beard, Little Sweet?" Pike teased. The baby giggled a bit, and Pike giggled with her.

He eventually noticed a pain in his right shin. He had felt it earlier, but ignored it because of so much going on. Now it was starting to bother him. He rolled up his pant leg to find a piece of shrapnel wedged into his flesh. There was dried blood surrounding it but was not presently bleeding.

"Great." He said aloud.

If he removed it, it could start bleeding again. He decided to leave it in place. He took one of the new diapers from the bag to use as bandaging. He ripped it into a couple of long shreds and wrapped it around the wound.

In the distance, he heard voices approaching. Time to move. No longer safe here. He made sure that the baby was securely tied to him, and he hobbled out of their hiding place. Keeping low and in the shade as much as possible, he made his way through what was left of the settlement.

Suddenly a phaser blast zinged by him and exploded on the ground in front of him. He changed direction and headed up hill, looking for cover. He came to the edge of the town, and saw some trees and brush that might help him out. Another blast whizzed even closer to him. He could feel the heat. He turned to look behind him and saw two figures running toward him. He crouched down, pulled out his phaser, and fired at the two, hitting one of them. As the one went down, his partner stopped to assist him, giving Pike time to continue on into the woods.

His leg was really starting to hurt now. He stopped a moment to check it, and it was bleeding through the bandaging. Nothing more he can do except keep going.

The baby started to get fussy. He was going to have to change her diaper again, and give her the last bottle in the bag. He found an old tree trunk that had fallen over, and looked to be an abandoned animal den. That might do. He hobbled over to it, and then untied the baby from being fastened around him. He changed the baby's diaper, and quickly buried the dirty one, hoping that the scent would not give them away. He looked around and hoped that they would be okay long enough for her to finish the last bottle, or at least have some of it.

After just a few minutes, Pike saw a flock of birds take off all at once nearby. Something spooked them. He had better get moving. He tied the baby sling to himself again when phaser fire erupted right into the tree hollow. Jumping away just before being burned, Pike managed to escape getting hit. He started to run for it, or what passed as running since his leg was not cooperating much. It finally gave out, and he went down with a yelp. The baby squealed, and Pike tried to protect her, but his assailants were almost upon them.

Just as it looked like his luck had run out, the transporter hum whirled around Pike and the baby. In a moment, they appeared on the transporter pad of the Enterprise.

Dr. Biodin and the transporter chief just stared at Pike in amazement. He looked a sight: His hair was a disheveled, his beard scraggly, face dirty, baby sling tied around dirty and frayed, pant leg ripped with blood stains, baby crying. He was breathing heavily and looked exhausted.

"Let's get you two to Sick Bay." Said the doctor.

"No. What's happening on the Bridge?" he demanded.

"I believe the hostiles retreated. That's how we were able to beam you up."

"I'm heading up there. You're with me."

Pike stumbled down the steps and almost dropped the baby. Dr. Bioden caught him.

"Captain, you're a mess and we need to tend to the infant. Number One has the bridge. Sick Bay, now." The Doctor pulled rank on his captain. One of the rare occasions.

Pike looked at the doctor and nodded.

"This is going to hurt a bit." The doctor warned, as he removed the shrapnel from Pike's leg. The captain winced and cried out a moment, then was relieved to have the darn thing out.

Dr. Bioden prepared to give the captain an injection.

"What's that for?"

"So you won't get an infection." He answered, as the hypospray hissed the medication into Pike's arm.

"How's the babe…. " Pike eyes blinked heavily, and then he fell back on the bio bed, passed out. The doctor smiled at him.

"Also, a sedative so you can get some rest after your ordeal down there."

"I don't even know her name." Pike said to a Federation social worker, Commander Stacey, who appeared on his Ready Room view screen.

"Orphan babies are often named after the person who found them, and the city or province where they once lived or came from. In this case, the colony. The baby could be named Christina Pike of Alondera. How does that sound?"

"I guess there's no way of knowing what her real name is?"

"You didn't find any indication of a name in the diaper bag?"

"No. Such a shame. She might have family elsewhere among the refugees."

"We can try doing a DNA match to see if we can find any relatives. In the meantime, we can take her into an orphanage, if you like."

"No, she can stay on the Enterprise for now. Until we have to leave orbit. Let's stay in touch. Thank you."

"She is a cute little one, isn't she?"

"She sure is. Captured my heart."

"Have you thought about keeping her yourself? As your daughter?"

Pike was a bit stunned at that remark. It hadn't even occurred to him. He did feel a definite bond with the little girl. Especially now that she bore his name.

"I, uh, haven't thought about that. I don't even know if it's possible."

Pike entered the make-shift nursery that had been set up in one of the Sick Bay isolation rooms. A female medical yeoman was sitting in a rocking chair with Christina in her arms. The yeoman looked up at him.

"Captain, would you like to hold her for a while?"

"Yes, I would. Thank you."

The yeoman transferred the drowsy baby into her captain's arms. She then left them alone, as Pike gently sat down in the rocking chair. He spoke softly to the baby while she reached up and grabbed at his now 2-day-growth of whiskers.

Pike began to quietly sing a little lullaby to Christina as she fell asleep in his arms. He kissed her forehead and rocked with her for a while.

On the bridge later, Pike was informed that a call was coming through for him from Starfleet Social Services.

"Put it through to my Ready Room, please." He instructed.

"Captain Pike, we have some news for you regarding baby Christina." It was Commander Stacey, the social worker Pike had spoken with before. "We found a distant relative through DNA matching. A cousin, on the mother's side. We contacted them, and they are willing to raise Christina as part of their family."

"I see. That's good news." Pike smiled, but his smile was betraying what he really felt.

"They are located at a colony on Pinzonia, which is within your patrol area. Would you be willing to take The Enterprise there for the exchange?"

"Of course, Commander. Thank you for your efforts. It's a comfort to know that she'll be raised by members of her own family."

"Yes, she's a fortunate little girl. Most of our wards are not so lucky."

In the transporter room, Pike was holding Christina for the last time. She reached up to his face again, but was disappointed to find it clean shaven. His whiskers were gone. But she was happy to be warm in his arms, feel his heartbeat, and hear his voice.

"They're ready now, Captain." Said the transporter chief. Pike nodded. The rumbling hum of the transporter beam began. Soon a man and woman appeared in a glittery shimmer, and solidified on the platform.

"Mr. and Mrs. Carroll, welcome to The Enterprise." Pike greeted them.

"Thank you, Captain." Replied Mr. Carroll. They both stepped down from the platform, and Mrs. Carroll was overjoyed to see the baby.

"Isn't she precious? Oh what little cutie you are!" she exclaimed, and then turned to Pike. "Thank you, Captain, for taking such good care of her."

Pike smiled and nodded, but found he couldn't talk. He was afraid of how he might sound. His throat was tightening up. Dr. Bioden was standing next to him, and gently placed a hand on Pike's shoulder. Pike appreciated the support. He looked at Christina.

"Goodbye Little Sweet." He whispered to her softly. He wanted to say more, but decided against it. He offered her over to Mrs. Carroll, who took hold of Christina gladly. The baby looked at her new parents curiously, not understanding what was happening, of course.

"She'll be loved and educated, Captain. You can be sure." confirmed Mr. Carroll.

"Thank you." Pike said sincerely, but sadness was filling his heart, and tears were filling his eyes.

The Carrolls stepped back up onto platform. Christina began to squirm. She wanted to be back in those strong warm arms that she was used to. She began to cry.

"Energize." Pike said quickly. He almost couldn't bare it. He was having his own separation anxiety.

"Steady." Said Bioden, patting Pike on the shoulder again.

The transporter beam rumbled again and the new family with Christina disappeared into the glittery shimmer. Then the transporter room was quiet.

Pike felt like he was about to explode. He turned and walked out through the swishing door.

"Chris…." Bioden called after him, but Pike continued out without another word.

Epilogue

Twenty-five years later. Christina Pike Alondera Carroll joined Starfleet Medical as a dermatologist specializing in the effects of delta radiation burns. She had learned about what became of Fleet Captain Christopher Pike, her namesake, and the man who had rescued her as a baby. She decided to devote her life to developing a way to help treat and heal him and others like him.