#mirror!pike

[lizzy305-art]

Pick a date for Valentines Day 💕

Let me know in the tags?

[no-c-riously]

For everyone who longs for an SNW Mirrorverse episode

[thekenobee]

I said it before and I will say it again- Pike from Short Treks: “Ask Not” was the closest to mirror!Pike he could get

[ichayalovesyou]

What are your thoughts on Pike... But he's from the Mirror Universe?

Mirror!Pike: The Inverted Paragon

I have actually thought about this a lot and how the way Pike is as a human being could be inverted in the hands of the Terran Empire. His fundamental traits both grate against the things the Empire stands for and could also be their deadliest weapon.

Fundamentally, Pike is a paragon character, like Superman or Captain America, he eats, breathes, and bleeds what he believes in. He is totally devoted to the ideals of the banner he flies under. We know in the Prime universe he'd be more than willing to give everything up, even die for Starfleet's cause. He is oath and conscience, service and sacrifice, through and through.

In representing the pinnacle of what he stands for, he inspires borderline fanatical loyalty that is only matched by his own devotion. He is, canonically, Starfleet's poster boy and wasn't even aware of it. This can be as much a danger as it is an asset, especially in the Mirror Universe. In my mind there are three ways he could go in this timeline, I call them Claude Frollo, Leto Atreides, and Scorpia respectively. I like all the options so I'll describe them each in turn!

Claude Frollo (True Evil Paragon)

This is the Mirror Christopher Pike that knows exactly what he's doing, he uses his abundant empathy without Prime!Pike's compassion to manipulate and radicalize those under his power. To the point where they are too worshipful and terrified to even think about killing him to go up in rank. He seeks to be feared and adored, and has a reputation for avoiding the more brutal ways of punishing subordinates and taking in soldiers who don't fit the standards of the Empire's purity. In this characterization, Spock is his Quasi Modo, his pet project. Most likely he would seek to prove that Human mutts can be weaponized against inferior races. He may even be so charming as to convince non-Human worlds they'll be safer under the Terran Empire's banner in subordination than facing a pitiless galaxy without their protection. The secret to his success being that he genuinely believes the xenophobic, paranoid bile the Terran Empire stands for, he's just not stupid about it. All that being said, I do think he'd be too loyal to the order of things to make a bid for Emperor, he's content with his little cult/fiefdom as it stands. Unless an opportunity opens up like, say, both Georgiou and Lorca being dead, arises for him to take the throne. This Pike probably also kills Una for being an Illyrian spy and La'an is his right hand with all that Augment Descendant clout and treats her like a princess and daughter to maintain her loyalty.

Leto Atreides (Reluctant Evil Paragon)

This variation of Mirror!Pike is significantly less self-aware and maybe a bit more critical of the Terran Empire's ideals but still willing to play the game because, let's be real, power is one hell of drug even for the best of us. This version seeks to make the Empire better from within, which is ultimately a fruitless task because Terran imperialism is rotten to the core. I'm sure this Pike while definitely equipped with plenty of subconscious racism, is probably as not-xenophobic as he could get away with being in this depraved system, the peak example being making room for Spock to climb the ranks. He's well-loved by his crew, but too hesitant with violence to not get himself killed. Either a subordinate takes him down OR he becomes so well liked by his Terran crew and beyond that Empress Georgiou saw him both as a threat and dangerously too soft, and killed him. This Pike is a dead man before the Discovery even got trapped in the Mirror Universe. Which might explain why Georgiou is so uninterested/unimpressed with him when they interact in season two.

Scorpia (Ignorant Evil Paragon)

This Mirror!Pike believes in the Empire because he's been completely brainwashed by the propaganda it spews. Having been raised on Terra Prime, would have no information to the contrary until he joined Starfleet. I'm sure he spends a solid chunk of his career stifling his cognitive dissonance and sense of honor enough to survive, and eventually thrive as bits and pieces of his soul get ripped out of him. Until eventually something just snaps and he goes completely rogue. Which ultimately makes him either dead, a prisoner of war on either the Empire or Rebellion's side, or hiding somewhere. Mirror!Una probably helped him defect considering she's either an Illyrian who thinks she's human OR an Illyrian spy. Not optimal but at least he isn't a monster? Kinda, he probably had to do some messed up shit to get to Captain in this universe, but at least he feels remorse in this variation! Yay?

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

Just a question about your mirror verse captain pike. I know its been a while (not really that long) since you last wrote for it. But would you ever consider killing mirror verse reader and doing something along the line of what went on with discovery with mirror universe pike attempting to find and get with normal universe reader?

So what you did was ask a question and what I did was write a story?

Sorry! This was an amazing question and I got really inspired!

I used the same reader as the reader in I Caught One Last Sight - this can be read without that, it just makes a couple of references to it.

Pairing: Christopher Pike x Reader; Mirror!Christopher Pike x Reader Rating: T Warnings: Cursing; dubious morals, as we are dealing with the Terran Empire Length: 3.2K

You knew it wasn’t him immediately, not your Pike -- just in the same way that you knew it wasn’t your Pike when you’d had that transporter mix-up, and that solar storm had stuck you in another universe instead of beaming you down to Nov O-62. It was his eyes. Narrowed, flinty, harsh - fixed on you. It was a look that your Pike had never given you. It was calculating. This man, whoever he was, was trying to think five steps ahead; the wheels in his head were turning so fast there should’ve been steam pouring out of his ears. And then he took two steps closer, hand reaching for the phaser in its holster. He was two seconds too late, though; yours was already out, and it was not set to stun. “What are you doing?” Nhan asked beside you, stunned. 

“That’s not Pike,” You hissed. “Have you lost your mind?” Nhan had started asking before Spock, your Pike, and Number One had burst into the hall behind whoever this other Pike was. And then Nhan had stopped asking. The other Pike had turned his gaze back to you, lips pulling into a thin little smile. “You’re a quick one here, too,” He murmured. You were pretty sure it was supposed to be a compliment, but you didn’t think you wanted compliments from a man that looked at you like you were a puzzle. 

--

“His genetic makeup is basically the same,” Boyce reported to those assembled in the ready room, “He’s certainly human, no one’s gone out of their way to clone you.” “Thank god. We can barely handle one of you occurring in this universe,” You grumbled. Pike shot you an unamused glance over where his mouth was being shielded by his hand. You’d managed to get the other Pike into a holding cell. You’d cuffed the man yourself, and had done your best to ignore the way his eyes had lingered on you the entire time; how his fingers had flexed and skated along the hem of your shirt before you could pull away. “I want him under twenty-four hour surveillance,” Pike ordered, lowering his hand, “And we’ll need to start working out ways to get him back to his...Origin point.” Delicately put. “It’s a wonder that this man has managed to make contact,” Spock commented from the other end of the table, “The chance of encountering an alternate form of yourself from another universe is less than .00186%.” You and Pike must’ve been particularly lucky. “I’ll take first watch with him,” You offered, sitting up. “No,” Pike said sharply. You frowned at him as he added, “Nhan will take first watch. And I have something I need to discuss with you, Commander. Let’s see what we can figure out and get him back as soon as possible. Keep me updated. Dismissed.” The others stood, clearing out and leaving you and Pike behind. “What was that about?” You asked. “I do not want you alone with him.” Your brows rose. “I--...What?” “That seemed fairly straightforward to me,” Pike shrugged. “I was more curious about the reasoning behind the direction than the direction itself.” “...He was watching you...Rather intently.” “Yeah, well. I’m cute.” Pike cut you a look, and you raised a brow. “Come on,” You added, “Nhan can’t watch him the whole time, she’ll have to rest at some point. You’re worrying for nothing.” Pike pushed a sigh out through his nose, lowering his eyes to the table. You leaned in a bit, folding your arms on the table. “Chris,” You said lightly, “That guy has no idea who I am.” You waited for him to call you out on the contrary, but clearly he didn’t hear what the other Pike had said to you in the hall. Instead, Chris argued, “Just because he doesn’t know you doesn’t mean you aren’t anyone to him where he’s from.” “Well if I’m someone good, then we may be able to get answers out of him faster.” “And if you’re someone bad?” “Then he’ll probably keep his mouth shut around me and we won’t have anything to worry about. Besides, he’ll be contained.” Pike didn’t like it; you could see it in his furrowed brow, and the purse of his lips. “I don’t want you alone with him,” He said firmly. “I’ll take shifts with Nhan and we’ll arrange shifts to switch off with the rest of the security team until we work out how to get him home. Satisfied?” You knew that he wasn’t, but he nodded regardless. -- When you entered the brig, Nhan was questioning the other Pike. He was standing before her, seemingly at attention. His expression was riddled with boredom; he wasn’t answering her questions. When he saw you out of her periphery, however, he tipped his head to the side to get a better view of you, tracking your movements. You tried not to let it trip you up, or to change the way you moved, but it was intimidating. “Hey-- I’m speaking,” Nhan snapped. You folded your arms over your chest, staring the man down in turn. He shifted his attention back to Nhan, brow raised. “I was wondering when you’d stop.” That was your Pike’s humor, but with a sharp edge. You had to bite back a smile. His eyes darted to you again. You walked closer to the wall of the brig and leaned back, out of his sight. You caught sight of Nhan’s eye, shaking your head a little. She wasn’t going to get anywhere with him. -- “Commander Nhan, you’re needed on the Bridge.” Your eyes snapped to Nhan as she was commed. She glanced over at you, then back at where he was. “...Are you going to be alright?” “Fine,” You waved her off, “Don’t worry about it.” Nhan took one more look at the man before she left. The room was quiet for a few moments, and then you heard the steady clunking of footsteps in the brig. You glanced back toward the sound, but refused to move from your spot beside the wall. “... Are you hiding from me?” His voice was soft, but nearer to you than it had been. He was close now - right up against the edge of the brig wall closest to you, he had to be. “What would the point of that be? You know I’m here,” You answered. “And yet you stay tucked away. Why?” Because the way you watch me frightens me. “I see plenty of you in my own universe.” He chuckled, soft, dark, warm - a sound that could wrap you up and drown you. “You see someone like me, perhaps, but you do not see me.” Damnit, you wanted to look. That gaze - you’d been mulling it over for hours - would it be just as intense now? You pushed off of the wall, then, and turned to stand in front of the brig. He seemed to impose and tower over you in a way that your Chris didn’t; he looked down his nose at you, set his shoulders with an air of superiority - and those eyes. Still calculating, but now they seemed just a touch less cold. “...What you said before, about me being ‘clever here, too’ -- what did that mean?” This man’s lips quirked into a small, satisfied smile. “Just what I said. Where I’m from, you… You were a quick one. Sized up situations quickly, tended to look for your escape routes before you settled into a seat, preferred to hang back and listen to conversations, make your observations rather than simply jump right in.” 

Your heart was pounding. That sounded oddly like how you approached situations here, now — but that was different. That was your job on the Enterprise. You didn’t know this man, you didn’t know who you were to him in another world, another universe.

“I was a quick one?” You repeated, “I take it I’m dead?” His smile faltered and his gaze dropped. You averted your own eyes. “Well, that’ll put you off your morning coffee.” This man huffed, shaking his head. “...What happened to me?” Chalk it up to morbid curiosity. You eyed his hands balling into fists at his sides, and you surmised it was fresh. “Never mind,” You added. He rested one of his hands against the brig walls. “...Who was I?” You asked next. “The Emperor’s daughter. My…” He trailed off. “Yes?” You pressed. Now you had to know. How could it be possible that one of you should end up with Pike in every single world but your own? His eyes lifted back to yours, alight with eagerness. “What should you have liked to be?” He murmured. “I don’t know what you--” “Don’t play coy,” He shook his head, “Maybe that works with him, but it won’t work with me. I know you a little too well for that.” “You don’t know me at all,” You snapped. “There’s that fire I’ve missed,” he murmured, and you took a step back, unable to help the shiver that tripped down your spine. 

“... Tell us where you came from,” You ordered, ignoring the shake in your own voice, “Coordinates, method--” “Anything, on one condition.” “What?” “You return with me.” You didn’t speak; he didn’t wait for you to fill the silence with your questions or answer, just pressed on, “You think it’s some accident that I’ve wound up here?” He shook his head, “No, dear one. I’ve been looking for you. You’re wasted here-- you’re wasted on him. Will he cherish you? Treat you the way you want to be treated?” You’re not sure you’ve taken a breath since he uttered his proposition. “-- You don’t know me,” You manage after a moment, “I’m not-- I look like her, I’m not her--” “And I’m not him. But we’re the closest to what the other wants that we’ll ever get. In my universe, you are revered. I’ll take care of you.” Why was it so goddamn tempting? His eyes lifted to the door behind you, and that was when you registered the sound of approaching footsteps. You turn your head to see Number One, Nhan, and Pike filing in. “Commander,” Pike’s tone, your Pike, was icy. This was directly violating his orders - you alone with this… This man that had just offered you what could very well be a lie. “Captain,” You answered, tone clipped. You took a step back as Number One and the Captain stepped forward to question the Pike that was in the brig. You retook your place just out of sight. “Any ideas as to how we can get you home?” Pike asked. “I already gave the Commander my terms.” You felt the full weight of everyone’s gaze shifting to you. “...Commander, a word,” Pike ordered. You grimaced, following him out of the room. “His terms?” Chris hissed once you were out of earshot. “Don’t start--” “This was exactly why I didn’t want you around him,” He tacked on before reeling away. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. “What were his ‘terms’?” He asked. “... I don’t-- You’re not going to agree to them--” “What were they.” “More importantly, I’m not going to agree to them--” “They’ve got to do with you?” You gave Chris a small nod. “...Humor me.” “You won't find it very funny,” You warned before adding, “He’ll tell us how to get him back if I go with him.” In that moment, you saw Chris, your Chris, shift into that same sharp man that was in the brig inside. “Wait, wait--” You reached out, catching hold of his shoulder as he turned to go back inside, “We can use this-- No not like that,” You added as you saw his face shift to shock, “Just because I go back with him doesn’t mean it has to be a one way trip. He didn’t say I had to go back with him and stay.” Chris’ hand came up to brace himself against the wall, and his shoulders stooped a little bit. “I don’t… I don’t like the idea of bargaining with this man in the first place, and I do not want to use you as a bargaining chip. We barely got you back from one other universe, I’m not risking it again.” The look he was giving you was heavier than a neutron star. “Come on, we’ll be fine. Long as there are no solar storms in the area.” You managed to get Chris to crack a small smile. “Look, just... Get Number One and Nhan out here. I’ll have to talk to him for a while longer, maybe a couple of days. He seems pretty sharp, if I just drift back in there and agree to go, he’ll know something’s up.” -- 

“Pride and Prejudice, really?” You frown, “That’s my favorite book here...What the hell.” The man behind the glass laughed, and you smiled a little. You’d been talking to him for a few days now. You’d been on a few different shifts, and various people had been called away, or you’d sent them on some fools errand - all part of the plan, and never at the same time or for the same amount of time. You didn’t want him catching onto a pattern. “...Can I ask you something?” You glanced up at him, as if you hadn’t been asking him questions for days now. “Of course, dear one.” He didn’t call you that excessively, but when he did, stars, it sent a warmth right down to your toes. “If… If you know that it won't be exactly the same with me as it was with-- her, then why bother?” The man -- you couldn’t call him Christopher or Chris, couldn’t call him Pike, couldn’t call him yours, you couldn’t call him anything, really, not comfortably -- considered you for a few moments. “I… Learned from her... Grew, in ways that I didn’t expect,” He said. “You think you’ll revert without her?” “I wanted to burn the galaxy when I lost her. She wouldn’t have wanted me to do that.” “Did you?” “No.” “... Well, then I don’t think you need anyone.” “And you? Do you not need anyone?” “We’re not talking about me.” “We were, in a way.” You rolled your eyes. “If I come back with you, you’d have to break yourself of that, you know. I’m not her, I’d never be.” “You’ve thought about it?” He was sitting up straighter, and your stomach twisted as you dropped your eyes to your lap. This is part of the ruse, part of the game. But… But you had thought about it, a little. If all that this man has said were somehow true, if he did love someone like you, if he wanted to give you a life that was fairly more exciting, if not more tumultuous… But you could never leave your life on the Enterprise, your friends, your family - your Chris. You shook your head a little. “I--” “You have,” He accused softly, “You’ve thought about it.” “Stop it,” You ordered, lifting your eyes back to his. His lips were curling into a smile again, the one that he got when you acted particularly bossy. He liked it when you were bossy, you’d noticed that. “And stop looking at me like that,” You added. “Like what?” “Like I’m her.” His eyes flashed at that; you’d hit the nail on the head. And then he shook his head a little bit and murmured, “I know you’re not.” “You’re sure about that?” “I--” “Wait,” You held your hand up, “If… If you’re sure that you’re sure… I’ll go back with you. But only if you swear that you won’t try to make me whatever she was.” “I won’t.” “Promise--” “I swear.” He said it with a fierce surety that made your breath catch in your throat. “...Okay,” You nodded, “Tell me how to get us home.” His lips spread out into a grin that broke you. -- It was the last look on his face that did it - confusion, anger, but ultimately, hurt. Hurt, when he realized that the portal was closing and you were on the other side of it. You didn’t say a word to the others, just turned and returned to your quarters. -- It felt ridiculous to be this torn up over a veritable stranger. For all the time you’d spent in his company, this was what you knew about him: He was a powerful man, he was ruthless, he’d loved someone that looked like you, once, and he looked like someone that you loved. He hadn’t told you much about the Terran Empire, but from what you could ascertain, the man was no saint. You’d stripped out of your command jacket, tossing it onto your bed. You’d poured yourself some Acamarian brandy and had been sipping it for some time when you heard chiming. You sighed. “Door,” You muttered. It ‘swooshed’ open. You didn’t even check to see who it was. “Are you alright?” Chris asked -- your Chris. “Fine.” “...Would you like to try that again with the truth?” “Well would you like to try that again with a question that isn’t stupid?” You heard him sigh. “Don’t do this to yourself,” He pleaded. “It was my idea, serves me right that I feel like shit.” “Do you wish you’d gone with him?” “No.” You were surprised with the speed and frankness that the answer had left you, but it was the truth. You glanced over at Chris. “If I were meant to be in that universe, I would’ve been in it.” “Then what is it?” He leaned against your desk, watching you, “Is it… Is it the lying to him? Are you worried that he’ll come back?” “...Well I wasn’t until you said that, geez,” You grumbled before draining your glass. You heard Pike huff a quiet laugh. “Even if he does, I won’t let anything happen to you,” He reassured as you crossed back to your desk to refill your glass. You scoffed. “Please-- Who’s the security officer here, me or you?” You asked, setting the glass down. “Hey,” Chris reached out, taking you by the shoulder and turning you toward him, “Come on, I mean it. I won’t let anything happen to you.” You hated that you were tearing up; you hated that you knew that in more than one world, in some estimation, you and Pike were it for one another. Who knew how many more there were out there? You lowered your eyes, blinking back the tears as you mumbled, “I know.” Chris’ communicator beeped on his belt and he pulled it out. “Pike here.” “Captain Pike, you’re needed on the bridge,” Una’s voice crackled through. “Be right there.” He had yet to remove his hand from your shoulder. He glanced down at you as he replaced his communicator. “I’ll be by later-- Don’t drown this in Acamarian brandy, that stuff’ll make you go blind,” He squeezed your shoulder before letting go. “You’re not the boss of me,” You tried to tease, watching him. He turned back to you, brow raised. “Please-- Who’s the Captain here, me or you?” He shot you a wink before leaving. You poured yourself another tumbler full of brandy before sinking into your desk chair. You’d be happy if you never encountered another alternate Pike again. General tag list: @fantasticcopeaglepasta

[no-c-riously]

Me to me: why do you keep making these?

Me *shrugs*: Because people liked the others so much.

Me to me: Mirror!Pike will never really happen, you know. It's not real.

Me *glares at myself*: If it's on Tumblr, it *is* real.

[thekenobee]

Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike in Short Treks: Ask Not

[youvebeenlivingfictional]

From you drabbles prompt list, 18 for Christopher Pike/Reader

Ok I’ll be honest here literally anything for Pike cos damn!

Uhhhh so I made this Mirror!Verse Pike to make it a little ~spicy~, I hope you don’t mind!

CW: Mentions of potential punishment; cursing

You had fucked up. 

Badly.

Your Captain was known for being a reasonable man, a quality which, in the Terran empire, was a rarity.

But to have defied his orders for the sake of what he had essentially deemed a suicide mission? It would be a wonder if you wouldn’t be airlocked, if not sentenced to an agonizer for the rest of your life, however short that life would be.

You had been sent to Pike’s ready room on your return to the I.S.S. Enterprise. You hadn’t dared sit, or look around; you’d stood at the ready, shoulders back, chin up, ready for sentencing.

A chill shot down your spine when you heard the doors open and shut behind you. There was only one set of footsteps behind you - he was alone. He passed you in silence, casting a sidelong glance. Even in his rage, he had permitted the two of you solitude; you wouldn’t be made a spectacle of, not yet.

He sat at the head of his table, leaned back in his seat, folded his hands. You assumed he was waiting for you to explain, but you hadn’t been given permission to speak. His eyes were sharp, glacial; his jaw, clenched in his discontent. He arched a single brow before he said, “The Emperor sent her congratulations for our victory… Though she was surprised that any of her Captains claimed the bounty after all had relinquished the offer.”

You bit your lips, physically forcing yourself to keep quiet. You’d had to do so in the meeting regarding the bounty, too; you’d wanted to speak up, but the caliber of the officers you’d been around, you hadn’t been able.

“You disobeyed direct orders, you commandeered a shuttle that you were not authorized to pilot, you sent the bounty to the Emperor in my name. Tell me, ensign… Why should I allow you to live, let alone remain on my ship?”

You took a deep breath, licking your lips.

“... I did it for you, Captain,” You said quietly, “I knew that we were capable--”

“That you were capable--”

“No, sir, we. This crew. We are strong because you are strong, Captain, we are able because you are able. I knew that we were capable of capturing that bounty.”

“Then why not say so before?”

“Because I knew that my voice would not have carried in that meeting, and my suggestion shot down in favor of more seasoned officers. I preferred to beg forgiveness than ask permission, Captain.”

Pike nodded once.

“Then beg, ensign.” 

You hesitated before you took a few steps closer.

“Captain, I know that I disobeyed your orders. I know that I deserve punishment, and not lauding. I don’t even deserve to stay on the Enterprise, but I did what I did for you.”

You lowered yourself to your knees beside Pike’s seat, peering up at him, your heart beating triple-time in your chest as you swallowed thickly.

“Captain… Please, don’t give up on me.”