Scant element about Rigel VII is offered in “The Cage,” although Pike experiences an phantasm of the planet whereas held captive by the Talosians. The planet (at the very least as Pike remembers it) seems to be like a medieval swashbuckling fantasy, with a purple sky and stone fortress. A local of the planet known as a Kalar is a roaring beast-man draped in a fur coat and helmet whereas wielding an axe.
The Enterprise known as again to the planet as a result of a Starfleet insignia was noticed on a constructing from orbit. Clearly, there’s been cultural contamination — an enormous no-no below Starfleet’s Prime Directive of non-interference — and now Pike’s crew has to scrub up their mess. As soon as they arrive, we get a brand new element about Rigel VII — it is surrounded by an asteroid area. Within the distant previous, a meteor from that area struck the planet, accounting for its primitive improvement.
When the away group — Pike, La’an (Christina Chong), and Dr. M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) — land, it is winter. The planet thus seems to be chilly and snowed-in, reasonably than the rocky desert panorama from “The Cage.” Because the away group makes its march to civilization, they begin blacking out and experiencing time lapses. This culminates with probably the most startling discovery of all — one of many Enterprise casualties, a yeoman named Zack (David Huynh), survived. He shared Starfleet know-how and data with the Kalars and have become their ruler; the insignia on prime of the palace was made in tribute to him. Years alone on the planet have turned Zack bitter, and he has his rescuers imprisoned. By morning, they’ve forgotten who they’re.