The confirmation that there was in fact, no Control or Red Angel here was enough to make Pike relax, even just slightly. That meant they could attempt to relax, as much as anyone could in an unknown reality so far from home at least. What it all really represented was just that, one problem at a time and Pike could handle that once all the initial hurdles of arriving here were overcome.

The lull in the conversation, even for a moment before it was interrupted by the cough from this reality's Spock was enough to let Pike look out at the stars again. He'd heard from some of the crew, how this reality wasn't at all like the one Lorca came from, at least in that it was actually the same brightness as theirs. It wasn't some dark and dreary place, and just perhaps that meant they might have a chance at surviving it and going home to try and save their own future. Spock's cough however, was enough to make Pike look at his own Spock with some amusement, eyebrow raised and a slight smile. Just how those two behaved, how they acted around each other it honestly also gave Pike hope for the Enterprise here and that it might just be in good hands, after all Spock hadn't yet led Pike astray with his logic.

Then of course, that smile was quickly gone when Kirk started to speak, and he heard the pain in his voice as well as the words. Dead. He was dead? And with full honors so clearly that meant it was in the line of duty. If he were anyone else, he would think the emotions running across his face would be amusing, from shock to doubt to pain to worry, and he was once again thankful for Spock being there to pick up the slack when it came to verbalizing someone's thoughts as he was unable to speak at the moment.

"Which is why you asked for a private meeting, to insure that the Captain Pike here at present is indeed him."