There could be a secret reason the bodies of iral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) are in Star Trek: Picard season 3's Daystrom Station. Picard, who was resurrected in a positronic, synthetic body, learned that Section 31 was storing his corpse in a secret vault in the Daystrom Station black site. What's more, the corpse of Captain Kirk is also in the Daystrom under the auspices of 'Project Phoenix.'

Jean-Luc Picard died at the end of Star Trek: Picard season 1, succumbing to what he believed at the time to be Irumodic Syndrome. Star Trek: Picard season 3 revealed that Jean-Luc actually died from organic Borg DNA implanted in his brain, which he unknowingly ed on to his son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers). As for Captain Kirk, he infamously perished at the end of Star Trek Generations after he teamed with Picard to stop Dr. Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell) from diverting the Nexus to Veridian III by the destroying the sun of the Veridian star system. Section 31 acquired the remains of both legendary Captains of the USS Enterprise, and their endgame for Kirk and Picard's bodies may be nefarious.

Star Trek Generations Could Explain Kirk & Jean-Luc’s Bodies In Picard Season 3

Besides being two of the most legendary USS Enterprise Captains, James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard have something else in common: both spent time in the Nexus. Indeed, this could be the root of why Section 31 took possession of both of their corpses. Introduced in Star Trek Generations, the Nexus is an other-dimensional energy ribbon that travels through the galaxy. Anyone who survives entering the Nexus is plunged into a reality of their own wishes akin to their personal heaven. For Picard, it was the life he never led filled with the warmth and love of family. For Kirk, it was a peaceful retirement on Earth with his beloved horses and his love, Antonia.

However, even if one exits the Nexus, as Picard and Kirk did in Star Trek Generations, an "echo" of them remains behind. Jean-Luc learned this when he encountered the "echo" of Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) in the Nexus. It's possible this latent bond with the Nexus Kirk and Picard share is what interested Section 31, and why the Enterprise Captains' corpses were kept in cold storage. Perhaps Section 31 intends to unlock the secrets of the Nexus from Picard and Kirk, the only two Starfleet Officers who are known to have left the Nexus. Unlike Guinan, who is still alive, Kirk and Picard's corpses can be kept by Section 31 under shady rules and regulations to study as they see fit.

Section 31 Could Want To Control The Nexus

The Nexus was never seen again after Star Trek Generations, but it's an immensely powerful and largely unexplained energy source that's continuously roaming the galaxy. It would make sense for Section 31 to want to learn more about the Nexus, not just to unlock its secrets but to possibly control it. After all, the Nexus defies space and time, and it could potentially be turned into a terrible weapon if its energies could be harnessed. Mastering the Nexus could lead to immortality, instantaneous travel throughout time and space, and potentially untapped reserves of knowledge.

Perhaps the rationale behind Captain Kirk and iral Picard's corpses in Daystrom Station will be explored in Star Trek: Legacy, the proposed spinoff of Star Trek: Picard. It's currently even an unanswered question where Jean-Luc's body is after Picard season 3. As for Kirk, 'Project Phoenix' hints at Section 31 wanting to resurrect the former Captain of the Enterprise, but both Kirk and Picard do have their essences remaining within the Nexus. If the Nexus does return to become a major story point in Star Trek, the bodies of Picard and Kirk are a prime gateway to it.

Star Trek: Picard season 3 is streaming on Paramount+.