Pike's Star Trek Journey Takes an Unexpected Twist with Number One's Victorious Adventure

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 2 - "Ad Astra Per Aspera"

Number One (Rebecca Romijn) emerges victorious in her trial in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 2. However, Captain Christopher Pike's (Anson Mount) ensuing reaction further highlights the somber path that lies ahead. In "Ad Astra Per Aspera," Commander Una Chin-Riley faced a court-martial for concealing her genetic modification as an Illyrian from Starfleet. Starfleet intended to impose severe punishment, charging Una with sedition and condemning her to a lengthy confinement in a Federation penal colony. Fortunately, Number One's lawyer, Neera Ketoul (Yetide Badaki), skillfully secures Una's freedom, orchestrating an astounding legal victory.

Captain Pike impressively goes above and beyond to support Number One throughout her court-martial in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Taking a perilous journey into the Vaultera Nebula, Pike risks his own life to enlist the help of Neera, an Illyrian civil rights attorney and Una Chin-Riley's childhood friend. However, their friendship soured when Chin-Riley chose to join Starfleet and keep her Illyrian identity hidden. Neera, on the other hand, sought to challenge the Federation's oppressive laws against genetically modified individuals. Remarkably, she harnesses Una's personal narrative as a powerful tool, securing asylum for Number One within the bounds of Federation law. Thanks to Neera's ingenious tactics, Una's position as First Officer of the USS Enterprise is reinstated, and Captain Pike's unrestrained joy becomes evident.

Number One’s Strange New Worlds Trial Win Makes Pike’s Star Trek Fate Even Sadder

In the final moments of Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 2, Captain Pike waited until he was alone with Una, the USS Enterprise's First Officer, to express his true feelings through a warm embrace, reciprocated by her. This heartfelt gesture in "Ad Astra Per Aspera" highlights the deep bond between Pike and Una, but also foreshadows the tragic fate awaiting Pike. In the years to come, Fleet Captain Pike will face a devastating disfigurement caused by delta rays while bravely saving Starfleet Cadets. Paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, Pike will become a mere shadow of his former self. However, it is Spock who will eventually come to Pike's rescue and bring him to Talos IV, where he can live in a virtual reality as the esteemed starship Captain he once was.

Pike's embrace of Number One following her triumph in the trial serves as a poignant reminder that Una will not be there for him when he faces his permanent injury. Una is well aware of this impending tragedy, as Pike had informed both her and Lt. Spock of it in Strange New Worlds season 1. Yet, what remains a mystery until the events of Strange New Worlds is the fate of Number One beyond Pike's tenure as captain. Spock will continue to serve as Kirk's invaluable First Officer and Science Officer, but Una will bid farewell to the Enterprise. It is possible that Number One carves her own path as the captain of a starship, but the episode "The Menagerie" from Star Trek: The Original Series gives no indication if she ever visits Pike after his accident. Perhaps she does so before Spock intervenes, leaving Una deeply sorrowed by her inability to aid her dear friend and former captain.

Strange New Worlds Revealed How Close Pike & Number One Really Are

In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 2, Captain Batel (played by Melanie Scrofano) discovers the story of how Pike and Una meet at Starfleet Academy. Although Pike finds Una both annoying and impressive, they establish a friendship that carries on into their service on the USS Enterprise in the 2259 timeframe. Prior to this, they also served together under Captain Robert April (portrayed by Adrian Holmes). As more details unfold about their relationship, it becomes evident that Pike and Number One share one of the greatest friendships in Star Trek history.

However, the absence of Number One from the rescue mission in TOS' "The Menagerie" is even more heartrending. It is unclear whether Spock informed her of his actions afterwards or possibly beforehand. If Number One did not see Pike before he departed for Talos IV, then she would not have been able to visit him later, as doing so would be a violation of Starfleet General Order 7 and result in the death penalty. Nevertheless, considering the close bond between Captain Pike and Number One in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, it is possible that Una found a way to see Pike before his tragic fate befell him.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.