Rebecca Romjin sees parallels between Number One and Mystique

Rebecca Romjin plays the genetically-enhanced First Officer on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds changed things up a bit in season one, revealing that Commander Una-Chin Riley, Number One, played by Rebecca Romjin, was actually an Illyrian which is a genetically-modified alien. In the time period of Strange New Worlds, genetic enhancements are outlawed.  Riley didn’t reveal her origins to Starfleet, but, at the end of season one, her deception is discovered, and she is arrested.

Speaking during the 56-Year Mission Star Trek convention in Las Vegas at a Strange New Worlds panel [via Trekmovie], Romjin, who played Mystique in three X-Men films, said she does see parallels between Number One and the blue-skinned, shapeshifting mutant who, along with other mutants were subjected to human suspicion and prejudice.

"And what also is really strange about it, and I probably shouldn’t say this, but I kept going back to when I was playing Mystique as a mutant. I had little bits of dialogue in season 2 that were literally word-for-word things I said in the X-Men series before. But they are related. They are two characters, and I relate them."

Rebecca Romjin was asked if the storyline would link to Star Trek mythology.

Specifically, fans wanted to know if there was a possible link between Number One’s arrest and the Eugenics Wars which led to genetic enhancements being outlawed. The Eugenics Wars introduced the Augments and, of course, led to Khan Noonien Singh’s absolute rule over a good portion of the planet.

Romjin did say that season two of the series would expand upon this connection which could possibly lead to even more information on Lt. La’an Noonien Singh’s backstory. However this plays out, it’ll be interesting to see how and when Riley will be released from prison and when she’ll be allowed to return to Starfleet. It’s possible her entire storyline in the upcoming season will be her fighting for her right to serve in Starfleet despite her not revealing this very important piece of information.