Slowly opening his eye, he tries to regain feeling in his ligaments. Having been free of his shackles and restraints, feeling free for the first time in 5 years.

5 years

Hope

Bekah

New Orleans

''Marcellus'', he hisses the name with venom.

For five years he's been trapped behind this wall, only to be freed and kept in a magic circle with his once son, and protegee taunting him. The ghost of his past adding to his constant misery, and even the lovely faces of his better years give him comfort, quickly turning to false hope. To hear feet above him, the feet of his people living their life, while he was left to rot down here, waiting for Haley to bring their family together.

Hope. He thought of his little girl.

''Here brother.''

Glancing up, he was met with the eyes of his siblings. ''Finn? Brother?''

''I'm here Niklaus, and we have much to discuss.'' Rebekah, curse free, Elijah, Kol and Davina? And Freya? Ansel? All his siblings were here, and his absentee father, that was killed by his hand half a decade ago. But looking into the eyes of his self-reflected back at him. He didn't see hatred or anger like the eyes of Mikael's. There was warmth, and understanding. A silent acknowledgement between the father and son.

He was forgiven.

With a nod of his head he got up from the ground, ''Your all here, how?''

''Not any of us, but one that is very close to you apparently. I was under the impression you weren't capable of friendship, let alone have any friends Klaus. But this one obviously cared about you enough to go through all this trouble.'' Sage teased, low since ever been afraid of the great Niklaus Mikaelson. She's gotten used to him.

''Sage. Well I see you've been unfortunate enough to rejoin the family, and prevent my wayward elder brother to stay put for the unforeseeable future.'' Klaus bantered back.

Finn rolled his eyes. ''Oh, don't act like you've missed me Niklaus.''

''I'll never admit it out loud.'' Klaus replied quick looking at his brother.

''I know.'' Finn replied. A look passed between the brothers and even Klaus' lip lifted at the side while looking at his brother.

''Well I will.'' Rebekah launched forward in his arms. Nearly knocking the weak hybrid to the ground. ''Easy Bekah, give Niklaus time to regain his strength.'' Elijah scolded.

''Bekah'', he sighed her name with love. He's missed his baby sister. He hugged her as tight as he could in his situation.

''You know with our history, I'm surprised you didn't leave me there, and went about your life.'' He teased as he wiped a tear from her eye.

She sniffed with a smile ''We took a vote. I was out voted, Democracy is a wench.'' She said with a teasing smile.

Klaus framed her head with his hands, and kissed her head. ''Hope is on the way.'' Rebekah stood back and smiled at the look of love, and happiness radiating in his eyes. His daughter. His daughter was coming to him. Shaking out of his haze he addressed the room of his family and faux-in laws.

''Well if I don't have you lot to thank, who do I give my eternal gratitude to?''

''I don't know. They left a note. Its spelled so only you can open it. Thier people are upstairs and around the city, dealing with everything, we all met up at a house Haley procured for herself, Mary, and Hope. The old farmhouse in Arkansas. They'll give us information and what they've been up to.'' Finn answered.

''Firstly, Niklaus you need to clean and freshen up, we will all be waiting for you.'' Elijah ever the diplomatic voice.

Everyone one by one stepped up to hug Klaus. Sage squeezed his hand, with a smile, Davina nodded her head, which was still surprising that she even acknowledged him at all. Then again if she's choosing to stay by Kol's side, they would be ''family'' per se. He snickered at her predicted face of disgust that will come with the sentiment. The last to leave was big brother Elijah and not before he pulled his little brother in for a bone crushing hug, and a kiss on the cheek. Simple universal actions of love between family, and ones that made his eyes wet with unshed tears. Tearing away he looked at his brother opening his mouth, except no words were coming out.

Elijah saw the aggravated look his brother was getting because of the words not coming out, seeing what he was trying to say, but the words that haven't been uttered to each other for thousands of years right on his tongue. Elijah beat him to it.

''I love you too.''

''I missed you more.''

''Always and forever.''

He was awarded with a real Niklaus smile, a smile he has seen only a handful of times since their transformation.

With that smile, he flashes away to clean, and get ready for the family reunion of the century.

Freshly shaven and washed Klaus sat at the head of the table in the living room safe house. All members of his family and their companions were waiting to hear about this mysterious savior. Grateful, yes, they were, but suspicious. No one willingly, and without motive ever helped his family, and always asked for something in return. The figures standing at the end of the table, vampires and some unknown supernatural he could tell were grating on Davina and Freya's nerves, considering the two witches didn't know what they were. All had a pin on either the lapels or sleeves of their coat and blouse. Klaus could only make out a set of wings in the fancy golden token of whoever they worked for, but the longer they sat in quiet, the more his patience and anger was being tested.

He looked to the right in the partially open door to stare at his littlest wolf. Sensing her daddy's stare, she looked up with a smile. Sage quipped earlier after witnessing their first meeting, that Hope would turn out a daddy's girl, regardless of being in the presence of only her mother for five years. The quipped made him smile. More than anything he wanted to be a better father than the one...ones, handed to him. He would be the best. Green eyes, and a head of red hair whipped around to look at her father, and she gave him a smile, before returning to her puzzle. Klaus smiled back thinking of his littlest wolf.

Haley stood by a shy Hope introducing her to her aunts and uncles, and waiting for his introduction.

''Hope this is-''

Recognition dawned in her green orbs, and a hesitant smile stretched on her face. ''Daddy?''

The air left his lungs, and all he could do was nod slowly, while sinking down to his knees to look his little girl in the face. ''We have the same eyes.'' She said softly.

Klaus again nodded softly and gave a breathless chuckle. He stood and had his hands under his daughter's arms and lifted her up in his arms. She wrapped hers around his neck and their father and daughter hugged around family. Klaus held her tight and memorized everything about her. Her face, her scent, her heartbeat, it was on permanent repeat in his head.

And would be for the rest of eternity.

Hope, he thought.

Coming back from his memory, he was back at the table and the last of the vampires were ready to start.

Clearing his throat, the first logical thing to do, even if he hasn't been known to be very good at it, was giving thanks to his rescuers.

''Apologies, for blanking out a bit, I see introductions are done.'' Gaining a nod from Elijah, he went on. ''I would like to thank you, first and foremost, this was no doubt a difficult task coming to the aid of myself and siblings, especially with New Orleans running the way it currently is. Nevertheless, you got the job done, so thank you, and if there's anything we could ever do to repay you.''

But before that last sentence could even be muttered, the vampires were shaking their heads. ''That is very kind of you, but we were only following orders. The Queen will ensure that we are rewarded for our efforts. I am glad that you have been reunited with your daughter and family and hope your family will do well in the future.''

Queen? All the Mikaelsons asked perturbed. ''Unless your speaking of the Queen of England darling, it's the 21st century, we don't know any other Queens.'' Kol stated.

The vampires traded glances. ''There have been some developments in the supernatural world, while you lot have been trapped. A Queen is one of many, I'm sure yourselves, and your friends will tell you all about them once you've settled.'' The blond said with a tone of finality. Mary Louise. That was her name.

Nora, the brunette mystery supernatural, clapped her hands to gather everyone's attention. ''Now for the news about New Orleans, we can discuss, and then be on our way to give you all family time.'' She said sympathetically. She was a lot softer than her blond wife next to her, he said spying the wedding rings and looks of love passed between them.

''How did you come to revive us?'' Elijah asked. ''As far as my knowledge goes, Haley was gathering were venom to accomplish this.''

''She took too long.'' The blond said bluntly.

Kol, Klaus, and surprisingly Sage all gave out chuckles at this, which in retrospect didn't help Haley's anger, the wolf feeling like she was getting ganged up on.

''Excuse you, I have been working my ass off for years to give my daughter her family back. By myself, I didn't have an army having my back, just an infant and toddler that I needed to divide my attention with.'' Haley snarled.

Mary Lou rolled her eyes at the aggressive wolf, while Nora tried to calm everyone down. ''I am aware of that, and you are correct that our backup and connections got this done quicker than a single person. What Mary Lou was poorly trying to say is that Stryker didn't want to wait for you to be done. With the speed you were searching and the amount of venom, plus how hard they are to track for a single person, it would have taken you two more years to accomplish this. Stryker wanted him out as soon as possible.''

Klaus gave pause, and couldn't help but shoot a look at Haley. How long would it have taken the little wolf to break him free, and set things right? How long would he have spent away from his Hope. Would he have greeted her as a teenager? A young woman? The thought that Haley's progress didn't go on further than he hoped, caused bitterness to swell. The years taken away from himself and his daughter angering him.

''Stryker?'' Rebekah asked.

''The Queen is known as Stryker.'' Mary Lou responded.

''So, we killed all Marcels vampires guarding Niklaus, and then we took Marcel hostage. Marcel is no longer an Original Vampire. We took away his Original benefits, he is a normal vampire now.''

''How?'' Elijah asked.

''No need to ask questions?'' Nora asked.

The Mikaelsons were getting agitated. They valued loyalty, but these girls' loyalty wasn't to them, and they were tight lipped about who this 'Stryker Queen' was. Their loyalty belonged to her.

''Marcel however after being stripped away immortality, was sent away, so that's your problem to clean up, as the Queen was sure you would want to handle that situation by yourself, and file through the extensive list of revenge you've planned over the years with your dramatic royal flair.''

Klaus narrowed his eyes suspiciously as did the rest of the Mikaelson clan. This Queen outsider knew him well. Well enough to guess his next moves, and to know what he would be planning. The most aggravating part about this was that from what he was told, not that he believed them 100 percent anyway, but this supposed new ruler was a friend. Klaus Mikaelson wasn't one to...play nicely with others, he was definitely not a people person. So, who on earth liked him, cared about him this much to restore his freedom? His mind came up blank. Anyone he cared about aside from a handful, probably less were all in this room, and the ones who weren't couldn't have pulled off something this foundational by themselves.

''That's all we can speak of, as I said earlier, you yourselves, as well as your friends can help you piece together the news while you were away. We did our job. Enjoy your family Niklaus.'' Nora spoke and nodded to the hybrid, and with a flash, the rest of the outsiders were gone. At the end of the table was the key and deed to his French Quarter home, and the plantation. Both of which were on a navy-blue piece of satin ribbon. A letter on parchment sat beneath them with a navy-blue wax crest of the angel pendent he saw on Mary Lou and Nora as well as their vampire crew.

''Only you can grab it Nik, it's spelled from any other touch.'' Kol said.

So not only did this friend free himself and family, they also procured his old residence, and wanted a private chat with him through letters. Whoever was writing, truly did know his lot well, knowing that his nosy siblings would snoop.

Klaus picked up the envelop and stuffed it in his pocket. He picked up the house keys and dangled them in front of his lot.

''Last one home gets put in a box.'' He said with a smirk that turned to full on evil chuckles when all his siblings started throwing insults his way.

''Alright alright, shut it, I was joking,'' he said smirking.

Kol rolled his eyes. ''Oh, 5 years have made him a comic I see. Bad form Nik.'' He scolded his brother.

''Actually, bad form would be to leave you all in the dust while I race home and claim my bedroom, and leave the rest of you lot to fight over the remaining ones, I do believe Bekah you said one wasn't even big enough to house your shoes.'' He said with a taunting tone. The confused expressions on his face put him back in his old big bad mood.

''7 rooms, 6 siblings, plus significant others and guest.'' He shrugged his shoulders innocently. ''No one's old room is for certain except for myself and this little thing.'' He bent down to pick up Hope who let go of her mother's hand, and ran to her father. He placed a kiss on her nose, and relished in her giggle, before addressing the others.

''I want to hear no complaints from you lot when rooms are being picked. Hold on tight littlest wolf.'' The latter giggled, while the table all had sudden realizations about Klaus' ramblings and all sped to claim the nicest (biggest) rooms they could at the house.

Klaus made his way to his old room. Everything completely the same, and nothing out of place. He would give Marcellus credit for that. Looking into his and his daughters once upon a time nursery, nothing changed. Marcel may have been grief stricken about Davina's death, and possessive of New Orleans to the point of war, but he still showed a bit of respect for the first King and sire. He and Hope laid back on his bed, his little girl grabbed his old sketch book to look at the pictures, smiling happily and complimenting her talented father, while the latter smiled listening to the grumblings of his siblings and guest fight over rooms. Any other time it would have driven him crazy and completely annoyed the crap out of him, but not now. He missed his crazy lot, and their arguing was the best welcome home he could have ever gotten.

…...

A few days past, and lots or reunions later, as soon as they put Hope to bed, the remainder of residents on the house all gathered for extra information on their rescuer. Davina and Vincent stood at the helm, him standing, and Davina altering between Kol's lap and standing. Davina and Vincent still alive, the former leaving New Orleans after the Mikalesons banishment, were here to witness and hear all about the new supernatural order and hear about the queen. ''I invited Josh as well, he worked for her a year back in an oversees job in Kenya.''

Elijah nodded, while Freya voiced her concerns. ''Isn't Josh loyal to Marcel, is it a good idea to have him here?''

''If forced, Josh would choose Davina, any day'', Kol responded shooting a glare at Freya, who raised her hands in innocence. ''Just checking, jeez Kol, chill.''

''Hey, I'm here, sorry I'm late...whoa.'' Josh glanced around at all the Mikaelsons and then to his best friend that he hasn't seen in years. ''Oh my god!'' He whooshed and had Davina in his arms hugging the life out of her in a second.

''Can't breathe'', Davina laughed. Josh put her down laughing, and gripped her upper arms looking at her in awe. ''I've missed you.''

''I've missed you too.''

''Okay that's enough of this sappy reunion, come out with the information.'' Klaus groaned in frustration.

''Klaus'', Josh sighed. ''How I've missed you.''

''4 years later, I still don't appreciate sarcasm from lesser.'' Klaus stated casually while putting the weight of a threat in there.

''Sorry'', Josh said quickly.

''Now then.'' With a wave of his hand, Klaus looked their way. ''Begin.''

''Well after you guys left, everything was calm. Marcel was getting this in the city back to where they were before you and your family showed up. He wanted it to be like the last 10 years or so, didn't happen.'' Vincent began.

''Without me, his way of monitoring the witches were now reduced to spies. Vampires other witches who he bribed with more liberties than the rest. It was a throwback to everything before you.'' Davina piped in.

''Until rumors started circling. The supernatural world was taking a hit. Millions and millions of dead bodies of humans, witches, vampires, wolves, and powerful families who have been around almost as long as you guys were dead. Cities and states destroyed. No one knew what to think. On one hand it seemed like sloppy massacres, tempers taken a wrong turn. On the other hand, some of the hits, some of the places that were attacked. Security was tight, best surveillance around, guards were top notch, and 1 2 3, someone just strolled in and strolled out taking care of business.''

''It was planned.'' Klaus stated.

''Yes. These things went on for about a year. When news of who was behind it surfaced.''

''The queen?'' Rebekah asked.

''Yes, but she wasn't the queen then. She was just Stryker...who escaped and took down an 800-year-old cult solider organization. You heard of the Compound?'' Vincent asked.

All eyes went to Kol when that was said. Out of all the Mikaelsons, Kol would be the one to know about something like this, and judging by the stillness of his body and the grip on his drink he did. The world always was quick to judge Klaus on his impulsiveness and temper, but Klaus was okay with foreplay. The games and taunts before the kill. Kol, his little vicious firecracker, was all about the blood, and torture, the power and euphoria when the sound your victims make when the blood gets everywhere. The job wasn't done, until the blood has made its run. Kol always came back from the torture chamber covered head to toe with the sadistic grin on his face. The Compound, what little the remainder of them that have heard of the techniques and practices there, were all about that kind of torture. Giving it and teaching it. With the time Kol spent out of the box and away from his family, that sounds like the place he would go to.

''That placed closed way back when. I handled it.'' Kol said in a deathly quiet voice.

''It started back up.'' Davina whispered.

''With places like these just killing members and the people there aren't enough.'' Kol snarled at the warlock. ''Hey! I'm not saying you didn't try, you did, and I'm sure the queen is grateful for what you did prior to her attacks, but with projects like these, you can't just kill the leaves. You have to grab it by the root, and that root was the one person no one could find for 300 years.''

''Judas Casavetti.'' Kol whispered. With a big sigh and a heavy conscience, Kol spoke to his family.

''The Compound was created for power. An army. To turn the liveliest spirited people into monsters and control them. They teach them to fight, to think, to behave. Battlefield techniques the government can only wish they have access to. These soldiers are machines and they are cold, the kill whatever is in their path, if you are a threat, you will be destroyed. With the power of witches and spells and the dark arts, anything we could use to hurt then would be repelled. They learn to be immune to everything. Basic natural repellants to the aneurisms of a witch.''

With another sigh, he continued. ''I know you must all think this would be right up my alley and it was for a short time. But my resources told be Judas was getting drunk off power, of how big his army was becoming. He added children to his regime, giving them the same treatment as adults. Shaved everyone's hair, everyone looked alike, everyone acted alike. Treatments...the treatments were brutal. Experimentations. Weakness was not allowed. Feelings were not allowed. The weak died, and was tossed in a whole with all the other souls who didn't make it. They would tie individuals to a rope and hand them by their hands, where they were beaten until sufficiently weak, and then thrown in the ring. The point was to make them overcome obstacles. Even in their weakest state, they need to be able to come back out of the fight alive. There were vervain and wolfbane tanks filled to the brim. Tolerance training, see how far you can stay inside. There were harsh punishments. Humiliation, always naked to feel constant vulnerability, sexual abuse in the ranks as punishment, beatings, and brandings. Each soldier was branded with a number on their inner forearm. They weren't people, just a number. The higher rank, you get a rosary wrapped around your body, from upper right soldier to lower left middle part to show high rank. the point was to break them until they were hollow pieces of nothing, and then dangle a piece of strength in front of them to make them to get them to behave better, stronger, make the ultimate soldier. And since it's been up and running I'm assuming, all went well for him.'

''What about the kids?'' Freya whispered horrified. Kol looked her dead in the eye, with an equally dead voice. ''Like I said, same treatment as adults. Though they had a higher death count than adults. Most children disobeyed or weaken intentionally, just to end their nightmare, which it did after they were punished of course.'' He said bitterly and got up to pour himself another drink.

''I'm all for torturing, and blood, and mayhem, but rape? Children? Women? Cassavetti went too far for me. After breaking off ties, and covering tracks, I separated myself from him, then came back to slaughter everyone and set the kids and prisoners free. Some of the adults had to die with the lot, too far gone to manage society again.'' with a dry chuckle, ''except the most important one apparently.''

Finn came and put a hand on his shoulder. ''You tried, and you saved those kids lives little brother. You still had a line and morals, I'm proud of you.'' He whispered. It was a private moment, but obviously most of the occupants heard the brother moment and raised their glass to Kol in agreement. They were proud of him.

Vincent cleared his throat to garter attention again. ''Well Stryker was in the last group at the compound. She was the strongest soldier and went up the ranks fast. But she was defiant. The point as Kol mentioned, was to be heartless soldier. Stryker had a habit of faking out Cassavetti. In his view she showed weakness, like he succeeded in breaking her, and then when it really counted, when the fights, and training went up, rumor is she looked at him with every emotion of loathing and anger, you could see the fire and spirit in her eyes, and she left her fellow soldiers in the dust. It was a continuing cat and mouse game. She couldn't be controlled. Cassavetti figured one way would be to go even higher in ranks, show a little favoritism.''

Davina used a spell she learned to give the visuals for some of what Vincent was talking about. In a circle of salt, if one lays a possession of the person they wish to see and it will display flashbacks, and recent activity. Davina set the golden pin with wings in the middle of the salt circles. Images of a young pale-skinned women, thin but athletic, bald head, getting shackled and getting whipped repeatedly, they saw her dunked and locked in a vervain tank, her body lurching backwards, and high-pitched screams that chilled them to their bone. Tied to the ceiling getting beaten repeatedly, thank god to whatever they believed in now, that they didn't see any sexual abuse towards her. She may or not be a dangerous adversary to their family, but with the treatment already being done to her, they couldn't help but understand where present actions were influenced by the past.

They also saw her fighting technique, and how she behaved in battle. Her moves were sleek and fast, like a panther or snake, they saw her attention to detail and her ability to turn anything around into a weapon. They were impressed. So, used to being the most powerful and strongest family in history, they didn't worry about going into fights they couldn't handle, but this woman had them rethinking things.

They saw her advancing and getting the rosary tattoo Kol mentioned. Everywhere Judas went, she followed. She was in charge of new soldiers, and stood by a crew in the same rank as her. A red head with tattoos all over her body, some they could tell was before her time there. A brown-haired buzz cut with scars littering his arms, as if he was whipped or scratched, and never left to heal afterwards, and lastly a big built man, with goatee, hair past his soldiers, and thin eyes holding black lenses. He too was covered in tattoos before his time, as well as carrying his number.

''After some of his latest stunts, a job came, which was a tipping point for Stryker apparently. In Rio there was a wannabe Judas Cassavetti trying to mimic what was being done in the US. Davina chimed in. Cassavetti sent Stryker's team into Rio, their job was simple, destroy Gabriel Reyes, and everything he managed to build in Rio. At the time it was small compared to the Compound, but the blueprints found in his office, he had a plan and it could easily have gotten bigger with time. Reyes was ready though he had witch traps surrounding where he was going to lure Stryker and her team, and his best soldiers so far, to take them down.''

''That obviously didn't happen though.'' Kol asked.

''No,'' she continued. ''They did lure the team in there, and they used every witch trick available to them. But in a blink of an eye, not even a full second, Stryker flashed around the circle and killed all the vampires. The witches acted next and aneurisms, weakening spells, the building glass shattered imbedding the glass into her team. In any other situation a vampire would have been down for the count, but not Stryker's team, who were the best, and who didn't blink or budge a second.'' Gesturing to the flashback playing, they saw how stiff, and ready for the fight the soldiers were. Nothing touched them, they were immune to everything and everyone, dead.

''Reyes son was coming back from a trip his father sent him on to collect something for one of his underground businesses. He was pompous, arrogant, and entitled. He wanted to be king, and knew he was taking over daddy's throne one day and wanted to do something big to show he was his own man, and not under his father's reign.'' With a deep breathe she continued.

''He went after Stryker.''

''It was nothing, without breaking stance, so quick you could barely see her arm, the sons heart was in her hand.''

''Reyes went insane, he called all vampires, wolves, the entire supernatural population to that spot to take down the woman who murdered his son. Of course, within 5 minutes Stryker killed them all.'' The flashback was a picture of ruin. Dead bodies piled on the floor. This time donned in all black uniform, sports bra, black cargo pants, and black combat boots, the young women was dipped from head to toe in blood. They saw the father, Reyes, get up and challenge Stryker, baiting her to put aside her dead gifts and fight like the Athenian goddess the world was labeling her as. With flourish and grass Stryker raised her arms and brought out two long swords, as Reyes grabbed his from broken glass at his feet. They ran to each other, each making slicing noises with every strike taken. Stryker sliced the arm of Reyes, and his sword went down, he lunged, and she dodged putting him a head lock, poised to decapitate with her hands.

''How could you? Reyes blustered out. He was a boy, MY BOY! You all are a bunch of machines, not people. You were injured and you stand as unbreakable buildings, with no feeling! No soul! No pain! You've never been human, but now you're not even your own species! Your Nothing! Your nothing but shells! He was 16! Where's your respect! Your morals! Your honor!''

Looking at the faces of the team, you could see that while some of them couldn't care less. 3 of them, you could see the pain in their eyes. The three Stryker stood by earlier in the flashback. They weren't blind to what they had become, but they were slaves to it. This was the first time someone mentioned it to them, exactly how far they have come.

''We have none.'' A new voice whispered as if in pain. They didn't recognize the voice, realizing a second later it belonged to Stryker, it was scratchy, as if static was played over it, indecipherably to them. This spell is a new one, that has been passed around, a and most likely is one of the new queen's ones. If the voice is covered, it means that she doesn't want us to hear the real one, or know who she is, which means...

''We know Stryker.'' Kol said stunned. With wide eyes the room looked at everyone with realization.

''Whether we know or not, we will come back to, but let's let Davina, and Vincent continue with her history. Knowledge is power, and we need to know what we will be up against. Yes, she helped, but what for, and why.'' Elijah said to the room.

Klaus rolled his eyes at his brother's paranoia, but nonetheless looked at Davina to continue.

''That was a defining moment, we think. For years Stryker played the game to survive, she was number one in the Compound. She thought she was in control of which side of her she chose to let people see. No mercy, no survivors. Eliminate the threat, was what Reyes conditioned into them, and up until now she had a good idea of when not to let his words get to her, and when to use them to her advantage.''

''Until now. He got to her, and she rebelled.'' Klaus stated, already knowing the answer.

Vincent nodded. ''After that, the new word on the block was that the organization had been destroyed. Prisoners released, the head soldier's hearts all ripped out, the entire land the compound stood on burned to the ground. Stryker took the heart of Reyes, along with his head. Her crew helped, the three you keep seeing. Alex, Ardeth, and Zeke. Pointing to the read head, the big muscles, and the scar ridden brunette.

''Like I said before, Stryker didn't follow the rules of the Compound. No matter how dark it got, she cared, she loved. These three most of all, and it was reciprocated. They helped each other, took beatings, and avoided axing each other off when the time came to complete. You consider yourself a good fighter? In Stryker's words, the moment she realized she was a good fighter, was when she was placed with an opponent she was meant to kill, but couldn't, and had to make it seem like she was trying. Ardeth and Stryker were the best fighters and placed with each other a lot with his built and hers, they managed to dance their way through competitions, throwing blows to seem competitive, but not enough to hurt each other.''

Klaus' mouth lifted a bit in the corner.

Kol asked, ''You've met her''.

Yes, I have, she's phenomenal and I consider her a friend. She's a lot calmer than 2 years ago. I wanted her resources to build up New Orleans, our population was...is, dwindling and I knew she was the person to save it. She still hasn't made up her mind whether she will or not, but that hasn't deterred our friendship. We know how to separate business from personal.''

''Anyway, it could have ended there but she didn't just want Reyes punished. She wanted everyone involved, the very person who even whispered about turning people into things. He had back up. With an establishment like that, of course he had helpers moving him along, funding him. Stryker went after the government, she went after witches, the vampires, old, and young. She was hurting, and she was going to make the world hurt along with her. ''

Davina chimed in. ''When all her executions were said and done, she told the few that she left alive, the head of the supernatural government, the ones that work alongside the humans, and deal with the terrorist, that she was going to be okay. That she was hurt and she needed to lash out and let it all go, but when the dust settled, and she took care of her wounds, she would be okay, and she would make sure the world would be okay. Even in her state she knew who she was, and who things were going to pan out. She said they could either fall in line with the new world she was creating or she would make sure they perished in the old one.''

''She took over everything then. Bounced from city to city, continent to continent. In the Compound the idea was to make the ultimate supernatural. They added genetic experimentation to that, pulling on supernatural creatures in blood lines, and having witches unlock it, or pull characteristics forth. As right-hand man to Reyes, Stryker was present in all those situations, and saw everything. When she took down the compound, she used her knowledge to start building her empire. She is most known for her weapons.''

Surprisingly Josh jumped in. ''I am not ashamed to say I somewhat, kind of, maybe, sort of, kind of, probably, stalk the Queens accomplishments. She's like the Madonna, Princess Grace, Marilyn, Hepburn, warrior goddess of the supernatural world. Her accomplishments in the human and the supernatural go far! She knows everyone and she has so many resources. She is called a bunch of things. Stryker, Queen of Supernatural', Lupa, Queen of the wolves, The Goddess, in reference to Aphrodite, Athena, and Eileithyia. Goddess of Warfare, and Mother of Vampires, Genius of the Species-''

''Okay! Before you come in your pants. We get it she's super powerful super great, explain how, and why?'' Haley barked aggravated. Klaus cut his eyes at her, and growled warningly.

''Right well, the names are obvious as to why we call her that, but going back, so what she is known for his supernatural weapons, war tactics, supernatural businesses, and her beauty.''

''Elaborate on the supernatural part of her achievements.'' Finn asked.

''Weapons? She created a weapon against witches. It's a pink spotted white pill, and it cuts off the magic of any type of witch, and their magic. The pill was already known, but she made it more potent, faster response time, and developed a cure, as well as a repellent so the pill or dust would never be used on.''

''Cure for vampirism, and immortality potion. Yes, yes, I know you dealt with all of this before,'' Josh waved his hand at the wide-eyed faces of the Originals. ''She somehow got another sample and created again, reengineered it to be better. The cure won't age a supernatural, it will stop a vampire at their desired age. The immortality potion could be used on any supernatural. The spell for it, is gone, and destroyed with the other side, and this Quetsiya witch or whatever. Stryker managed to turn it into a potion, and have a sample that hasn't been used yet, to my knowledge. She made bullets for guns-''

''Let me guess, these are highly toxic bullets, that can put down anyone, even this family.'' Elijah said with an angry mask on his face.

''Yes. Aside from weaponry, she builds up supernatural hotspots. Your old hometown would be one, though she hasn't made developments there, here in New Orleans, although she hasn't made any here, and in New York, England, and Italy, where she has made changes. The moniker Athena is obvious because of war techniques, and winning every single battle she was ever in. She helps others who need her resources and brain, for a fee, and return of course, but the point is she always wins.''

''She has established Supernatural hospitals, and schools. The schools are booming and becoming over populated with all the kids wanting to attend. They teach the children discipline, respect for the species. It's phenomenal. No humans ever, just a safe bubble for kids to be themselves and not hide their gifts. Bennett witches work there, some other powerful head Alphas of the pack work there, as well as vampires.''

''In the human world, she's known for her fashion line for kids and teens, Heart Penelope, her charities to poverty-stricken countries, that how I ended working for her last year. I volunteered. Amazing experience! Plus, I got to spend time with her. Josh did a little gig in his seat that had most of the room chuckling about his admiration of this Queen. She is head of the environmental and eco-friendly division of her father's business with mergers and acquisitions, as well as a big-time architect known for her homes and of course schools and hospitals.''

''She's known for more than that too. The saying is you don't know true loyalty, until you have the loyalty of the Queen. She has died for the people she's cared about, gone through torture, and traveled through plains to help those in need. Her loyalty doesn't end with death. She loves fully and whole, nothing is half-assed. It's not based off manipulation or IOU's, but love and respect. When she looks at you, it's like you are the only person in the world that made her happy, it's like a warmth just washed over you, she's mentally giving her love, and her smile, gosh-''

''Josh!'' Haley snapped.

''Okay, okay, okay, I'm just saying. She's an all-around great person.''

''Are you still gay?'' Davina teased.

''I'd force myself straight if there was even a slight chance I could get her.'' He joked back playfully.

''Great person? aside from the mass murdering, starting a war of the species, and psychopathic and sociopathic personality, yea, she's Golden Girl of the Year.'' Haley snarked.

Klaus's eyes turned yellow, before he could say anything, Kol beat him to the punch.

''She's queen of the wolves?'' Kol asked with a smirk directed to his brother's baby mama, knowing the question would stir up drama.

Haley turned her head quickly, not likening this conversation turns. In a house of Originals, family or not, one had to have something so they weren't useless and here's was the bayou wolves. She was their queen and the only one in charge of the wolves.

''Well yes, her origin goes back with Klaus, with being one of the first packs to ever be in this world, out of the top three. She is the great granddaughter of the second pack to first become wolves. So just like Klaus, yes there are Queen of the packs, like Haley, who control their own home pack, but then like Klaus, he's the Alpha of all packs, just like Stryker is Queen of all packs, being the 'first wolf' or at least the one representing her line. If they really wanted to, they could pull rank, and the wolves listen to them.''

Haley growled and rose from her seat, only to be pushed back down from Kol, and snarled at from Klaus. ''Easy little wolf, she's not even here yet, and if she ever did come, there is nothing you could do about her taking control, except sit and be quiet, like you need to do now.''

Haley and the rest of the occupants look stunned. Klaus and Haley didn't have a relationship, they disliked each other severely, and the only thing keeping Haley alive, is the tiny heartbeat upstairs. But Klaus just took a complete strangers side, against the mother of his child, and if they thought about it, has been making snarls, and eye rolls, at any and all negative comments made about her. ''Your defending a whole stranger, over me?!''

Klaus chuckled humorlessly. Sont look too shocked love, ''I would defend Marcellus himself, over you.''

''Nik...do you...do you know who this is?'' Rebekah asked cautiously.

All the snarls, and quips, the golden eyes, the smiles when the woman did something impressive and empowering. Klaus was defensive and protective of this faceless creature, where most of them thought he's be jealous, and territorial, that someone managed to do what he sought out to do for centuries. Rule the world.

Turning stiff, ignoring his sister's question, and putting on a mask to leave all his family wondering, he went to refresh his drink. And spoke to Vincent.

''Goddess of Eileithyia, specializes in childbirth, daughter of Hera. You're saying a vampire can have children?''

The occupants on the room looked at Vicent for answers.

''At the Compound, like I said they played with bloodlines, and DNA traits. No one knows for sure what Stryker is, but she has shown the power of a vampire, wolf, she phases into a pure white and gray streaked wolf, as well as having witch characteristics, as in playing with the elements, and casting, and making spells. Angels, known before witches and are the purest form of magic and life, was found in her DNA-,''

''Of course, it was'', Klaus chuckled from his cup. The family was getting a bit irritated that Klaus knew who this person was, and they didn't.

''-which explains some of the resurrections she has done. Angels bring life, to the dead. The two individuals, Mary Lou, and Nora that you spoke with earlier, were 2 of a few that she resurrected. Their heretics. Half vampire, half witch. They use tier magic by taking it from a magical source or place or person. With the vampire half, it's like a battery, they never get tired, or lose strength. It's how they took away Marcels Original Vampirism, and curse on the prophecy and Rebekah.''

''With all of that said, add up the characteristics of her we do know, and keeping in mind the ones we don't know, plus ones that haven't even manifested themselves to Stryker herself, yes, somehow, she can have children and she does.''

''They must be powerful.'' Freya whispered, looking overwhelmed with all this knowledge of her gift, not even she knew.

''They are.'' Vincent reluctantly answered.

''She has five.'' Josh piped in.

''WHAT!''

That's all for this chapter folks! I used some TVD references from the series and other names. Thank you so much for your patience. I had hoped to fit in all the background information on one chapter, but it looks like it will be moving into chapter 2 as well. Caroline has been through a lot, but never fear, like a phoenix from the ashes, she has risen, and you lot haven't seen nothing yet.

New characters. Caroline's Compound buddies. Ardeth, if you've seen The Mummy 1999, Oded Fehr plays Ardeth Bay, the man that helps them get to the land, and in the second movie, helps them find the main characters son. That's who I'm picturing.

Alex, is short for Alexandria, and I picture Ruby Rose playing her. Love her!

Zeke, I'm picturing as Carter Baizen, from Gossip Girl, played by Sebastian Stan.

Those are just who I picture them as, obviously feel free to use your imagination.

Next Chapter: We talk more about Caroline's background, and see her family. Klaus communicates with an old friend, plus the ENDING of his love life with Camille. As well as the ENDING of the love life of Elijah and Haley. Possibly will throw in the first plot that brings everyone together, if the chapters too long, that gets pushed to chapter 3.