It's so crowded in here

Darnell: *low chuckle* I can imagine.

*When Darnell is done, Ari will take them all back to the woods* 

Ari: The crater is that way, the monster we saw a little more that way. *raising a foot to point the directions.*

Darnell: Let's check out that crater first. *will start that way*

Ari: *nods and will lead the way. When they get to the crater Ari will look at the others.*

*The crater is currently empty, like earlier there are those pointed "foot prints" all over, but currently no monster in sight.*

Darnell: *frowns* Connor?

Connor: On it. *will move into the crater, scanning for anything and everything he can glean from the ground, from placement and apparent movement/displacement of materials, etc*

*Connor will certainly be able to confirm that this alien creature is large. He’s just starting to gather evidence of some kind of natural plating when things go terribly wrong. No one will sense it... Xan’s magic doesn’t warn him, Connor’s scanners seem to glitch, as though this beast is emitting some kind of energy or magic of its own that disrupts theirs. This massive creature looks like giant, spiky crab mixed with a human-ish body. It’s got pointed legs, giant pincers for hands, broad, hunched shoulders, and a hideous face that’s almost spider-like with the many eyes, curled mandibles and sharp teeth... and the moment it leaps close enough, it’s clamped a claw around Darnell’s middle. It lets out a roar that’s part bellow, part shriek, the higher and lower pitch overlapping as though more than one creature is making the terrible sound.*

Xan: *just snuggled in Zili's arms, happy for everyone*

Zili: *little grin* Darnell? Will you take Xan too? *snuggling the doll*

Darnell: If I take him, who will protect /you/?

Zili: */pleading/ look* Please? At least for a while? Please? *please, she doesn't want to find out you've been ripped or whatever in half...*

Darnell: ...all right. For a while. Then I'll make sure he makes it back to you. Deal?

HB: In the meantime, she'll be safe with the BPRD. *gives her a grin* We take of our own.

Zili: *looks at HB* Xander too?

HB: Yep. We don't separate family.

Zili: *smiles and nods* Thank you. *looks at Darnell* See? We'll be fine. You could use his help right now. Take care of him for me, okay? *snuggles Xan and kisses his head* Will you protect him for me? I don't want him to be hurt or killed. Connor or Ari either.

Xan: I'll do my very best! *hugs her, or as much as he can*

Zili: Thank you, Xan. *kisses his head again and will hold him up to Darnell*

Ayida: *follows Darnell down the hall.*

Raven: *will reach out to lightly pluck at Connor's sleeve.*

Ayida: *little smile* He likes you. He likes kind people.

Raven: *quarks and leans to try to see Darnell better.*

Connor: Oh, ah...thank you. *small grin*

Darnell: *quietly keeping himself on the opposite side of Connor from the bird*

HB: *to Connor* You don't act like the androids I've seen around.

Connor: I'm an RK800, a prototype detective assistant android designed to be able to take a more active role than conventional androids.

Xan: Also you're alive.

Connor: */flinches/, a look of fear darting across his face* I'm what?

Xan: *oblivious to Connor's discomfort* Alive. You're different because you were designed that way, but now also because you're alive. You have a soul. It's why Death was able to draw you here like the rest of us.

Ayida: Xan’s right. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t alive, honey. I don’t begin to understand how, but I know its truth.

Jimn: *chuckles and steps forward, offering his hand to... well Hellboy, since Darnell is loving on Ari.* Get everything done?

Hellboy: *takes it easily...with whichever hand Jimn reaches for XD* Yep. Brogan's in the hands of Lady Rei, a group of counselors are hard at work reorganizing and setting protocols into place for the better of everyone, and we've got a few new residents for the camp. *hand on Wes's shoulder (or on his back if it's his stone hand)*

Darnell: *will stand and introduce everyone*

Relis: *eager* I want to learnt to fly.

Jimn: *reached for the stone hand...hey, offering the right is so automatic. Relis gets a laugh* And fly you will, kiddo.

Darnell: */grinning/ for Relis* Do you know where Talim is?

Jimn: With Terris and Jendayi. The kid will be happy to see you guys, he's been a /mess/ since you left, sure you were all going to end up killed "or worse". Terris keeps calming him down and assuring him that you'd all be back soon.

Hellboy: *concerned frown* We better go find him, then. They at Terris's tent?

Jimn: He's okay. *to Hellboy's concern* Yeah, they should be there still.

*When they get to Terris's tent, Talim is sitting on the floor, Jendayi behind him playing with his hair, while Terris is working on lunch, he's making stew, so it's got to cook for a while, and he's currently kneading dough for fresh bread.*

*Elsewhere, Hellboy and the others have settled in the dining area for food. Someone's even made a stone seat for Hellboy so he can sit at the table with everyone else. He's in the middle of eating when he'll feel tiny arms wrap his waist from behind, a small head presses to the small of his back just above his tail.*

Hellboy: */flinches/, half-shifting around, then just lifts an arm to look under at what's around his waist* ??

*A small child giggles*

Jerrin: *smiles and is on Hellboy's other side* Hi Red.

Hellboy: *to the others around the table* Guys, I think I just developed a new growth. *sees Jerrin* Hey! Good to see you, kid! Where's your sister? *by the grin on his face, he knows exactly where she is*

Naijah: *leans back to look* Yeh should keep it, it's an improvement on yehr looks. *grins at Hellboy*

Jerrin: *soft laugh and shrugs* I think she went to say hi to someone. *his grin says he's playing along.*

Hellboy: *shoots Naijah a mock-insulted frown, then reaches around with his flesh hand* Hang on, I think...I think I got something... *will tickle Kendra*

Kendra: *squeals and laughs, edging around towards his stone hand.*

Hellboy: Oh, you don't want to go that way, kiddo. *twists the other way and just kind of /covers/ her with his stone arm, blocking her from retreating back the other way, hand completely engulfing her bottom and thighs* Gotcha! *she's pressed lightly to the back of his hip*

Kendra: *Just /giggles/ and squeezes him as tightly as her tiny arms can squeeze.*

Hellboy: *will twist further, getting his flesh hand involved to scoop her up into his lap* Hey there, Little Bit. How have you been? *glances to include Jerrin in that question*

Kendra: *all giggles as she's pulled around into his lap. She snuggles against him, then reaches up to rest a hand on his cheek*

Jerrin: We've been really good. We were adopted. Captain Sadeas.

Hellboy: */grinning/ back* Damn, you're too cute for your own good. *looks at Jerrin* That's great! Congratulations. *to the rest of the table* This is Jerrin, and this little giggle-monster is his sister, Kendra. *gives her a quick tickle as he says it*

Kendra: *that certainly earns him more /giggles/*

Jerrin: *waves, a bit of a shy grin* Hello.

Naijah: *will introduce himself, Virah, Wes, and Relis* It’s nice teh meet yeh both.

Jerrin: *looks up at Hellboy* How long are you guys going to be here?

Ari: Um...I think I can take all of us if I don't have to jump anywhere else until I can sleep again. 

Hellboy: ........you know what? Just take Barrett, DuPrey, and the files for now. That's all that really needs to go to the church.

Ari: What...about you?

Naijah: He can travel with us. I've got teh stop by for Ziomi before Virah and I head home.

Hellboy: *shakes his head* Nah, I'll just wait here for now.

Ari: You don't /have/ to wait here, if you want to travel. I can find you anywhere you go.

Hellboy: .......nah. Don't strain yourself.

Ari: *steps up to kind of nuzzle at Hellboy's hand* I'd not mind. Really. *but if he's sure...*

Hellboy: *loves on him* If you think you'd be able to make it back here right away if you had to, if I'm not one of those you're hauling around, I'd rather stay put for now.

Ari: *considers* ...Actually, I think I could. Especially if someone at the church used Spirit on me for a short time. I've really watched while it was used here, and I don't think it would heal me, but it would energize me.

Hellboy: Well . . . I'll stay here, wait for you two, you guys go do what needs to be done. Deal?

Ari: *nodnod* Okay. I'll be back for you as soon as I can.

Hellboy: *nods* Don't worry about me. I'll be fine.

Ari: *presses his shoulder to Hellboy like a giant cat* Okay. *he will anyway, just because that’s him. But he looks to Darnell, ready to go*

Virah: *is dressed quickly enough, plucking at the clothing a bit before getting it settled on her how she likes.* Let's find those records. I have a caravan teh get back teh.

Darnell: *finally turns back to look at her, and Naijah* You two don't have to wait for us. You're free to get back home whenever you want. *to Naijah, nodding with a small, /glad/ grin at Virah* You managed what you came here for.

Naijah: *shrugs* I'd like teh see this through, besides, Ziomi will want teh see yeh two again.

Hellboy: True . . . but you think /she/ wants to stay any longer? *nodding at Virah* She's been through enough and we don't know how long this's gonna take. *just playing Devil's advocate if nothing else*

Naijah: *looks at his sister*

Virah: *nods* Weh'll see this through.

Darnell: *nods - to Kaden and Leela* DuPrey's office? Or...where he holds all his records?

Leela: *nodbows* Is there something in particular that you're looking for?

Darnell: Ah . . . yes and no? Any documentation that proves illegal activity by DuPrey, all his slave documents, anything else incriminating...?

Leela: *glances again at Brogan, as though to make sure he isn’t going to wake up. She nods and turns away* I can get you want you need.

Hellboy: *dives in with a /roar/*

Brogan: *spins from an amin boy strung up on the wall. His eyes go wide and he reacts quickly. He throws up a hand, a wall of black comes up between him and Hellboy*

Darnell: *slips in and goes /wide/, trusting DuPrey to be sufficiently distracted with Hellboy to not notice him, intending to get up behind him*

Naijah: *will leap around the other way*

Brogan: *the wall holds against Hellboy's blow, but it rattles and lightning ripples across it where it starts to crack in a spider web out from the blow. He also sends two spikes of black out towards Darnell and Naijah as they come around the sides. He's desperate, frantic, he's cornered and he knows it!  Naijah has a spear, and Darnell doesn't.  Whether is managed to injure Darnell or not he'll throw himself at the detective to shove him back and duck away from the three around him.*

*Darnell's unarmed but not incapable. He'll meet DuPrey head on, aiming to grapple and pin him to the ground like he's done in /countless/ training sessions and even a few real cases.*

*Darnell's unarmed but not incapable. He yelps at the sight of the sudden spear of black nothingness, twisting to avoid it. It catches him along the side of the ribs, gashing deeply. But better that than skewering /through/ him! He'll meet DuPrey head on, aiming to grapple and pin him to the ground like he's done in /countless/ training sessions and even a few real cases.*

Naijah: *gasps and shifts, grunting as he takes a slice across his hip. Hey, it pays to be an acrobatic monkey. He could have avoided it completely, but then he’d have missed his chance to strike. His thrusts his spear forward, satisfied when the blade bites into the back of Brogan’s shoulder.*

Brogan: */howls/ in pain, going down atop Darnell, only to be flipped by the detective and slammed onto his back. He pushes at the man, managing to stab a blade from his palm into Darnell’s side. It’s small, though, and he’s in enough pain that he can’t get it to hold, so the puncture is only about an inch deep into flesh. He grits his teeth and will try to shadow travel, he doesn’t care of Darnell comes with him.*

Hellboy: *nods* That an Overseer stone, then?

Naijah: Yeh could call it that. It's a shiomai, pure Spirit energy. Normally Spirit wielding would neh do much teh Anti, but the pure stuff can shield yeh. I've a few extra. *pulls two out of a pouch at his hip and offers them to Darnell, since Darnell's the one who stood to accept his hand.*

Darnell: Oh! Thank you! *accepts them, then offers one to Hellboy before putting the other on*

Hellboy: *nods* Could use all the help we can get. How do you work it? *even as he puts his on too*

Naijah: The pendants are made teh let the stone touch the skin. While touchin' the stone yeh should be able teh... teh sense it when yeh concentrate on it. *he'll settle and try to help them walk through feeling out the power and putting it to use.*

Ziomi: *is making dinner for all of them.*

*They'll both gladly take the instruction, and /thank/ Ziomi for cooking*

Ziomi: */bright/ smile* My pleasure.

Naijah: *will work with them until they both figure out how to make a plant grow a bit.*

*In return, Hellboy will give him a demonic protection talisman and teach him a few things as well.*

Naijah: Thank yeh. *will put the talisman on however directed* Anything help, eh?

Hellboy: *nods* Exactly.
*And by then, likely dinner's ready.*

Ziomi: *smiles* Well, now that you boys are done, I have dinner ready.

Hellboy: Mmmmm grub! Thanks, Zi.

Darnell: Thank you, Miss Ziomi.

Ziomi: *smiles* My pleasure.

Naijah: *will help pass out food, and will shoo the two to sit back down. No really, they invaded their camp, the least they can do is be polite and make and serve dinner.*

Ziomi: *as people are eating* Darnell? Red? Would you allow me to see you? *holds up a hand and gives her fingers a wiggle.*

Darnell: *to Terris* This doesn't mean another attempt at bringing down the Shield, does it?

Talim: I-I don’t know. *it’s...habit?*

Terris: It could, or it could mean he’s using their power to gain more power for himself. Either way, it’s dangerous, what he’s doing.

Darnell: I can't imagine it's all that legal, either. What should we do, report him?

Hellboy: If he's as powerful as they say, he's probably already bought the local authorities.

Terris: Of that I’m certain, else someone would have executed him long ago. He may not be actively trying to bring down the barrier, but if he isn’t now he eventually will, by choice or by being manipulated into doing so.

Hellboy: Suggestions how best to handle this guy? Gonna guess asking politely won't work. *being obviously sardonic*

Terris: ....if he can be taken to a church, he’ll be dealt with there. It’s getting him there that would be dangerous.

Hellboy: *smirks* Hey, dangerous is what I do.

Darnell: What exactly will make him dangerous? Besides the ability to summon demons.

Terris: He’ll have similar powers to the tervai. He’ll be able to manipulate things that were once living, things made from plant fibers like some clothing and paper, and other things such as leather. *glances at Darnell’s satchel and back at him pointedly* He could strangle you with your own satchel strap without ever crossing the room. He would also control the black energy the tervai use along with the electrical attacks. *pulls a breath* That said, though, I’d dare say you’d be more protected than most. You have someone who can absorb energies, *nods at Ari* and if the last two attacks give any indication, Hellboy’s talismans would also lend a form of protection. Your goal would be to knock him out. Once he’s unconscious he’ll be no threat, and I can make sure you have something to keep him drugged once you have him out.