Alex, Nathan, and June walked through what looked to be the office portion of the factory. Cubicles were lined up in neat rows and there were various "inspirational posters" plastered on the walls. Alex stopped to take the hang in there kitty poster.

Alex watched as Kit kept leading the group, popping in and out of existence every few seconds. She saw the Cheshire cat sitting atop dusty computers, yawning. Next, he would zip over to one of the few chairs left, licking a paw. Nathan pushed past the cubicle walls, sword at the ready. June mirrored the paladin, ready to use her power at a moment's notice.

"Seems like Caleb really pulled away all of the drones," Alex whispered. "We haven't seen any of them at all yet."

"Well, at least he's good for something," June whispered back.

The three crept through the office area and into what Alex thought was a cafeteria space. Her enhanced senses were picking up all kinds of foods mixed with the same musky scent she picked up earlier. Her nose said it was coming from behind the large double doors that lead to the kitchen. On her right was a buffet table, empty of all food and metal. Past that sat two large double doors.

One of the doors on the right opened, and Alex saw Caleb walk through the opening. On his head sat a baseball cap with a fish decoration. Looking down, she saw he was wearing a lab coat with an apron on top.

"Wait, you guys are still here? What the heck are you doing?" Caleb said as he noticed the three sneaking around the cafeteria.

June motioned for him to zip it and pointed at the kitchen doors. Caleb nodded in realization. Alex and the others watched as he walked forwards. Alex pet her bag causing a window to appear in front.

Cool cats stored:

Jim-Jam

Rocket

Sir Purrsalot

She dismissed it. It was a nervous tick to check her pets, she knew that. It didn't stop her from doing it, plus it was reassuring to know they were safe. She moved forwards, quiet despite the tile ground. Nathan followed behind, armor clanking. Caleb, uncaring, walked past the three and threw open the double doors. He froze, looking upwards. The others paused in concern. Alex prepared her strongest skill just in case.

"Huh," Caleb remarked. "I was honestly expecting tentacles.

Confused, Alex moved to stand beside Caleb. As she walked through the doors she realized what he meant.

"That's a--" She said, cutting off in surprise.

"Yep," Caleb answered.

Alex stared at the overmind controlling the robot drones. She grimaced. "But why would anything--"

Caleb turned. "I told you, Hentai Hive mind. What else would it be?"

"I don't know, a giant brain?" Alex answered. "All the others were giant brains."

"I mean, people do call it a lower brain…" Caleb said, shrugging.

Alex's face contorted distaste. "Ew. That's disgusting."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Caleb chuckled. "I am honestly amazed at how sheltered you are despite teaching middle schoolers."

"I learned to ignore them, if I didn't I would've ended the world long ago," Alex replied.

"Ha! I believe it." Caleb said.

"Would you two stop talking and focus!" June grunted. Alex turned. Only then did she realize there were two drones in the room, reclining lazily next to the offending hive mind. These drones were easily twelve feet tall, maybe taller.

"Sir Purrsalot!" Alex shouted. She opened up her satchel and let out the Komainu. He pounced out, ready to protect his Alpha. Nathan brushed past the two, sword up and ready. Caleb had walked over to the giant on the right, saying something about milk? Mill? It didn't matter. June was standing still, her gaze focused intently on the three enemies.

"I can't hold it any longer! Get ready!" June barked. Her focus dropped and the two drones started to lumber over, legs kicking out. The offending hive mind started to launch nanites into the air. In seconds they formed into smaller drones. June pulled out a collapsible gun from her pack and fired it at the drones. One would form and the bullet would strike, electrocuting the target through supernatural means. Drones fell as quickly as they formed.

"Okay, I did not expect that," Caleb said. Alex agreed but remained silent. So far, the enemies were focusing their attention on Nathan and Caleb. Sir Purrsalot was standing ready to block anything that went past them.

Alex didn't worry about Caleb. After the fight with the antlions, she realized he was invincible in some way. But Nathan was having some trouble. He wasn't getting hit. The paladin was using his blessing to impulsively dodge or make the giant drone attack rashly. The problem was that Nathan's sword couldn't cause any damage. At first, he slashed at the tendons, severing them. With a normal, organic, enemy the blow would limit movement and possibly bring the giant to its knees. This wasn't the case for the drone, it didn't have any muscles to sever. This made the fight a standstill, neither able to cause damage.

However, Nathan was causing damage. Alex couldn't see it, but Nathan's blessing was able to impulsively move the electricity in the nanobots and short them. The only problem was the drone was so large it could repair itself before Nathan could finish it off. Either way, Alex decided that he would be the first in need of assistance.

Alex called for Butterwhiskers, stroking her under the chin. "Catalyst." She said.

Catalyst

Use one of your cats as a furcus for a skill or spell, enhancing the effect.

A glow ran over Butterwhiskers' fur, turning the black cat into a catalyst for her next skill.

Alex pointed over at the drone Nathan was facing. "Cataclysm."

Cataclysm

Disaster claws at your target.

A black haze erupted from Alex's finger. It traveled through Butterwhiskers and onwards towards the drone, hitting it square in the chest. Nathan followed up, using his power on the same spot. Nanites shorted, but instead of dying their programming was rewritten. As the unaffected nanites came to reclaim the broken area, the reprogrammed nanites attacked back. The two ate at each other, replicating across the entire drone body. On the outside it looked as if holes were eating through the giant, erratically moving across the body. An entire knee was eaten away, bringing the drone down. Nathan used Pellere's blessing, again and again, stacking the damage. At last, the combined damage was too much and the reprogrammed nanites won. A very fat cat the size of a dog was built. It licked a paw and meowed.

With that out of the way, Nathan and Alex turned their attention to the last giant drone. Caleb had been standing in front, hands held up like a boxer. Alex noticed he was narrating his fight like an announcer.

"Ladies and gentlemen I've never seen a fight quite like this! Caleb has his hands up in the good old boxer defense while his opponent uses her incredible reach to continuously kick at him. But instead of dodging these blows, Caleb is electing to take them head on!" A foot smacked into Caleb. "Amazing folks this must be the twentieth time she's tried this and he still hasn't fallen! I haven't seen endurance like this since Rocky 50!"

Another kick smacked into Caleb, but this time Nathan and Alex were there. Nathan used his blessing while Alex had Butterwhiskers use her curses. Cataclysm couldn't be used again until tomorrow. June was still holding off the other drones, bullet after bullet firing. It took some time but the drone was no match for the internal damage it received from curses. In a few more minutes it had collapsed on the ground, dead.

Caleb lifted his hands in victory. "He's done it, folks! The underdog has defeated the reigning champion! The crowd is going wild!"

"Will you stop it and kill the overmind already!" June screamed.

"Well Excuse me, princess!" Caleb retorted. "It's not like we don't have it covered. What's wrong with some fun?"

"Because these bullets are expensive and you're costing me money! Now get on it!" June roared

"Well, no need to be a dick about it!" Caleb said. He snickered at his own joke as he turned to the hive mind.

"…I hate you." Alex said.

"Oh come on it was a good joke," Caleb said as he ran over to the final enemy. Nathan followed, sword ready. Alex held back, she really didn't want anything to do with this.