I, the undead, save the world with the dolls

Dozens of humanoids were adjusting their equipment and familiarizing themselves with each other's combat techniques.

Two elite Sangvishes humanoids were also testing the transported puppets one by one to ensure they were functioning properly. Meanwhile, at the Oasis base, a specially designed earth-penetrating warhead was being assembled and would soon be operational.

Everything was being arranged in a tight rhythm. Everyone was waiting for Sun Yang's orders. The morale of the humanoids was extremely high, just waiting for their commander to give the order to rush out and smash the enemy to pieces.

"Ah, no, no, no, not to smash them to pieces. Executioner, Alchemist. You have to kill the hostile synths, and try not to attack those scientists. We want technology, understand?" Sun Yang said to the two iron-blooded humanoids in front of him who were eager to try.

"Okay, I will, uh, carefully distinguish them, Commander. But Commander, the people in this academy seem to be crazy. They insist on making robots look like humans." The executioner chatted while sharpening his melee sword.

"Well, that's the difference in technology. In our world, the most advanced is actually RO, right? As a humanoid, she already has infinite growth potential... maybe she can completely replace humans in the future. But here, they're going straight for it... directly creating controlled humans. That's much crazier than Paradis, Shaw, or Pascal."

The alchemist sat aside, also checking his weapon that was an integrated gun and blade.

"Someone called me?" Pascal came in. She was holding a wrench in her hand and was tightening the screws on the drill bit with the precision of a precision machine.

"It's not you, it's that female human with a bad figure who loves to drink coffee made with water from a pot." The alchemist gestured at his chest.

"Well, I was wondering how I became a mad scientist. I think I'm still far away from it." Pascal sighed slightly.

"Don't really become a mad scientist. I have too many crazy characters here, I can't handle it..." Sun Yang looked inside with lingering fear.

In the past few days, the three members of the AR team have been trying to find ways to be alone with Sun Yang, but Sun Yang always refused to sleep in the same room with them, using the excuse that "the battle is approaching, don't waste your energy. What if my legs are weak and I can't get up?"

Regardless of whether Sun Yang could hold back, these three certainly couldn't. They were all so cute and understanding before, sometimes even shy.

How come everyone has become so emotionally charged? Is this my fault? Sun Yang silently wept. I do have the will and the guts to do it, but my body won't let me compete with robots in physical strength...

I really want a girl like RO635 who is sensible, considerate, reliable and cute, and who looks like the epitome of a gentle wife.

Maybe... maybe it's just that everyone's personalities are different. Aside from RO, the other three members of the AR team all have somewhat extreme personalities... Maybe I should heal them, to the best of my ability.

So hurry up and get this technology. I really can't handle multiple humanoids battling it out!

Sun Yang shouted in his heart, and then continued to wait for the progress of the matter on Old Popsicle's side.

316 Meeting (Part )

"Is this the academy?" Old Popsicle tensed up his nerves. After feeling dizzy, he came to a relatively closed, clean and tidy place.

The surrounding walls are mainly clean white, and you can see that they have been thoroughly cleaned. Although Lao Binggun is not a big fan of this simple and clean design, too much white can make people feel irritated if they stay there for a long time.

"Yes, you are already inside the academy," X6-88 said. "I will take you to see the Holy Father."

As soon as the synth stalker finished speaking, an old voice came from the speaker on the wall.

"Hello. I was wondering if you could make it this far. You are indeed quite resourceful. I am known as the Holy Father; I lead the Academy. I know why you have come. I have been wanting to discuss something with you, face to face. Come, please enter the elevator."

Old Popsicle followed X6-88 into a spiral elevator in front of him. He moved his limbs to make sure the power armor was in good condition.

Old Popsicle didn't answer, he just remained silent.

"Mr. Knight, I can only imagine what you've heard, what you think of us. I've been wanting to tell you that you might have... misunderstood us. But anyway, welcome to the academy."

As the spiral elevator went down, through the transparent glass, Lao Binggun saw the neat and elegant hall outside, as well as several scientific research floors.

At the bottom, you can see a large number of staff members wearing scientific research uniforms, as well as a large number of first-generation and second-generation synths doing basic cleaning work.

"This is what the Academy is all about. This place, these people, what we do. For over a hundred years, we've been committed to the survival of humanity. Years of research, countless experiments and trials... a shared vision of how science can help shape the future."

"It's never easy, and what we do is often misunderstood by those above ground. Perhaps one day, we'll be able to show them what we've accomplished, but for now, we must remain underground."

"The cost of taking the risk is simply too high. As you can see, the situation on the ground is somewhat... unstable." The old voice continued.

Old Popsicle rolled his eyes beneath his helmet. "The ground environment is so unstable and harsh, isn't it because you deployed synthetics to replace other humans?"

The other uneducated wastelanders couldn't understand it, but Old Popsicle was very clear. The Academy didn't want to stabilize the Boston area... because the Academy couldn't fight against a stable regime.

"I want to talk to you about what we can do for everyone. But that can wait. You are here for a special and personal reason. You are here for your children." The old voice was still trying to persuade, but he obviously underestimated the old popsicle's brain.

"I'm only here for my children." Old Popsicle repeated his words coldly.

Under X6-88's guidance, Old Popsicle soon arrived at a place that looked like a reception room. After X6-88 led Old Popsicle here, he stood aside without saying a word.

The overly monotonous white walls still made Old Popsicle feel uncomfortable. He maintained basic patience. If there was no movement in a few minutes, he would consider removing the door.

Fortunately, the Holy Father didn't let him stay for long. Less than a minute later, the automatic sensor door opened and a man in his fifties, looking shaky, walked out.

For some reason, Old Popsicle always felt that this man looked like his wife Nora, and a little like himself. Old Popsicle quickly dismissed this idea, thinking that he must be thinking too much.

"Are you the Holy Father?" Old Popsicle crossed his arms with a very complicated tone.

"Please try not to be prejudiced, Mr. Knight. I can see you're very excited, and your path here was fraught with obstacles. Let's begin again. I'm the Holy Father, and welcome to the Academy." The Holy Father spoke in a gentle and calm voice. He looked at X6-88 and said, "X6-88, you may leave now. We'll discuss the rest between us."

X6-88 glanced between Old Popsicle and the Holy Father for a moment, seemingly ensuring that Old Popsicle wouldn't suddenly kill the person before him, before responding, "Okay, Holy Father, you can call us anytime you need us."

X6-88 said this and left through the door next to him.

"Holy Father...is that your name or your title?" asked Old Popsicle.

"'Holy Father' is my unofficial title. It's what I mean to everyone at the academy... just like you mean to your child, Sean," the Holy Father explained simply and directly.

"I don't care about your crappy title. Tell me where my child is. I want to take him away. You guys are not qualified to take my child away." The old popsicle spoke directly.

"He is here, in the academy. Closer than you think. But... I must ask you to understand that this situation... is much more complicated than you can imagine." The Holy Father seemed to be weighing his words.

"What do you mean?" Old Popsicle was already thinking about whether to hold the man in front of him hostage, knock out a few of his teeth, and demand that he explain himself clearly.

"You have come a long way and suffered so much to find your son. Your perseverance and dedication have been rewarded," the Holy Father took a deep breath. "After all this time, I am glad to finally meet your father. It's me, Sean. I am... your child."

"Are you fucking kidding me?! Do you take me for a fool?! Where's Sean?!" Old Popsicle couldn't help himself any longer. He used his power armor to lift up the fifty-year-old man in front of him. The palm of the power armor tightly grasped the Holy Father's collar.

"It's true. You couldn't feel the passage of time while you were in the shelter. As soon as you were released from the cryostat, you set out to search for your lost child." The Holy Father said calmly.

"Then you might realize that your child is no longer a baby, because there is no trace of the baby around Kroger. At this point you think that weeks, months, or at most a few years have passed. It's not a few years that you have to accept, but fifty-five years have passed. Is it really that difficult? But it is the truth. Father, can you please put me down?" Holy Father, Sean continued to explain.

"No, no, this, this can't be true..." Old Popsicle trembled as he put the Holy Father down. He looked through the helmet of his power armor at the child in front of him who was even older than him.

The Holy Father's face was like a combination of Nora and himself. His eyebrows, nose, and lips could all be found on Old Popsicle's own and Nora's faces.

"I am right before your eyes, raised by the academy. Now I am its leader." The Holy Father smoothed his collar and articulated his final words.

Old Popsicle covered his head and trembled. For a moment, he couldn't accept this reality.

His wife was murdered by assassins hired by the college, and his son was kidnapped by the college. Fifty-five years later, his son has become the leader of the enemy forces, and the sins committed on Boston soil will inevitably be his son's share.

His child was no longer his own; he was already... a member of the academy. The only thing that connected him and Sean was blood. Fifty-five years was too long, so long that Sean and Knight couldn't even recognize each other.

On one side is Old Popsicle, a man in his prime, from pre-war society, while on the other is Sean, who has lived in an underground academy his entire life. The disparity between their living environments and life experiences is so great that it seems impossible to reconcile.

"But why, why bring a child? Why take you away?" Old Popsicle withstood the immense confusion and sadness and continued to ask. He wanted to find the answer.

"Ah, that's the question, isn't it? 'Why me?'" Father Sean, his composure unwavering, elaborated. "Back then, in 2227, the Academy made great strides in synth creation, but it wasn't enough."

"The curiosity for scientific knowledge and the pursuit of perfection drive them forward. What they want is... the perfect machine. So they take the most outstanding species currently as their role model - humans. Walking, talking, complete ability to express themselves... capable of everything." Father Sean said.

"So this weird scientific experiment needs samples. That's why they took you away!" Lao Binggun took over the conversation.

After hearing Old Popsicle's conclusion, Father Sean smiled and nodded.

"You could say the academy is dedicated to creating synthetic organic matter, and the most natural starting point is human DNA."

"Of course, DNA isn't difficult to obtain, but all samples have decayed. In this wasteland, no one can escape the effects of radiation. Even though the Academy members try to isolate themselves from the surface world, they are still contaminated by radiation. We must find other sources of samples."

"So, after the Academy found the records of Vault 111, they found me. A baby, protected from radiation during the time of freezing, without the mutated cells that are common among the Federation people."

"I was the specimen they needed. My DNA then became the basis for the synthetic organisms that created every synthetic human you see today."

"I am their Father. Through science, we are one family. Synths, me... and you."

After Father Sean finished explaining the whole story, he waited quietly for Old Popsicle's response.

After being fed this much knowledge, Old Popsicle finally managed to calm down. He tried his best to use his brain.

"So you... have been living down here for the past fifty-five years?" asked Old Popsicle tremblingly.

"Yes, always. I know you must have a lot of questions. But, please, I'm willing to do anything to help you understand things," said Father Sean.

"Okay, okay... tell me, Kroger... does he work for you?" Old Popsicle directly asked the question that concerned him most.

"Kroger... he was already an asset to the academy before I arrived. It was only after I became the commander that I learned about the things he had done... and what kind of person he was." Father Sean said vaguely.

Old Popsicle immediately heard the shirking of responsibility and ambiguity in Sean's words.

"You know he's a murderer, yet you still continue to use him?!" Old Popsicle roared.

"Then would you rather I release him to the Federation? At least under my strict supervision, the indirect damage he causes can be minimized," Father Sean argued.

"The Academy exploited his evil nature, a fact I readily acknowledge. Its technology extended his lifespan and usefulness beyond the normal human lifespan. He never let the Academy down, but with each mission he completed, his cold-bloodedness became more apparent."

"Let me be honest: your meeting him was not an accident, and this seems to be a good way for you... for us... to properly take revenge on him. What can I say to reassure you?" Father Sean sighed, as if... there was a hint of impatience.

"Hmph... Should I say I'm not surprised... Kroger, a mercenary who has lived for hundreds of years, was able to reveal his true identity and be found by me so quickly." Old Popsicle exhaled.

"Yes, I arranged Kroger's mission, and I also leaked the information through certain channels." Father Sean admitted it frankly.

"Ha...your mother...she didn't have the chance to see you grow up." Old Popsicle clenched his fists lightly.

"Yes, what happened to her was really... of course. I have checked the records. Her death was an indirect injury caused accidentally." Father Sean said casually.

"'Indirect damage'? Is that all it means to you?!" Old Popsicle's anger instantly reached its peak.

"I forgot, only a short time has passed for you. I don't have any direct memories, and I will have to deal with this loss for the rest of my life." Father Sean quickly straightened his posture and carefully considered his words to explain.

"But has it always been this easy? Of course not. But I tried my best to move on and get on with my life. For many years, I never asked who my parents were. I accepted my situation and that was it. Then as I got older, I regretted it, and I asked myself 'what if then...' more often." Father Sean elaborated on some of his own views.

"However, what's important now is that you and I finally have the chance to start over." Father Sean looked at Old Popsicle with sincerity.

"Hey...FVCK...So you are in charge of the academy now?" Old Popsicle continued after a moment of silence.

317 Meeting (Part )

"I am the acting commander, yes, I have worked hard for decades to reach this position. I take such responsibilities very seriously. The academy... it is very important, it is really the greatest hope for the future of mankind, no matter how those people on the ground view us." said Father Sean.

"Why is it you..." Old Popsicle was full of doubts.

"Obviously I am the most suitable person for this position. I have lived here all my life and devoted myself to science, just like other members of the academy. Now my efforts have paid off. The Federation does not need to be afraid of us in the end. No matter what you see or hear, I think I can convince you. As long as you give me some time..." Father Sean said confidently.

"We still have a lot to discuss, but the academy is about to usher in several important breakthroughs. As we welcome the good news, if you can witness it here... we will be extremely happy. I am already a part of this amazing plan. This will not only help myself, but also help everyone in the academy to create a new life..." Father Sean continued to persuade with both reason and emotion.

"And now, after all these years, you have the opportunity to help us achieve our dream. Doesn't this attract you? Isn't this what you want?" the Holy Father continued.

"You want me to stay in the academy?" asked Old Popsicle.

"That's exactly what I planned. Is it hard to imagine? The academy can provide a better living environment than on the ground. You have been there and know what it's like. I promise you will live a better life with us." Father Sean made his proposal to Old Popsicle.

"...Then tell me. Can the technologies you plan to achieve help the people in the wasteland on the ground?" Old Popsicle suddenly asked.

"I believe these technologies will save all of humanity," said Father Sean.

"You arranged Kroger, was it really just a revenge drama? Aren't you testing whether I can pass the trial called 'Kroger'? Kroger is no longer obedient. Do you want someone who is strong enough and can obey orders? For example... someone who can be trapped by blood ties and family affection." Old Popsicle pressed.

"I think you should be able to defeat him, Father. I can't interfere too much..." Father Sean explained.

"Bullshit, you never know me, so why do you take it for granted that I can defeat Kroger? Are you really naive to think that with just a set of power armor and four random people, you can defeat elite mercenaries who can command nearly a hundred synths?" Old Popsicle asked.

"Based on the information we know, you can definitely defeat them." Father Sean said firmly.

"Very good. Then let me ask you, do all your humans include those on the ground?" Old Popsicle suddenly changed the subject and pointed directly to what Father Sean had said before.

"...Their DNA has deteriorated." Father Sean was silent for a few seconds and then gave his answer.

"Bullshit... It's all bullshit, you hypocritical bastard," Old Popsicle clenched his fists, his anger blazing. "Everything you said, your expression and your actions, are full of hypocrisy and flattery."

"You don't care about me, or your mother. Everything you said and did has nothing to do with Nora or me! You only care about this damn academy! The academy that killed your mother and almost killed me! Even you! You were the one who gave the order!"

Seeing this, Father Sean quickly retreated, and four hunters quickly walked in from nearby, pointing their special weapons at Old Popsicle's power armor.

"It seems you can't understand my good intentions, Mr. Knight." Father Sean's tone was full of disappointment and fatigue.

"You...are not my child anymore. You are just a thorough...academy person." Old Popsicle sat down on the ground dejectedly.

"I have lived here all my life, much longer than I have been with you. Goodbye, father. Goodbye, Mr. Knight. Send him back. We don't need him anymore... Don't kill him. After all, he is my biological father."

After saying this, Father Sean prepared to leave without looking back, leaving Old Popsicle sitting there disheartened. Old Popsicle raised his head and asked one last question: "Sean, do you still love your mother?"

"...I can't do it. Compared to you, everyone in the academy is more like my family. It's been too long." After no longer having to act, Father Sean finally showed his true emotions.