The F.U.S. decided that all coexisting and united communities, in their very existence, accepted and supported the man who started the whole epidemic, Firmin Fenderson. Strategically, the F.U.S. washed out every community, took their people, and used them to further their own agenda. They would rebuild the world as it was before the infection and erase everything about the virus, but their greed and desire to live forever, the things that created the virus in the first place, simply wouldn't allow them to extinguish it completely.
At the time, Robert was a carrier. He delivered fresh produce from one community to the other. He returned home to find that the F.U.S. military had infiltrated their walls during the day. When Robert arrived, everyone was standing in a line under the gaze of automatic rifles, looking down at what was left of the Guardians- smoking ashes.
The commander stood at the head of the line and announced their intentions. He demanded that the residents swear their allegiance to the F.U.S., join their forces, and therefore be granted permission to live. There was not another option. Cruel and cunning, he then asked if there was any reason that allegiance couldn't be sworn. He implied that they were merciful and helpful people, and actually wanted the villagers.
Robert, who was a young idiot at the time, had been the first in line to be questioned. "I have a family that needs me," he admitted. "I've never even held a gun before, either."
"No bother," the commander smiled. "Show me your family and I promise that you won't have a job where you need to hold a gun at all."
Robert looked across the line at his beautiful tall wife who was holding his precious baby girl in her arms. They hadn't so much as spoke for two months since he'd last left for delivery. He thought he was doing them a favor.
The commander waved his hand for her to step out of line. As her foot lifted off of the ground, he picked up his gun and shot her right in between her eyes. She fainted to the ground dropping the baby. Robert leapt out of line to take his daughter into his arms. The militants gave him a horrendous beating to his left hip, intentionally, forever deforming him. He wasn't able to reach his daughter, because the commander shot her, too.
Afterwards, they transported him to the Laboratory, where he remained today. Forever a prisoner himself, he didn't leave the Base Prison. He lived there and Jay did, too. All as punishment for saying what the F.U.S., a ruthless and cruel organization, didn't want to hear.
Robert suddenly smiled and laughed once. "Yea, I know about the communities. They were a bit more popular back in my day."
"I didn't know about them until recently," Iggy confessed. "I grew up without ever seeing over the walls before. I had no idea that anything existed on the other side at all. It wasn't until I was infected that my brother took me out there."
Robert lifted an eyebrow. "You were isolated from the world for seventeen years? What about your parents?"
Iggy dug his fingers into his palms and clenched his hands into fists. "I don't have parents."
Robert rolled his eyes. "Now, you're really sounding like an eighteen year old. Come on, everyone has parents. What are their names?"
"I hate this question." Iggy sighed through his nose. "I don't know anything about my mother. Apparently, my father's name is Firmin Fenderson."
"Fir… Firmin Fenderson?" Robert stuttered. "The one who got away from the East Continent Labs? The original?"
"Apparently. That's what I've been told, anyways."
Robert pondered for half a moment, but then he couldn't resist bursting into mocking laughter. "That's a little farfetched, don't you think?" he hooted. "I've heard all sorts of stories down here, but no one has been ballsy enough to claim that they were the son of the original. No one has even claimed to have met the guy."
Unsure if the truth was worth telling, Iggy turned his cheek and leaned back against the wall. "Yeah, well… I was told that he abandoned me, and left me with my brothers."
"Right." Robert's smirk slanted on his face. "And who are your brothers? A unicorn and a mermaid?"
Iggy perked his chin up. "My brother's name is Baine… and my other brother's name is… was…" He couldn't force himself to say his name. The images of Nansen's burning corpse being trampled over and over by those sons of bitches blinded him. His screams filled his ears just as they had on the night of the invasion. He shielded his eyes, but found no relief. "Never mind."
"Thanks for the entertainment, kid," Robert grumbled under his breath. He sat back down in his chair and nonchalantly flipped a few pages of his book. "Regardless of what you believe, I'm sure that you'll be out of it soon enough. Then, I won't have to listen to your bullshit and lies. Not to say that you aren't a bit entertaining, though."