Chapter 11 - Geneaology (1/2)
Winston being the patriarch of the family was one of the busiest men on the planet. He had to manage all the assets of the Blyth family. As the family owned more than 80 percent of the entire planet, he tried to moderate and keep all the denizens of the planet satisfied and happy as he believed that it would be more efficient to be in control of the planet in this manner.
He also held the position of the director of the alliance interplanetary health standards organization. He was considered to be man of honor and was well respected throughout the alliance. His position required him to have frequent meeting with various delegates and officials of several organization and forces. This made him a very busy man and it was very difficult to meet him.
After Balthazar was done with his breakfast, an alarm from his wrist band reminded him that he had to meet his grandfather. Winston Blyth along with all the advisers and grand elders had his office at the sixth floor, the topmost floor of the east wing of the mansion. No person could enter this floor without an appointment or permission of the residents of the floor. Balthazar had never been to this floor before. This would be his first time on this floor.
When he got into the elevator and selected the sixth floor, the screen immediately prompted him to enter the password. Not knowing what to do, he immediately messaged Thaddeus. He soon got a temporary password from Thaddeus. He was soon at the sixth floor of the mansion. He went along the corridor checking the names of the rooms. At the far end of the corridor there was a large plaque with the words ”PATRIARCH” written in large bold letters.
It was a long time since he met his grandfather. Winston was his role model when he was a kid. He was very proud of his grandfather and always wanted to be a great medical professional at that time. But his father's death had caused his perspective to change. His grandfather wanted him to continue his previous goals. But after John's death, he wished to know what prompted his parent's death, he wanted to know more about what his own father did alongside Walter and slowly his life goals and aims changed irrevocably. When he was 14 years old, he had angrily refused his grandfather's goodwill and completely gave up his studies in the medicinal field and picked up engineering.
Balthazar still wondered on occasion whether he chose the right field of study at that time. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. The door immediately slid open and his grandfather came out and hugged him. A couple of seconds later he released Balthazar.
”Come in. It has been a long time since I have seen you,” said Winston pulling him into the room by his shoulder and shut the door behind them. ”Get onto the table. Let me inspect you,” said Winston.
”Don't joke grandpa. I am no longer a kid,” said Balthazar remembering his childhood. He always used to play the doctor-patient game with his grandfather as a kid.
”Hahaha. Glad you grew up. How are you? How's your career?” asked Winston.
”I am fine. Work isn't bad. Lots of opportunities everywhere I see,” replied Balthazar.
”You have become quite a celebrity among the younger generation and you rate your career as not bad? You sure have great ambitions,” said Winston appreciatively. Although he was sad that Balthazar hadn't followed the path set by him, but chose a different career path, he had always been worried for his grandson. Now, that he had seen him well and successful, that worry had also been relieved.
Being the patriarch, he had many responsibilities and he couldn't show any weakness even to his own family. After John and his daughter died in the accident, Balthazar and Bolena were his only surviving descendants. The past fourteen years had been very restless for him. He finally could consider have a little peace of mind. His grandson had shown his capability and even Walter had approved of him. Bolena was groomed by him specifically and was even considered by many to be capable of handling his post after him. He could finally leave the well-being of both his grandchildren to themselves.
”So, what did you want to talk about that you requested a meeting from me?” asked Winston.
”There are many things I wanted to talk to you about. First, I want to know if you have ever actually had any clues or suspects for my parent's murder. They were murdered even though they had one of the highest security level in the family without any evidence left behind. This implies that the involvement of moles or traitors. Was anybody ever suspected by you. Second, I can understand the intent in killing my parents as they were considered that generations leaders and the immediate heirs but what would be their reason in attempting to take my life?,” asked Balthazar.
The question stumped Winston. He hoped that it was something related to the military or wanting to return to the family. He didn't want it to be this. This was extremely troubling matter to the family and was something the upper ranks of the family wanted to stay hidden as it could potentially cause a split in the family. But now he had no options than explaining it all to Balthazar.
The question drained the color and happiness out of Winston's face. He quickly sent a message on his wrist band to his assistant to inform him that he would be a little late to work today and to delay his schedule for half an hour. He also sent a message to Walter about it before he began to answer Balthazar.
”I hoped that I wouldn't had to have this discussion so soon. This began 70 years ago when Walter was on a mission. He was a member of an alliance black operations group who was tasked with suppressing the rebels including knights of the old republic. Those were very chaotic times. The knights of the old republic were actual knights in service of a sovereign family, the godspeed dynasty. The godspeed dynasty was annihilated and the victors named themselves as the knights of the old republic. Thus, began a scourge which plagued mankind from within.”
”Walter was considered an engineering genius. He somehow tracked a signal, a call for help from within the presumed rebel area. They were promised valuable information about the knight in exchange for safety. He along with a small team of four others followed the instructions and arrived at a desolate moon. Soon, they saw a shuttle crash nearby them. There was a woman in a near death state in the shuttle. She had just given birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Walter promised her that he would take care of her children and she had given him all the information she had. She had just escaped from a hunting party of the knights and she was your grandmother. That baby boy was John.”
”So I am not a Blyth?” asked Balthazar in shock. He always thought that his father's side of the family were in seclusion like several other old man of the family. Never did he think that his father could be a bastard.