Breaking the Agenda (The Garnet Trilogy - Book 2)

By Willa Jemhart

When Magda is forced to return to Garnet, she tries to accept her fate. This is the place she has longed to be for many years. But her return means the loss of everyone she has ever loved, and it seems that something is very wrong here. She begins to question where her rightful place really is. The tale of Magda's mission and subsequent defection is one of discovery, friendship, love, and loss.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Willa Jemhart
• Release date: Oct 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301138555

Willa Jemhart

Willa lives in British Columbia, Canada. She enjoys a variety of activities, but her favorites are those that involve relaxing. Sitting in the backyard with a cold cooler in the summer, and cozying up with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn while watching a movie in the winter are at the top of her list. Of course she loves to read, and while she is not picky on the genre, she prefers books that contain romance in one form or other.To date, Willa has written the ebook YA novella series; The Garnet Trilogy, and a paranormal romance; Ridley House. Her latest ebook, the YA dystopian, Drowning in Deception has now been released and will soon be available at most online retailers.For more information, please visit her website: www.willajemhart.com

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The Garnet Trilogy

By Willa Jemhart

Book 2: Breaking the Agenda

Copyright 2012 Willa Jemhart

Published by Willa Jemhart at Smashwords

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters and events are the product of the author`s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

PROLOGUE

My mind has often wandered to my home world. I hadn’t planned on being away for this long, and though I yearn to gaze once more upon the brilliant glass of the One City, the muted greys and blues of the architecture, and smell the crisp air of the virtually untouched wilderness that surrounds the One City, I don’t know that I am yet ready to return. I’m not yet ready to leave the place that I have learned to call my home: your Earth.

Your Earth; with its overpopulated cities; housing selfish inhabitants who perpetuate violence and wars, its overuse of natural resources, its ghastly pollution; factories and vehicles spewing poisonous substances into the precious atmosphere, and the constant overstimulation of the senses wreaking havoc on the tiniest of citizens; disturbing the emotions, creating greed and jealousy, and mental illness.

The only reason I’ve stayed this long was for the sake of my daughter; my beautiful Martie - the pride of my life. Sadly, she is not welcome on my world. Outsiders are forbidden. I respect that, but have become a defector because of this rule.

But now my people have found me and they are forcing my return. I have called your Earth home for the past eighteen years, nearly half my life. Now I am being taken away without even the chance to say good-bye, without an opportunity to explain.

My dearest Martie has no idea. They are taking me now; on her seventeenth birthday. Today was the day I was going to tell her my story, let her know who her mother really is, where I come from, and how it was that I came to be here. She is now old enough to fully understand, and it was to be my gift to her. But now it is too late.

I fear for her. She is all alone now with no mother and no father, and no explanation. But she is smart and strong, and I can only hope that she will survive and prosper. And if I should ever find a way to tell her my story, I will. And then perhaps she will understand and forgive me…

CHAPTER ONE

It was Martie's birthday and Magda had taken the afternoon off work to prepare. She had just finished icing the birthday cake, and went to sit in the living room with a cup of tea and a photo album. She carefully perused each photograph, watching her daughter slowly grow older with each turn of a page. She wondered where the time had gone. Today Martie was seventeen; almost an adult by Earth's standards.

It had become tradition to surprise her each birthday. Most times it was a trip to an exotic location. Last year it had been to help her pay for a car. But this year was going to be very different. Magda was going to take her daughter out to a fancy expensive restaurant. They would get dressed up and dine in style, eating numerous overpriced courses, complete with a tiny sliver of expensive cheesecake for dessert. She had reserved them an intimate table at the best restaurant in the city. And it was there that she planned to tell her. It was time for Martie to know who her mother really was and where she came from.

Magda was nervous. She had no idea how Martie was going to take the news. With her finger, she traced the curve of Martie's smile in last year's school photo. She smiled back at the picture, thinking how proud she was of her daughter, and how lucky she felt that she'd had a child.

She heard the front door of the house open, and glanced at the clock on the wall. It wasn't three o'clock yet, but since it was the last day of school she assumed the kids must have been let out early.

She closed the album and set it down on the coffee table. She stood up, ready to welcome Martie with a big birthday hug. But it wasn't Martie who strode into the living room. The face she saw knocked the breath from her and she suddenly felt light-headed. The face she saw was one that she didn’t think she would ever lay eyes on again.

Hello Magda, he said with a cocky grin. It was Tobin, Securities officer from Garnet. I think it's about time you came home. Don't you agree?

Tobin. What a surprise. She swallowed. Can I offer you some tea? As she spoke, two other men, protectors from Garnet, appeared behind him carrying empty boxes.

That's very kind of you, but I'm afraid we haven't time for socializing. Brog and Stilna are here to help you collect your research reports and files, and then we all must be on our way.

There was no point in arguing and there was no point in running. No one was coming to her rescue this time. Besides, she had been away for nearly two decades. She had been lucky they hadn't found her sooner. Her life here was good, but admittedly she missed Garnet and the One City. She resigned herself to the fact that it was time to return to her homeland. The thought both excited and terrorized her. But she needed a few more hours - just until that night. She needed to explain to Martie why she had to leave and why they had to say good-bye, never to see each other again. She knew Tobin wouldn't allow it, but she couldn’t forgive herself if she didn’t at least try.

Please Tobin. I will go cooperatively, but I need a little time to finalize some things here. I can meet you this evening. We’ll go then.

Not even one second was spent considering her request. That is unacceptable. We must go now. He turned to the other two men and ordered, Find her files, her research, and anything else that could lead to the discovery of our world. The protectors immediately began rifling through drawers and cupboards, quickly making their way throughout the house.

Really Tobin. This isn't necessary. I haven't written any reports for years, and the few I do have are all saved on one small computer drive. I can get it myself.

When he ignored her, she turned from him and headed to her desk to retrieve the fly drive in question. But the protectors were working fast and thoroughly. Her desk drawers had already been emptied and her computer was unplugged and off the desk. Her brain kicked in to high-speed. If she was going to do something rash, it had to be now. She hurried to her purse, grabbed it, and rushed to the washroom with Tobin right on her heels. She slammed the door in his face, saying, I need a little privacy.

She swore - a habit she’d picked up on Earth - as she pulled her phone out, remembering the kids were required to turn their phones off during class hours. She wouldn’t be able to talk to Martie. She wouldn’t be able to say good-bye. A text would have to do. She quickly typed in ‘I love you with all my heart. Never forget that. Do what Fran says’ and she sent it to Martie. Her final words to her daughter. She only hoped it was enough and that Martie could forgive her.

Next she called Fran. Thankfully she answered her phone right away.

Hi Maggie.

Fran! Listen carefully. Her words came out in a frantic whisper. Get in touch with Martie right after school. Tell her to come to your house. She is not to go home. Do you understand? I have no idea what they'll do to her - maybe nothing. But we can't take that chance. Please Fran.

Fran said nothing.

Fran? she breathed with urgency.

Yes. Okay Maggie. I understand. I'll get her here. But's what's going on?

Oh Fran, they found me. They're taking me back. She suddenly remembered the Agenda. Do not call the police. Promise me. Tears threatened, but she would not let herself cry. She had always known there was a chance this could happen, and she had to accept it as being the right thing. Martie was old enough now. Though she would miss her terribly, she knew it was time to go home.

Fran hesitated and Magda held her breath waiting for a response. I promise, but who found you? Maggie, are you okay?

Tobin had somehow figured out how to unlock the bathroom door. As he strode toward Magda with narrowed eyes she was able to get two more words into her phone. I'm sorry... Then he snatched it from her and turned it off.

I'm surprised at you Magda. Have you really forgotten the Agenda? Do you really want to put our world at risk? When she didn't answer, his icy hand grabbed her wrist and he said, Come. It's time to go.

Brog and Stilna were waiting at the front door, each with one full box of her belongings. They led the way to the car out front. When everyone was inside, Tobin turned to her and asked, Can you tell me where I might find our dear old friend Larzel?

She stared straight ahead, her lips pressed in a tight line, but her heart pumped thickly at the sound of his name. Regardless of the fact that they were now estranged, loyalty still prevailed. She would not give up the possible location of her old friend.

I thought as much, he said drolly. That's fine. Once he discovers you are no longer on Earth, I have a feeling he will be returning to Garnet on his own accord anyway.

She refused to speak during the entire flight to Ireland, other than to ask to use the washroom and to select meals. They took a rental car from the airport in Dublin and headed out into the back roads of Ireland. Magda watched the rolling hills and quaint farmer's houses drift by. It occurred to her that of all the places she had taken Martie to see, this had not been one of them. She had been drugged when she and Larzel arrived on this planet so long ago, missing out on Ireland’s beauty completely. She could remember telling herself she would