Chapter One: Restless

Hardly a noise could be heard apart from the babbling brook outside the Everdine house, and that was just the signal Constance had waited for all day. Walking swiftly by her mother's room, she called out her goodbye and sped toward the exit, attempting to pull on her running shoes along the way.

"I'm heading out for a bit, Mom." High heels clicked across the floor and stopped in the bedroom door frame, revealing a harried Marivane, matron of the Everdine clan.

"Where are you going, Constance? Your father just left." Her mother's tone was exhausted, probably because they had the same argument at least once a week.

"Exactly, the parasites from the media are following his flight to Hosnian Prime, which means I can finally go for a run in peace." Constance finished tugging her shoes on and started to put her headphones in, but stopped as her mother continued her usual reproach.

"Why don't you work on your writing, or you could even practice the piano? I know you want to master it, but that won't happen if you're always planning these sketchy excursions." It took everything Constance had not to roll her eyes; the pressure might just melt her face if she held it in long enough.

"I'm just going for a run. What could happen to a girl in the backwoods of Naboo?" The Everdine home was so secluded that only the most veteran paparazzi were able to find it, and the fear instilled by her father had them reluctant to report pictures or videos of their home. The agreement stood that he would continue to conduct reasonable interviews in exchange for his family's household privacy. So far there had been no problems, and Constance couldn't see any in the near future. But of course, her mother was always the worrier, leaving she and her younger sister in the wake of her own personal brand of overwhelming anxiety.

"Quite a bit when she's a senator's daughter. But go on, I won't waste my breath anymore." Marivane retreated into the bedroom with a sharp click of heels, leaving Constance feeling frustrated and sick at her stomach. Why did her mother always make her feel like she was too wild to handle?

This was the reason she had to get out of the house and feel nothing but the wind and the rhythm of her music. Maybe she needed to stop telling anyone when she was going out… no, that could potentially be a bad idea. Shoving her earbuds in with force, Constance took off out the door, leaving nothing but shoe prints and unspoken sentiments.

Her strawberry blonde mane fanned out behind her in the wind currents, giving the illusion of flight which she so desired. Despite the patriotic catchphrases of her planet, freedom was not free by any means. Belonging to a political family involved with the Galactic Senate did have definite perks, but there were also a number of petty restrictions, such as monitored travel. Every move her family made was under heavy scrutiny, and privacy was an illusion. With a slew of bodyguards to protect her family and the public eye trying to catch a glimpse of her personal life, there were very rare escapes.

Thinking of her family's social status brought about a reflection of her own personal thoughts concerning the matter of politics. Democratic works were great in theory, such as redistributing the wealth to keep from a significant percentage of civilians from living in poverty, but there were many that took advantage of the system. The poor turn to alternative methods of bringing home an income, which inflates an already troubled world of drugs and illegal products. Yes, democracy is great in theory, but Constance had witnessed both sides of the system, and there were no easy answers.

The checks and balances were still not functioning properly, which left a lot of a gray area to be dealt with. Her father didn't see things in this light, and when her family attended social functions, he practically begged her not to voice her personal views. She was more than happy to oblige; one-track minded dogs could not be taught another way until they were ready to accept that their system was failing.

Worse yet would be to allow a young female with "no idea of the state of the galaxy" to educate anyone and pollute their values and ideals. Of all the ideas in the world, the daughter of a politician being educated on the people's problems seemed to be too outrageous to consider. That was fine, Constance had her own way of getting to others and sharing her perspective on the issues.

A few local teens had put together an underground radio station broadcasting their rebellious views against the Senate, and she had gotten involved. Had her parents received word of her actions, they would have locked her away forever, afraid that she would become the family embarrassment.

Constance hadn't found any particular party that took on her personal views as their sounding board, but she had hope for the future. While the famed Resistance waged war against the First Order, the Galactic Senate tried to hold their own, which was proving to be more of a challenge than previously surmised.

Her train of thought developed the whole way home until she saw her sister watching from the porch. Constance removed her headphones just in time to hear her younger sibling talking as she walked down the steps. "Must be hard work to constantly keep Mother on her toes the way that you do."

"Shove it, Cay, I don't need it from you too." Cadence whipped her platinum locks across her shoulder, trying her best to appear aloof.

"My, what a mood we're in today. What's wrong? Friends not in the mood to cause trouble with you today?" Constance started her march up the porch steps, feeling her temper begin to rise again. She replied without giving her sister a second glance.

"Don't you have someone else to pester with your 'Little Miss Perfect' attitude?" Constance rushed toward her bedroom before she could say anything she would possibly regret later. Throwing herself on the bed, she wondered what it would be like to have a day outside her normal family and life. How nice it must be to belong to nothing but yourself.

Kylo felt as though his eyes would bleed if he heard General Hux give one more inspirational speech, especially in such close quarters with the Supreme Leader. Snoke listened via hologram intently to the new suggestion that was being pitched, but Kylo had doubts about the plan. It appeared that Snoke did as well, and he voiced them after Hux's long-winded monologue.

"General, your enthusiasm for conquest via the Galactic Senate is admirable, but you haven't explained through which methods you plan to carry this out." Hux's face turned a shade darker than his hair, a realization dawning on him that maybe his information wasn't as infallible as previously thought. Kylo ground his teeth together to keep from laughing at the blatant blow. Hux recovered quickly, straightening his jacket with force and clearing his throat.

"The Empire continues to need children, but not necessarily of certain ages. There are members of the Senate that have offspring, and we can use them to get through to the parents." Snoke placed a hand under his chin, appearing to mull over the thought.

"What are you suggesting, General Hux?" Kylo watched as a dark smile crossed Hux's face.

"Mothers and fathers would do anything to retrieve their daughters, would they not?" Snoke smirked, creating an ugly look for his ruined face.

"Indeed. Get to work immediately, and notify me the moment you have initiated the plan."

"Yes, Supreme Leader." Hux gave a salute and exited swiftly, leaving Kylo alone with his master.

"You are pensive today, apprentice. What occupies your mind?" A moment passed before the younger of the two spoke.

"I continue to receive visions from the Force, and I cannot decipher them. A voice keeps calling out to me, and the words make no sense." Kylo looked up at Snoke, showing him the images in his head. Snoke closed his eyes, gathering himself. When they finally opened once more, Snoke sat up straight on his chair and addressed Kylo with purpose.

"The voice is female, but one that you have never heard, that part is the clearest. You are not meditating correctly on the visuals, which is making the images garbled. Apply yourself once more, and you should be able to understand the meaning." It was time for Kylo to redden at the accusing tone his master shot at him. He had been applying himself more than ever, and to be told that it still wasn't enough made him want to run his saber through a wall. Miracles happened periodically, and it had to be one today that Kylo only bowed in deference and kept his tone in check.

"Yes, Supreme Leader."

"Go now; we will see each other again soon enough." The hologram faded into nothing, and Kylo stomped his way out of the room. When would things get better? The war was at a standstill, he had nothing to show for success except a handful of vigilantes in prisons, and this damned race between himself and Hux was driving him to insanity. Taking his place on the bridge, Kylo stared through the viewport and attempted to meditate on the female voice that had been plaguing his dreams.