Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of the book or movie characters. I am not making any money, this is written purely for entertainment and to get the idea out of my head. Please do not sue, trust me I am broke.

Author's note: This is based off characters found in the novel Starfighters of Adumar. I'll do my best to give character descriptions that match those in the book though I may have to add a few details here and there. Please let me know what you think.

Star Wars

X-wing Series

Love and Hate

By: X-wing Day

Prologue

Cheriss ke Hanadi stood frozen with shock, her dark blue eyes stared unblinking at the holo comm. unit in her quarters as her mind tried desperately to process what she had just heard. Cheriss was a young, female New Republic pilot and had pulled mostly simply escort missions as part of Dinko Squadron over the last few years. Her long black hair was back in its usual neat braid, which fell over her shoulder as she leaned toward the comm. controls and began punching buttons. 'This can not be.' She kept repeating to herself mentally. 'I did not just hear… He didn't say that.'

Finally the message began to replay and a man in an orange New Republic flight suit appeared on screen. He had a serious look in his chocolate brown eyes and his short-cropped brown hair gave him a very official appearance. He looked at the cam for a moment as if giving time to insure his message recorded properly.

"This is an official message for Lieutenant Cheriss ke Hanadi." He paused again; he seemed to be rethinking something he was about to say. " I am Commander Donivan Ramuda of Gundark Squadron. I am aware that when you receive this message you will have just gotten back from a mission Hanadi, and I am sorry that you wont have any down time, but this is very important. You have been transferred to my squadron at special request and we must leave on mission tomorrow aboard the Allegiance. I can't explain any more than that in this message Lieutenant but I suggest you take what's left of today to say good-bye to Dinko Squadron." He paused once more before continuing. "Report to my office at fleet head quarters tomorrow at 16:00 hours, and don't worry about your x-wing it will be transferred to your new squadron over night." The pause came again and Donivan seemed once again rethink what he was about to say. Slowly, clearly as an after thought, the man added once last statement. "You'll be seeing Adumar again soon." And with that hanging in the air the message ended.

Cheriss stood frozenly still as the screen went blank again, she simply could not muster the strength to do anything but stare at the blank screen. Three years ago she had left that planet, had left her life and past behind and come to the New Republic aboard the Allegiance 'I thought I would never return… I thought I would never need to.'