“It’s no good. We’re stuck,” Kip said, leaping up and opening the hatch.

“What are you doing?” Jom shouted over the engines.

“Seeing how I compare to a dozen Wookiees.”

Jom and Leesa scrambled after him, but it was useless. Try as they might there was no way they could lift the beam. They were wedged tight.

“Maybe there’s cutting equipment in the shuttle?” Jom suggested.

“Even if we worked out how to use it, would we have time to cut through the metal?” Kip asked, before deciding not to waste more time by waiting for an answer. “Never mind. I’ll go look.”

He started toward the hatch but slipped on the wet roof, sliding over the edge. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and waited for the cold water to hit him. Instead, he found himself floating in midair, arms whirling.

“Try to remain calm,” came a voice from above. Kip twisted around as he was lifted back to the top and saw a figure looking down from the deck above, one hand holding himself steady while the other traced Kip’s journey back to safety.

“Bell!”

The Padawan leapt down to join them, landing with impossible grace.

“Having fun?”

“Not really,” Kip replied. “But thanks for, you know, the floating.”

“It’s the least I could do.” Bell turned to look at the beam. “You’ll never move that. You need a cutting device.”

“That’s what I was going for.”

“No need.” Bell drew his lightsaber, the green blade igniting. “Get back aboard.”

Kip wiped water from his eyes. “What about you?”

“Let the Force worry about me. Go.”

They did as they were told, slip-sliding down to the open hatch, which Leesa shut behind them.

“We can’t leave Bell up there,” Kip said, but she was already pulling a restraining belt over her lap.

“You heard what he said. He’s a Jedi. That’s what they do.”

“Commit suicide?”

“No,” Bell’s voice shouted from outside. “Is everyone ready?”

Kip told Nwo what he thought Bell was planning, and the Quarren nodded.

“Yeah. We’re good to go.”

“Then hold on tight.”

There was a hiss, and sparks rained down onto the viewport. Kip winced but the transparisteel didn’t crack, at least for now.

The sound of screeching metal stopped, and Bell’s footsteps clanged over their heads as he crossed to the other side of the shuttle. He gave a muffled sound, but they couldn’t make it out over the noise of the water.

“What did you say?” Kip yelled.

“I’ve cut through the beam on the right-hand side,” came the reply. The water had reached the top of the viewport now. They thought Bell said that he was going to start at the other end, but it was too difficult to make out.

“Ready the cannons,” Nwo burbled at Jom, who looked at him none the wiser.

“The lasers,” Kip translated.