They stumbled out, Kip helping Nwo even though he wanted to scream at the selfish old fool for leaving Bell behind.

Outside, the air was rank, screams and explosions drowned out by what sounded like a madman’s definition of music. Kip choked on the foul stench; his legs buckled, taking Nwo down with him.

Jom was beside them in a second, checking that they were all right.

“Of course we’re not,” Kip spluttered, pushing Jom aside. “We just left a Jedi to drown on a sinking ship.”

Jom looked wounded at the anger in Kip’s voice. “I know.”

“He was one of the good guys, Jom. Tell me—what does that make us?”

As if in answer, a dog barked somewhere in front of them. Kip looked up to see a gray-and-orange hound running toward them full pelt. Bell’s hound. Did she know what they had done? Was she about to take revenge for abandoning her master? Matari and Voru certainly would to anyone who had done the same to his mother.

He held up an arm to protect himself, but the dog shot past, bounding up the side of the wrecked shuttle. Kip’s mouth dropped open as he saw Ember leap into the arms of a figure sprawled on the shuttle’s sloping roof, a figure in drenched Jedi robes.

“Bell,” Kip shouted, scrambling back to his feet and running to the shuttle. “You made it!”

“I told you the Force would take care of me,” the Jedi said, trying to stop the charhound from licking him to death. “Although hanging on wasn’t fun as you took out the doors.”

“Yeah, about that …” Jom began, shamefaced.

Bell leapt down from the shuttle, Ember bounding after him. “We got out, that’s the important thing, although I’m afraid my lightsaber went down with the ship.”

“That’s a shame,” Leesa said. “I think we’re going to need it.”

“I’ve gotta find my mom,” Kip blurted out, and Bell laid a supportive hand on his shoulder.

“We will, if we stick together.” Something caught Bell’s eye behind them, and he smiled. “All of us.”

Kip turned to see a Pantoran woman and a pair of bedraggled Cyclorrians helping a wounded human in a tattered attendant uniform.

“Denis?” Leesa said, recognizing the man. “Are you—”

“I’ll live,” the man replied, smiling wearily at the Jedi. “Thanks to Bell. It’s good to see you again, kid.”

“You too,” Bell replied, “although this really isn’t the place for a reunion. I hope you’re ready.”

“For what?” Jom asked.

Bell turned to face the Nihil’s cloud. “Getting off the ship was easy. Now comes the real challenge …”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

Fair park, Valo