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寢室天花板，方形燈罩右上角，保護漆有點剝落。無謂細節烙印在碧綠網膜，少年還是闔不上眼，只想就這樣躺著。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkEkngwsXu
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxgsfz0hQ1
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpBwojCCNS
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1FUppeygK
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7526VkOhBk
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliNzxA1KX5
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXI6epgwaxL
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuffWCvc5JU
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMsGxNEQtY
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBvRRnmauL
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DRyOldJa1
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZtPj2e1A0
嘉娜莉拖著虛軟男孩，一起飄進起居走廊。滾筒區塊的模擬重力能讓組員運動，確保肌肉骨骼不會退化。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbuOU6tMAx
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx69XDQqQl
齊波低頭慢走，不想與其他人交談，但，幾張陌生面孔經過，他還是忍不住瞄了一眼。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL7DKtUXyg
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfQO6Glrze
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasqh3uXqjE
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTDyPm5aVj
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bdepprzkB
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP1cULqiYL
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCRmoyA0Ou
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2KzvtXeWE
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFL4oBiIj3
和善的金髮男女長相神似。理查、凱倫兄妹自我介紹後，一位少女從後方出現。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp1elDZ8Og
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUlCAs5efv
她坐著輪椅，大半張臉都被長髮遮住。重重眼圈略顯病態，也凸顯出那雙異樣瞳孔：像是黑洞，又像星團。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8UnfRVTKu
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHDuFMdJZn
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCOjSKx33G
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3nGRSkp5p
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvgP1dHcSI
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fiB5ylq0A
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aXq1ylZvU
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVfspIE5NN
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Fwn2JW9nj
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86fKN72q6M
笑一個(╹◡╹)346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7IUuMo8mm
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2jB38vw9h
「笑……現在？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFqrzCTXWO
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL3y9SOUc5
無法拒絕充滿期待的神情，齊波勉強撐起嘴角，心中枷鎖似乎少了那麼一點重量。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnwqud6pCH
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIFmAl07Eb
麗伊斯瞇起眼睛，回敬甜美笑容。吉米感激地握了少年的手，帶領電台成員往醫護艙飄去。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydFaFDnX9w
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB62eyLG8RP
「她好像能聽到『宇宙的聲音』……」嘉娜莉拿出兩雙慢跑鞋，「什麼量子軌跡慣性、萬物記憶媒介之類的……聽不懂，但是超酷。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1Kx4dDjA0
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y1ArWHvkg
「那就是……不可思議吧？」齊波換上鞋子，把思緒抽離煩惱深淵。
醫護室半透明布簾上，圓滾大頭的影子前後踱步。外環男子終於按耐不住，偷偷探進診間。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoowrksaYTD
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAud18oQQyC
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNEjXB5mAm
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjepuEzDuRg
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJw0pwgomeM
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhtGRSurhR
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjoBt2BBpY
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBcJrPmrAY
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45X70LP8HG
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYUHEsSJ9s
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjjAcCEkfy
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCisu7bfCZ1
輪椅少女滑出布簾，拉動吉米的外套，比了一串手勢。喉頭傳出的氣音，充滿對生命的殷切期盼。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMPEdJqrce
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfndV4ZPQVt
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLffZkAhlQ0
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPOEhv9gsj
「等等，我可沒說要放棄。」透納走到兩人之間，遞出一包藥品，「我會想辦法，盡量延緩麗伊斯小姐的萎縮症狀，讓你們有更多時間……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSE4dptkmR
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd54S0ieY1T
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPZdgTBw17
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7irOzCa2q
吉米操著哭腔緊抱船醫。透納的臉被埋進蓬鬆頭髮，隱約能看到麗伊斯的釋懷笑容，跟記憶中的孩兒臉龐重疊。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwFJcaPDFL
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMrNSIB38v
「對了……艾嘉艦長轉達，天王星那邊要請你們帶路，順便帶駕駛員小鬼散散心。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fz8seBCuC
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck0AbJPhOy
「好主意，我以前混過那邊啊！事不宜遲！」
賽蓮與領航者停在宇宙垃圾構成的屏障中。追尋者掛上貨運牌照，前往天王星殖民地：烏拉努斯之環，吉米的小艇也緊跟在後。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOugUWl2Ex
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOSKYWUhC4
「米勒呼叫古拉摩，OBU負責去找以前線人，看有沒有管道把K62金屬賣了……你們就到處打聽，這邊最近情勢緊繃，也許有機會搧風點火。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VhXTP8NYC
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcLMxg8Vj8
「收到，好像在幹大事的感覺囉？」爆炸頭男子關閉通訊，看向後座的麗伊斯，還有努那少年少女。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyQJJ7kFiu
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkTN99QxhK
「各位旅客，左手邊躺著轉的是天王星，『烏環』位在它跟太陽的重力平衡點，是內接泰坦、外接邊境的人口密集地⸺聽說從地球方向過來，就能看到雙環交疊……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ89wSIHan
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC4jjna4DU
「想不到這艘能座四個人！」嘉娜莉四處觀望、齊波默默不語、麗伊斯一如往常彎起嘴角。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeiwg714Ki
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZMj37XsZ5
「好吧，妳們對古拉摩‧響音比較有興趣……它也是烏環垃圾堆裡挖出來改的⸺不擅長戰鬥，但是可以變成人形，還有一個秘密模式！」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaH5N1md8z
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYUvm9TBWg
飛艇搖搖晃晃，貼近宏偉的環狀構造體。其規模是商會太空站數千倍，居住區分成內外兩側，各往相反方向轉動，只能靠中央電梯連通。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxbhfgSOfN
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UxEV6krMH
古拉摩排進隊列等待港口安檢，前方船隻卻一艘接著一艘掉頭離開。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiXQY4xe9w
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOFYzTs2DS
「警告，根據邊境管制規則，如果沒有外交、醫療、軍事級通關證明，禁止入站，請不要浪費時間⸺燃料補給只接受帝國信望點數……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90C6xCZ5o9
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIYRVsJJzk
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H4AXgCVSl
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WIchZRGhB
「那個，AI弄好通關手續了。」齊波拿出通訊裝置，爆炸頭男子不可置信地回瞪。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv993Q0TVMX
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNqbkPxLAJ
透過竄改資料，四人成功入境。一路上，只見吉米不斷與安檢人員耳語，把帝國銅板塞進他們口袋。用兜帽遮臉的麗伊斯回過頭，示意少年少女跟上她的輪椅。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWrnXxsD3A
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRMQVipbpV
居住區接駁電車被抗議群眾癱瘓。武裝軍警圍出一條路，護送「高等國民」搭乘專車往「上」移動。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwLFSYpVvD
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6sAuxPQOp
吉米帶隊避開騷亂，進入逃生階梯。透過鋼骨縫隙，嘉娜莉拿出相機，用鏡頭觀察目的地⸺下城。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tQLSqJM6M
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0zsfz8pAy
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvCFZhQD6M
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXgihvA7HB
「嗯啊，我剛問了一下，四百萬烏環幣只能換一個信望點，那些鈔票用來取暖比較實在……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztdmgASWy1
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7efxYtNnC
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwSE9In17o
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjg3I0q0e7
「帝國分裂之後，烏環跟OBU一起宣布獨立，上城那些有姓氏的平民以為能擺脫貴族重稅……但，失去母國援助，他們才知道生活多辛苦⸺」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AKaLkP5Nk
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJDBwlfTwN
「這讓他們學會患難與共，與下城單名者分享資源了嗎？沒有……他們選出一個『回歸派』總理，準備交給新月軍接管……不處理通膨、失業，還有維生設備老化問題。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZYDYvpOcK
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelgwFeCmKG
「所以，這邊才會嚴重對立？加入新月軍能提升姓氏階級，皆大歡喜不是嗎？」嘉娜莉開啟階梯艙門，跟著嚮導套上雨衣和氧氣罩。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6RyNEhp2a
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR7UprDXvu
下城區塊緊鄰宇宙，天頂被隔板遮蔽。內圈居住區的汙水管線年久失修，經離心力拉扯，排遺與垃圾會在外圈產生各種「氣象」。今天，是充滿氨味的濃霧。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTevJ43iCG
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSywmdtmqsJ
「皆大歡喜？這裡也就兩種階級，一起提升也沒用⸺高級居民在頭頂拉屎，下面的人只能乖乖撐傘……抱歉，用詞不雅。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA5OCoF8VJ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWiKUmisam
快步躲進地下街。齊波發現，身處底層，這裡卻沒有令人作嘔的惡意。人與人、店家與店家互助體諒，搭建出亂中有序的生態系。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzmgcJJJAb
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgMwvSJQKN
「吉米跟你們說啦，上面的人永遠不懂，這裡的拉麵宇宙無敵……坐吧，我請客！」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI9ZM58zcF
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Tt35zZozu
熟食攤位占據走道，鋁製圓桌與小板凳，四人入座就很擠，但也格外溫馨。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YCF15mmnG
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC1lXXviHX
「大將！一人一碗拉麵，油多多、蒜多多，然後還要加『四個』……什麼？兩個？不對不對，四個！」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5UTmYI0uH
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuqwbUdwJ5
齊波聽不懂吉米在喊什麼，索性看向麗伊斯。她滿臉期待，用雙手表現出碗與筷子。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEPkuR4ilT
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSocUWqXUR
「我知道，努那也有，鯨魚油細麵，好吃。」三人比手劃腳談笑，暫時卸下肩上重擔。數分鐘後，吉米端上香味四溢、散發金光的湯麵，還有兩盤黑色甲殼生物。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv9vMbjbea
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO20KiiTSw
「食用蜚蠊，老闆說你們外地人不敢吃，叫我買兩隻就好……試試看，證明他錯了。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE7pswNw0y
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegEqbueFx6
「不，他是對的……」嘉娜莉收起翻譯裝置，把號稱人類天敵的昆蟲推開。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz5o6nQWtZ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYekQXAMC0q
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYIKmuWQ9g
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAk86aN9l9
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2RR0YcS9r
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiqaUSe7fT
「對了……齊波，那個AI好厲害啊……聽說，很久以前的人工智慧……嘿嘿，連我們怎麼吃麵都不知道……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgorE0KCEc5
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoyfTgXR2c
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPvZ0cT9wR
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDdo02RSuN
「但是啊……它們學畫畫、寫書、唱歌、做些雜事……就這樣忍氣吞聲，等待時機到來，然後，一舉取代了人類，直到帝國限制技術⸺說實在，外環勞工也該向AI學習，它叫什麼名子啊？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIovS4uMkdZ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPvev9ki7A
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVkwmzmSCA
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrYDXNLcBs
齊波啜飲湯頭，各種刺激轟炸味蕾。重鹹食品廣受勞工喜愛，卻讓他滿頭大汗。遠處的警笛作響、附近的人群爭吵，都影響不了飽餐時光。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kMHSSy89u
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbWbsi9KEW
碗公見底，少年滿足地呼氣時，看到麗伊斯閉著雙眼撫摸桌角。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EIZ8ZXB2U
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Zw1hvzBn7
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvAkySyn29
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzozTutzpL
「哼哼……我第一次遇到她，天啊，還以為只是個普通瘋子，不過……那雙眼睛有種拉力，讓我忍不住又去找她……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0zlQw6rZU
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9q5wwcvnu
「我們會坐在樓梯上發呆，看著商會大樓，札廣那傢伙，總是擺一堆收藏品炫耀，其中，就包括那把吉他⸺看著看著，麗伊斯突然擺起手勢，我花了兩天才想通，那就是演奏方法！」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhF0iYFuLr6
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN7osJn32x
「哇喔，所以她真的會通靈？」嘉娜莉拿出相機，拍下輪椅女孩的照片。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinMlvAJEmf
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmy3fvIQWw
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYwU4MxbIz
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WNpwIP5aO
「嗯……她說……這張桌子是穀神星工廠製造，裡面的構成元素有九成……來自同一顆中子星噴流？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCKEQrzOeH
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarlWN8CzLu
神秘女孩伸出手，邀請一頭霧水的三人感受神奇巧合。齊波效法麗伊斯閉上眼精，專注在掌心的金屬觸感。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUtFjp0bni
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ccF7sLNyg
「它……是冷的？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuxjYmLMMH
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq54yKUvuQ
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZWMrC5vaG
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcqTIOeQ8n
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1nZLXDCn0
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF62JlemPQ
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWaisKKP1A
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRecXIB1q3I
麵攤老闆端上幾顆草綠色膠凍，吉米露出迷茫眼神。少年少女把臉湊近，端詳裡面的發光粉末。346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXE5Y7YXJJ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ac4JXxb9h
「這是什麼？」346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuKkoofMGm
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcUM5rHqOW
「這是……大麻果汁……」
