x
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDV6ZA354A
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8dTTtS9fm
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GuZdfUJNd
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVYUrki3ZF
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4X6OG8dc0
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNuuwT94Mx
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTE6S1Rfbg
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh0yhkycT8
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3yXzxJk24
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBh4vTTEFaY
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWarW034zEO
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsvD0OUpa0
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EqFfmzExK
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFvwFW0oMR
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX8cBbXcpi
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwtqRllnMt
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUyeODWuTT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK1M8IF1J0
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgGw0BZh8H
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxndGTufCcb
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmmTkBqsCb
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1JMjJJxbI
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEt5GCo3S0
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dQdF4tPcp
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRAniD8PTo
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ2gFrspQS
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMorxtURh8
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT4Nbr0SkR
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIKOn4FiIl
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xNEtPOWqO
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2zU9Hodkg
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhXsI2npWL
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnT4PEK63N
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXqmNqeoOY
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmitFsa7WUo
笑一個(╹◡╹)433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNoFX2ueFE
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGjuFt8DEJ
「笑……現在？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7aL1F2JJS
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70nMvt2WXE
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLubZoYMNi
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sik59HspO
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrlmzgmSBn
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzvyZW7kQD
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUFdt3i0YG
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiBpNqg8vn
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSi7HEW6cXe
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwW5jBYCjk
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3nK7nsoRB
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡne5hnd4XRt
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwviA7MJM6
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0d9hQSZXa
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZzcbWPcSM
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVMILz9F9w
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRah0TbiVkw
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8i08T8Dkw
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPPZVm5FM9
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso5Ym71hez
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoza2rZh6D
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2MdW1plMS
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvcuK8ixNx
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb2ybDGcKh
「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……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKQipRGKA6
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyX4CkEHMA
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKME39HpV7
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO220W5GMPH
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI1VEaKtix
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtm2wxo92X
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JkMiZ0i7u
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxfSy5l22I
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj9uL3eQMv
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFS8GD0mfL
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaDmlXY4q2
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVG0vSkshG
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH9wUN3Uqk
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQncurh9VG
「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……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf19ehPa1X2
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy3igxgbxo
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYWZUZKH4a
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5biHNwf6fv
「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！」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbglIXZafZ
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXvsyuphbL
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYvc1NzH4B
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1e103K8Md
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmUp5DH4HY
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h9o4fosVG
「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……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78KEI8t9f5
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3oFZwrZkr
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMWP5cTAZ2
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1ooBVF8U8
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ijy1hDBQP
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFteUdfUtxN
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBDd3nPuzE
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB344DJaNP6
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAInp6rdc3
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILegQFNSIf
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Wn4xyUXpL
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcaAc0Vei9
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXI0KXy5yP
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWi1aMTdHw
「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……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7QKli3v2I
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqWdUBvvFK
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg0FTyRRY0
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6ruJbDBGo
「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⸺」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuJScEGoHI
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD9x2CgAOH
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsNM4DuSAB
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwRbOBj7uG
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWObYQQhWK
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNaFjLwbOj
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjVWZUxfiY
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hxFZcJtWi
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaqzHDZw4M
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD9eMDAOZL
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjdKwkkeXL
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTxZFTUi9Y
「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！」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc3xXPA475
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRdpYC1Yaj
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI7vjscnSw
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG3n6sZqwd
「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！」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuLeCBGdjM
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KQO574r49
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGtZ91dU40
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmKmzS9Wuj
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfnONzQUH6
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMfZzMtAHs
「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。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgtq1Ivpdq
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCMZ62c9TF
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0taPYoYIfM
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfkno0bTmm
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJydDFkPYl
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5DY1Z6R5i
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8bUMwQMj8
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTh9VkHhA68
「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……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSIxPI1yem
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rZBYlCe4A
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCtxJrDFJt
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOW5sv2OvE
「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？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYGvbLbq61
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe65MmQOfp
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3kMCCGSPD
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv8IdOsPXU
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdADaqWXIe
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB7ehn84RD
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsN7WdIWbS
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7UfmpxvnP
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPuF6sbtWT
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerQmq8fEBs
「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……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBggyeftYm
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LddvkuZqf
「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！」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77PJdNd1Yf
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7kphJkEOH
「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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jkKbmvDVq
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Gqib38XNH
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxJBZf3Qgi
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHvdTULxBo
「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？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BEJuFi2qc
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8IbXqHUQv
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38Ud3hLyVx
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CkYqkTvUB
「它……是冷的？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOw4OnWKSr
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt2mLgLbxo
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZpBzQCoRF
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2fLEbiTdf
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyiL9DvosJ
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjAFIRjtBb
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHaoaNdvbE
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PqIsmpfTI
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。433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTBf6DJyt0
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ax5ItkgBI
「這是什麼？」433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxsAR32uvc
433Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaX0LpVdrl
「這是……大麻果汁……」
