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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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsimtwE8Gec
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「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2tlFzb6Us
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfiXZ1HdhF
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZGfuP4Gwk
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xRPQVmfUE
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJZWKwnba4
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aeGCy3S7t
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUqRHsQtTn
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2tyKBRcA3
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioqPEuBWbj
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpqqTpAEyJ
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VxShlCIxT
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfRu6vCEKb
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfvb5kAaoM
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqIoBggrrQ
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuflyYHx5bm
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsZb7E6YZ3
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8mWBbAJDR
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVe0QIoRS0
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMmzKzS01Z
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHRlRP28M1
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp60HQZNsY
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXto8s7loC
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡays58uZ2dv
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVXrbjbbt6
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O2MOZ5r5E
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX9wICohfd
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPouBdFUEd
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ODqNG6uRK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuuQ7Jg2E4
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgx30EXING
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGrFoKpckC
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEMxTTjDjT
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWYzgHUx40
笑一個(╹◡╹)424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8IdGPLCAA
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16G3OWa6EO
「笑……現在？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21lcyHQnYc
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4WfNJJTUb
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApenE3DXJD
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR5LWiCYdQ
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5MvF0jMVE
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XcnQFFqjx
「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。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i0EjQQ691
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNENjAOxTQ
「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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRTgy2mznN
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJURGgvDIBD
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUbM5vVBre
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLK7wOKXaI
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmS0BHUN0d
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolJnsXxfn9
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCmA5ITaJg
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT7UcrJkfh
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMqNR6XJbt
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7N6qDe1L6
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIhneJCsCr
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZMhVv82VF
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojX02iSODc
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOeuvzhCNj
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90wW4TCWJ5
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz9NmV3aPW
「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……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXZ74B0lzk
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2fyMrcPX2
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMANFSjCPrd
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUJpS5DrkA
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR876pclko8
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSv1Fb5zdw
「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。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTi4FwVsb0
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoVghPKCYa
「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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoD30KUV8d
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF0va7z7Xh
「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。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHtIACDrl1
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBVnhrFjuB
「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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNODNFn3peg
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZZuufKIe3
「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……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSHxVe1UAt
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHwRbBCJdX
「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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vaPjtPGLC
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcczZNf9Rl
「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！」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFNgErdkJw
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYVbXa58DK
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBHSP3dUn8
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d644R5hyt
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPWYIjpvnh
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VmmRlhA1n
「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……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ133GQ5i3dv
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0PH3tSsr0
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxX9U5Rqrok
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaQUyixLr5
「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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7SnsawTf4
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFpR80r61d
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJ7SCxbwWy
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnrGHC8Uoa
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHOFEjuyq7
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4RWaKS8rq
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NDnDbmIcZ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrlhJwrNDr
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomnnIxibwk
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIe1GBnGY2x
「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……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWntyUEg8Q
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJXm3f1THM
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnuOkbykkb
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YB6tVl4JU
「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⸺」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnQriZR3jp
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92D51aJydJ
「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。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JLrgQ0Is1
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdX77bbkS0
「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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaQAaPmie6
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn2bPNEBoR
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtxhkKFiPl
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt9lfKVTAy
「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。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kc524WUcC
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY28MtCsXf
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbYUq6JApp
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdX2bQBg2M
「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！」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hxNmLRjAZ
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcM6vfOqBE
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27MSgTHTUi
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdteVRNmyMT
「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！」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSNFXDrWSU
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3NRa8JTVm
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGIpAt3F7u
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R93ZpBjaR
「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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWi1j2dnTm
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCRY4fBQAn
「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。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRb8w4VwV9
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wiCkBDdL8
「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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDnLsRKoXx
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjnS71CTWm
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93w2qYlFnO
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvVamG5VXx
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLKmWvhK0R
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDk33sdPK8
「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……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeluG296hap
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgmSibAelv
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEHTYYulvT
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1aBKAvhVf
「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？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqHn7WCwda
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgQCq8HLkA
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaGtCh57Ed
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa2NWfqF6a
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBywDcw1H62
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1l1ZCQvTlB
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9TLG7tzrb
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9G981O48L
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJV4SKz5mjU
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAiLr4hebP
「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……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUTNEfUSOm
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudxVnExJA1
「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！」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXxgAviBB6
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BOGBiLYDj
「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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKgZgbcmFx
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNi7xhoC9K
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHeDXatReH
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHi1BJnhyV
「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？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ577m6EKpG7
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nBXKs6e3R
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjKJt2EcEK
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiBR2wVJb0
「它……是冷的？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRA7v15b3w
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIq65f96et
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTR5sGYd0P
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmDuun4JUi
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RxlZQnPTl
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy29q9uhGX
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKD1aRFG8iT
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiywRlamFSf
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。424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuDSlB5KUO
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「這是什麼？」424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ5p7jUQTr
424Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWZrI0iFQ0
「這是……大麻果汁……」
