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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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJU7teBRVH
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiScjNI1u3f
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6si0cSpihG
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqFvanSpox
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhiilt0upv
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YbJ2EXj1W
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScZtVuSCP5
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1PrVJJpIE
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoxRBNXR0n
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1w0GUbtnf
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcOTKCMfL3
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzX729iVpO
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5HMuQPufA
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2zRfFhmHK
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTQniyVGHa
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BLpgUXsPF
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCILazr8L2o
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBL2LJPHjf
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmkYf9u6oR
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3Mm9WI9le
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoesTl7KDQ4
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSObgdbqN8S
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LpcOQHsml
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9G3vg614o
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHbwt6OgEq
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyEXQz1xIx
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFauVzAgPI6
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhey1ilOpm
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybHYyXrb0L
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbrmocqg6B
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOI1ToAOwD
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEYZ6liwtW
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7UqqM0f2D
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBBB4WEmrc
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQLrSNIA02
笑一個(╹◡╹)423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpphCzwoIQ
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1yPtM5LJ4
「笑……現在？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP6SkVTtF8
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jolhMNFex
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgmbDyXz2z
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutbRAomCWK
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrmmMDbmvx
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz68SKka26
「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。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtpId75cyd
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyA0yo2yXn
「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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fQfA3L3Gb
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcglJxNquy
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMs2HuRYHe
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmt4RYMySI
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDir2Vxfr0F
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLb9HnfNUt
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNuKPLTuua
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQpgxyJlPR
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrciDb0nO4
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF8odUB47X
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIVh0m6aZH
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZVb3hrRua
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWADNsrCFQP
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgYCh2cvRR
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1IW3fKDII
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQDUJkgD2H
「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……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD2DAfpiCj
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7a8wSPcrj
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRgdjp5Sky
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRnx38KKoG
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1PPdh4NMX
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bfPzUm1nA
「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。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShsfZs8nKB
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHVxEZcuVz
「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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoH2HI0wJ2
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKsW4nqlNt
「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。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumtuYJIJVt
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZjcV0HOYE
「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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKvl2L3GQr
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDUjYYbScH
「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……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4BrYHjJcD
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UqBgwE9Oe
「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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdIgiPHDf1
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSAan74LvK
「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！」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbw4kr9lXgJ
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn4nohrZzx
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs5poIdWd7
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnCrig0PQl
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYxJxGvfTq
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0FSawAP2X
「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……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iHqe6GKTD
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGgBU4s9RV
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdtOA8Na6w
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUFyPCDqef
「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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKvqbFMYds
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNwKPDh49K
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbIE3qd1ZF
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa95LmPCyg8
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6C4VOynQz
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvLnwB4nFM
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qX9GJ52vg
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWESZoSG4M
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz7PrFpVrH
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4CTk95PCb
「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……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtfgHHS6E7
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aPgQxm3cK
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur5a6Xb98H
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTICPS3lUq
「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⸺」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX22OWOFh9j
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5nxZPklIO
「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。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsQFsPmVeg
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNntENsa9a
「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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE4UoJmh8O
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RP3hxWiP0
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyAeeICGoN
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kmQFK3j99
「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。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFTtlkM5u0
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfWV6gNmKR
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRykBgEk9Km
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATAUlB0fHe
「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！」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVtyGlhdjt
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMhT1rSzFa
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrM1k3pTgM
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxXkAtD4jx
「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！」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZTIvGnx1E
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPKuDhGAXI
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aapyHLquw
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEwUAVc4KB
「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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzRKZpcNjG
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ767hCiMPMf
「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。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc0rnIqfK4
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUZC0m1sSG
「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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsqFpdXgzA
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM6pQBuwkL
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaixqMVrGHd
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7hBCaRhkO
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKV7zXMpxz
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsY3Cwqwi9
「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……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzJw8YmNG7
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g8XrTynb2
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG887jtZmq
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv8TVqHYsL
「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？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HLfICeaxK
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYod6hFsQH
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEPJLWSwAo
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDShAswebGy
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpLTe5YaiB
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXiaTY28cH
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcANKzBUtzQ
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEb9Xqskqn
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIh70dH6nBD
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiqwBzohTB
「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……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21eVUIVWaH
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlurg8jFwpE
「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！」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HGVqHSlGP
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPYXRZmVr4
「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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAeZRoqYip
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaIRvh464E
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW60TCb5hsg
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgN2vl5E0F
「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？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuOvksNA3c
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYt1oj626i
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZ0yekVYqk
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiDcoxvw2A
「它……是冷的？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1hbr09Kev
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfq4jtRNOk
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMnsVjlZYU
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RUl1i1LeW
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvLaGyaype
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSYnWqILPb
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08Lo0lr4tU
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGUBwNrRSD
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。423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5LYJKBXkg
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekXGjoLlfp
「這是什麼？」423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykzOj5Z1HF
423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fJizfEoHB
「這是……大麻果汁……」
