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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKFa7qRTkn
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLmR3MJAAV
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9vJZLsa9C
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KsNFKXZsR
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIZzSbkVxw
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoPa7dZy4S
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYI6x8beCS
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo2Hr9K9QW
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMoNkKIckR
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z4TOBjyJO
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwv8AiYPws
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXlcRcBPcs
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgDZjDgBzL
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjerUgmv62
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmU4elH60CQ
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe4YVAIjbk
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5RhqQhOnA
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1V6FNfwrT
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVkilrgWUm
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbqNMmT7cP
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqUJGWGakl
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOca1yZZhGY
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCjeqHw79A
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccp54Eopk6
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6549OvpyTQ
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIuASLXcnX
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKww3uaJw1
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqobnNvqlD
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BkfSlxRTF
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PW57FiU0q
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BYzXxctFg
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWPKN3TZy5
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVClHM4auF
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i3AyliU2t
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcf1l1QH24
笑一個(╹◡╹)470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzql24Nrrq
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx2lS4ywN0
「笑……現在？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOaVPW5vDr
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0620Zh4kM
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0vR2tBgji
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrzthEdxlg
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuwtLIIYJm
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUTVgqYnpP
「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。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmkWDsFmrL
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSd9u65PKfl
「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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8avNA1vGvk
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDv13O2S46
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwQ0ICbenE
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPLWHuFs4J
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjlaNGGvCB
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx7QcQibWt
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f1k25nxsE
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBgHGF93sX
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpZBCtygR4
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X88qGJu5c
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT8sVW5CxN
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdJT6Hj1Hw
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBEIR1A8iY
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BptuYeRd3
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG48VMc7B3X
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CSBPQ3am2
「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……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq6D2CUNgp
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUYyl9fvFp
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiTmVsMuDb
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUxtp7LBWC
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cgxrQI0jm
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWoSmcZKjL
「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。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9xHrMxyOv
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9xpLKvJcj
「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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6x87hmW5x
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVH3oVspsi
「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。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99hQ8Z0Y6Y
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFIVFH9yby
「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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepkzpNbOSi
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCV3bsxoDPJ
「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……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJRAvVK4IE
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDZ9MPGi1V
「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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB7IwTjRNC
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAwWv1lqZy
「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！」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwF5szU284
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87iSJR2RcI
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuZO7yoc1L
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgZmzDiAzo
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZPN4ZZSGV
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72o4WXkCIe
「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……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTztKq2I6YI
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDGSHjMZuM
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQQ31Elczs
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczdiJvqf8x
「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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7HzOwqtw9
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OH0rv5PGq
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Qe47zF88T
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt71OFgUSpq
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4o18LYOKj
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlTzbkoeqL
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDdf9Cojw0
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ebn3vL8mi
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXnWbijLwj
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MFRcYR1WG
「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……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Rgu8VB772
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpzCQT6dyQ
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCmptbWj5L
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSyHoOveEQ
「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⸺」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXGTkv8rvx
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU0qO8xiZg
「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。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmqqY9FB7I
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75aNFnJm29
「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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7u2XoB8aH
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsodH8YBJ9N
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmGTsdKwk0
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquRmrpSzGF
「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。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AI5fbpevb
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhE5eM5bL1
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWE0RzRZ37
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGTnKGJZdj
「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！」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDJIj4UZNS
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFNVME8qf1
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbW5LiRW5L
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnagsCuJHlM
「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！」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AbMyLI7pl
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBoGMGptlU
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOusXYQBAs
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbagJBcWag
「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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdPCiifIuG
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyI6f3fNkl
「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。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclU4E4dIMe
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBZEaU2wvA
「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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBUKLRS2xm
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhl681NwMZ
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIrocGvwhu
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u12bbYq67
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sWyfjp7hv
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCTBOYwrmb
「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……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvtUMV2GTW
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRy37EvrP2
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiDTHW0I5L
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wP4wpvfbN
「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？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi4jdrFOlY
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwovzPcUtbv
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgjBADmGQ1
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEcsMg9H4o
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oIvSwCD9I
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvSW846LEv
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvyKzu7YSj
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DFTWAONhZ
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FNdX8HLDx
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJp1InXLM7
「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……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvvB676UOR
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub3d1KCPOu
「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！」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7v7EcoV4E
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqV1xa4YpM
「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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBrfvSEPUP
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QuVkoSvdF
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISMepvf4Oh
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwXNiSTUXk
「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？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxbRHrjcDv
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgh3blQ7VO
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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgs95CJfMt
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「它……是冷的？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLIIsD92Ik
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFttZ6Psx7
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNsPQ3aB83
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFrPqZsk1A
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCEmXjyl7U
470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZ5RiUEmwT
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwJTXyHnog
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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。470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghQtMSwSOb
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「這是什麼？」470Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWyB7rEkVI
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「這是……大麻果汁……」
