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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPJjHut6Ae
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlq3fcXsnU
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstO40cuVMh
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNGcRQDkvN
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXAnGlofhV
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKlVj7V7M6
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VBFDlLqIS
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMA3vNHrnJ
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr4XlHdQz1
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVKotvLFya
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ5Fu06AVp
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwC6BUM3vE
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwr1EGvMRv
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8XcC13owL
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJMPz835Ys
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7uc4P5Wu6
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84V2K0vm2W
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkRaILrUiQ
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9pBnh8tpd
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Pi3IObSlX
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmztGo6st2
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIwXa8yR8H
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWXaq1TUi0
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO28yVYw5eY
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJoiOcRgHW
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedEtSsuKqH
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCxAlsCIgE
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaZmkoZH7C
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW7n56DFEL
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jsZwL0lM5
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmiwjIXPdX
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdibPf2Dkl
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdxgc18d97
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH8IZal0CY
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdV9of1kCw
笑一個(╹◡╹)469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aOBDcTERQ
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWb1GSTyIjx
「笑……現在？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7dpGim4a4
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP2ie9WdlP
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdku4XxYY0G
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgu2QT6JcUJ
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQVVbf1tQ5
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8z5v5dmwM
「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。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93ChOWxXob
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlqAUsqMZu
「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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAgVpz80Mo
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChDHGdi09A
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVosJHPOMn
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP24q9zHmEQ
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7JT6JWz2U
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfefGXtn1C6
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQRxleTrrQ
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuiDGVtQPm
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjl0APt54B
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7JhuzFlNo
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTZxzoHoIl
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwAIxTD31C
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKh6f1rnJF
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudFSejqTTb
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGSNZdZI9A
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNgTipxa5T
「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……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkuP0ceFHw
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoku6v3YrK
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDvkAGPhxL
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kqULRBNIB
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vjmaPpatO
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVwSjuPHFZ
「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。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡju9RvXWKgx
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VmXKuhUN0
「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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuk4QuSwGl
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUbIU5VGF4
「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。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMxRSSrKH5
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4P97gZFr0
「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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68rkLGBEW6
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGchdt2FD9
「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……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPX1Lkgeg3
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6E1p54f52o
「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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoGAkJ87qa
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaKc8behwC
「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！」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbtvSYIzVM
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hXagjhspb
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlNM7dsgYI
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqp165uLDA
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyYkFHYv7d
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpkfAQe8zW
「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……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPVCnl7cub
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxASfNtFaL8
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HEGAVBpg8
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxFDzEo1Gc
「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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDwPksVWse
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCCtGb8Ufh
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbMfZ84AiR
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDF25AidP0
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJCdFftMNo
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh979TaoaqT
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ygOF65x8i
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlya7UQIQYA
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6aog7rrQQ
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVhVcCkFa2
「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……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4z3fxwIBP
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPjl9tAR3e
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSEt3UBjmp
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHki1vU8By
「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⸺」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpllufrDCfA
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXs95n1RyQ
「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。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzuK65GbD7
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5Hcrq71SW
「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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8fkGQWhPN
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzOWrBXu9D
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlo1x8RNyZ
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJiaz0k1Sb
「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。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOogEWm6AL
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxBigompkT
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHHP7cmGdH
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm97LuvasG
「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！」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaVC2U05MR
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGuVr7wvcM
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXZNNhwDQb
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkybPFrKO5
「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！」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUug17qcPCb
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKPr4Uz4bb
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSFm1zKb3p
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAAalfgEkQ
「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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAUa2jBCLZ
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UL2ew5cv1
「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。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnQnF6KU9V
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNCkB82Jwt
「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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDtw9Bp0SP
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XgWud2NfN
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZezzZQgZj
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrB7xgV3iM
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXke2za7SI
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtq5b8Pvb3w
「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……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwI6joE6y1p
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinGEA76Cak
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvnzt3o33k
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jjTGIvAvs
「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？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigqmLgOfO4
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4pQo41ZZp
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4UhyKl9bh
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh3ciK0vpw
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigy31hCPsC
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXeAIMHKzw
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMhH5ZPKqs
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qiVa1bCMM
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVDUSCDfPO
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd2NWvGdJH
「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……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYG3H8P0eMx
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjPY7Oayh0
「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！」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOyNdfLOc5
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T4d0MWZxZ
「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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZIx2i5tiX
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTZtT7aeKN
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVxxfKdlei
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6APEqNi6qi
「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？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPxDaLvpyR
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0WLcJX4QL
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMWjD9wv3e
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYn50iCkJ7
「它……是冷的？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeCJg7QQsl
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqE9eubHrE
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69QDscNtGN
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaehrzn6pE
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrILaS7mhFP
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKS3BYxuOwt
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VRDAGehSY
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2Mhoq10p7
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。469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdnJmyFveE
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3aDGkOjrK
「這是什麼？」469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpEeSlPa2q
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2SEOhT2Lc
「這是……大麻果汁……」
