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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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2AB8sQ2Iw
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUdsB1rv46
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHK3GJ9XJ4
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iWaiXTZoT
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfRPGnFIYf
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pqD0n8vet
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8u93ZOlrV
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkVGIbd61H
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkPpaK3O7n
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPCmXNFoxv
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxRM8crsLG
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3NPjA1gXC
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNPhZqs3Qn
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnErL7wc9e
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW3zANBhhc
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbbBt4iJDz
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo2kvcERPD
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL5gNtUf2Q
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4kWi0uo8b
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRnUkhZsT7
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rgcSexkBC
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JHIOXvPXp
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4EU8Oad0s
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87VpiFIDoJ
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzEr66s0et
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhTPy7KILe
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5RdTODXBr
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXDuG0sfBX
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyeXvDDAOT
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm7vaEEwF9
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXpau3pUnJ
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHy7XgxbI2
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRHkqbQdnv
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87T69jbi5j
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgMMlNuE0C
笑一個(╹◡╹)414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPFFBUCTsj
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPiNB4nCrB
「笑……現在？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXx8W2DthY
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5EginjeaX
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubFcRdMPwr
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpMqrPUQIx
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFhAwx8Jbr
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL4F9Zns64
「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。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZIjuEqse6
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEbiuVauWN
「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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1t8StB2Fj
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGEaWKYENM
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CH9QqjUlS
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7kzMlblfm
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPxc6STqaZ
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU5itb0oWg
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJwPgupfmd
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3eq1Zkh8F
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC49p8Z70Kw
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkH8zDroxl
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTdbtLSB9V
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZp0mGGZ1F
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFHliD36kc
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDBPKP1XlM
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ogllVyFeM
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79hIaONmiU
「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……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaFBvMsoJZ
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpAuf5tWRY
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvjH8cM2LR
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexpQUZXtL2
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyePb88gzZu
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMV1yo4CLyQ
「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。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAaLClHsV3
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTONMtqo3zI
「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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2E7t5PDLJp
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m5nN5ScNU
「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。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDd0zxpB5Zi
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeRZC7iSzA
「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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1FYXPyZVp
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8td2gmC48
「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……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1vbCkYcKG
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQYFICd5xd
「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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAm5XE5QlV
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzUw2UOFDZ
「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！」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlfrq74JYZ
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywImsMeBMg
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvvZVp1AHb
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3QtxxkcJK
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6vWTmdjej
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZrIOU7o3R
「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……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdJSeJiT3Q
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhH6P1BkUer
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S18uYyswy
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RUszZ3w4T
「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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Yio0Bgndz
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOyn9b1f9M
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEg0j5fgt1Q
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOkLviqRyd
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRui1SNenK
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQk6FquKr9Z
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH85x3t4SeT
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5JXk25YGA
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gOc2woIDq
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGBz0Tj0XS
「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……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyREZ0wW2ZW
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEvhqioQ0s
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxxGIhCTNB
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVoi7oBIHU
「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⸺」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFIeoPxD21
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSo4X7nOdrY
「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。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnPzci0lpM
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGCgcrTGAV
「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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLShXQFxxQJ
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDSBcZXT6B
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz0omuIi3f
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykwhMOVYH1
「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。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Yx8weBawx
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGcD0xyKuq
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZF63Lf3Mez
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nUCgRR8Uk
「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！」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTt0GddURl
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqA7Uv7l8e
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQ7SC7ITaX
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEDzqjv0dA
「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！」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ygHQMc1SW
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOeaCLINyD
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mnL387JWd
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMfFJGA84F
「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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtCoYfWKwJ
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBGSQQXJ2o
「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。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvPMpZgyBN
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1KSu60UBm
「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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hReHb3S0R
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0UnahLus6
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUMLk5BtwL
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9nT0qOzqt
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrDFI7Mxcc
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9e3jLLpzq
「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……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrfy2abi1f
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72SvbJWzM1
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi09ryCxDF4
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCdiWuAtG5
「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？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6fiFyZsrx
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3Ce0qDe0T
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdarf2JkuI
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xNmt5v2By
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgS9oTmJfT
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF7eTXBO8H
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNFvklsULv
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IHTFQwaYo
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrqe0pbKnb
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbUOuhvjeK
「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……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhPlIxHbnq
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrPrLqJHbR
「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！」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrRoA0aaXV
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhmx5OuWyW
「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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX3Ey0Rvtc
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosBZRj50aF
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtXGED9KQb
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiOSd3Kuuy
「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？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCDLYmlaby
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknqEMr5NqP
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaeaMBiMsw
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq9T57Z1gs
「它……是冷的？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPBVZYYvG2
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJPJZysQSY
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvf5utmKK2
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcSUGBDbGT
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZf3MyNWxP
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LzJw2sbCw
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5crCgaG8O
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4yuFNgkTg
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。414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFL3G0VLGc
414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSR4vAQgBW7
「這是什麼？」414Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDYwEmjpPl
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「這是……大麻果汁……」
