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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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1PAonZVXv
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「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2wUK7oiR7
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2NwFUoXxw
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAmyOU1OME
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNygMLIR45
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsNpcxxuOD
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWC2JTNspp
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83ZEQ8Ugs8
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaRGhwIm6O
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bU09ckckA
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HBvRcoY1P
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVC60gsU15
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoLxtW8hUY
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoZt4japyB
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCOCCfS4Mc
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKdMwPUDjR
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsR9KiVq0f
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy84jOexWKj
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6aI1vH6vg
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6uqbekt14
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrJYOc7Rud
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNl9kZiAD5
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsVw6x940K
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lIE8KIYpa
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yYEnTSrip
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfIm2c6mlT
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKZbOdlCCW
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeN8qzyrZ7
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mkpS3AgOw
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2c68PiAcC
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTxjcWj2s8
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0RuybwsXJ
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0jasUpqwp
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPQ0FxbQKL
笑一個(╹◡╹)350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBCFZF8MDp
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18eu1ScMMt
「笑……現在？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzHngvZJdK
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1NlXlIQ9V
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LvzM6X8zC
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEL22WvIet
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaLb8T6QHl
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBSl9NRjE1
「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。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRIBYZ5xVP
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonWv8oWoT0
「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp2KgctMLB
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26dNuzuBSO
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGnwviJy4G
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDG7xxaH4d
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK8bTZaZ71
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCQCdC2hJf
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYe7N3lN4b
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfcLIniS2P
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XGtf2SVJo
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDbgZjMeQm
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtkk60OAZ8
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEX20YOVys
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4pXh0Q8yY
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZMcKyH15Z
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiqWtWxMXI
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXTnDSPS2W
「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……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHBI0leof5
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLac1wgzeU
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7FXzM9d5B
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbSIfsub4G
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaxFaC0vyH
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuliP6Gnk0
「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。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7Wg4nCVqp
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqKsGDzA3H
「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhRiuhU9Tt
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yiq3GuVUV
「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。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkN1ZUn8f1
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi1lpHoe1z
「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQNqHtQJzu
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92Jyo92lQB
「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……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTPyuhiCr8
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6mgI1vUNH
「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq9gHu7rOW
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4rFhI2FHU
「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！」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTR1j4fLLX
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxC64F2XbD
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm91k86ICPi
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwHQ5seK1k
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPM8WCCaav
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO6KmWCO90
「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……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYu5iFxEFU
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrhYF0mldA
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNS3zhLkPS
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAdno1TauF
「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6X6NXUXwV
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOStmSAXIE
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡictQsgOKmb
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErevRP4Oc3
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ920Ocg7pkl
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfASotVe5WB
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfhJbHyShR
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7xYOozvY8
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokeGXrB9Sv
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU6uizJBQv
「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……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2bZhcfxXT
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uB509vTuC
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j4Rv5Ufqe
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYcbKxfhxI
「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⸺」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0RGKRDEAS
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5oyHQxnfM
「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。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSgFQZ1h15
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IfGUQnuHO
「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUbUNBFkhU
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWb4TeDsQF
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcicsNCmUYy
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzVI2D3bLl
「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。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwSgBLznKS
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSDsLcijVH
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpHSWsbgU1
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nYCwsnmdP
「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！」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoFb2Lvi0s
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fIMMCm8iC
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjboqShnlsq
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡql0UPrbWZw
「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！」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3vNCU4Ddw
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYRGUhiVTa
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0MQ0ZSFK1
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrThTG4HeQp
「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpxeulxza1
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT8PCIRIS9
「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。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnk88qE5in
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBwglXKbnZ
「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxcbRfN070
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV2ezVqwV6
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9hRZhjkRN
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMGb1wRuIL
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ctAM76VyK
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D1fNwPzEo
「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……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWH6veA0asw
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfaM0jenrD
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt8E6AjcfW
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6fp82pM2Y
「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？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWd4o7m9L1
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTah20rIID
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVSVZc339r
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtIq4HAyuL
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe44tjfiY79
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv07nDZSpJG
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZPVVKdJE1
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QenaQzo09
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGjMBPmi9q
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIKik0sbSs
「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……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAWnm9GDMs
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJN4g0Ml14
「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！」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljSsRQE1Kg
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBiX0fiMBb
「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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHV8ES8Xgf
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNVgTkzSGM
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojB7hjoion
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAcZ1qpzfk
「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？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvcMmU2HFU
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22EsqKPta9
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7uGqPAJjv
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「它……是冷的？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOOQTriPGZ
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「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanZfkG2iAH
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvJPB0glQ3
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLe32acZMvc
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv33mlCre1Y
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oa1tMEGH8
350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKLjz4b3Kk
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。350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdQH0Si8pG
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「這是什麼？」350Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ249AUqQydm
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「這是……大麻果汁……」
