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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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVBSixB9mq
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTV0KbK33T
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtsAwcCjCJ
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIu8igzDZF
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdyS5WhPWP
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToKy5tcfaQ
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmV5iveMeI
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVXeTo7Z5t
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTohBJOXExv
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04WKU0eiZT
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyxpAt2jdB
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XFDnxQpPW
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y4SJF5HJK
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSQyoHdzuv
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe5ZYJ6SkZ
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZxZJHTQSO
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF62Eb4nWKh
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4Dmp1RgvE
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TWWupIIpY
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzpLDInPLR
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdpVVLQOEC
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqekTQmZCW
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiFrxPo3bT
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxvDsYIEfT
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux9NemIr9Z
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPm99rry8t
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGKbkllRCO
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlK5JFHloYY
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJajWkKcVh
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptk8qAlTF7
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8AaUDDSGr
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVjNK1HxGv
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeCYDFpr30
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZKKQmewjV
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc2bkUQAtG
笑一個(╹◡╹)315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xd1RzdjdJ
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1Pvyyt06m
「笑……現在？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8lzsIcHDb
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAtCrQofzh
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YsLHo2vzm
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kVxg5sWeF
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGGmr3OnTo
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13I1Ftb0TN
「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。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyFEFMDCi0
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgOyqxlEyd
「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFJ60vqCyM
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTINkL7BbM
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSGHxaLIVA
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u1fLERRFu
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbGXf3fmpR
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRzyuob0qQ
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINj6CQJjmZ
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1aM7zBb1r
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tC8H7fvD8
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lZaZ90zRX
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDSwad01QT
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWGK1QCFZl
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm53Vloitd
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1rTCdUQUd
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ3smbYPso
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOtyH27Kpq
「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……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1ruUZtHg6
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2weChDxZU
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlGvmgyvUZ
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5uD8vTXzU
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNyXyjZDuR
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86s1RWaNAf
「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。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenjRqohwPb
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRFfuLw4ou
「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7THMyPFvGT
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9FPOBR6oX
「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。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YuRvczlsm
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwrjrDzv5m
「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeorn4f5Bdl
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfkRpVL3JO
「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……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrRxeUseiZ
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DtYKcl5Nl
「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXjnXAbb4o
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXX1Lz2jnj
「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！」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1c4HAH4Xw
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FyjmKaWWj
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsez2LNwaSa
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7nGJNCCFT
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDLFcryQdN
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPJEtBdWyf
「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……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH4LZVn6Nc
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPOMiSEWIX
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUEhgOtJpX
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E2YEFOdZ9
「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV0eTmSslm
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsvnRG1fJR
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT5qcW0dCO
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLSrKubwx9
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cqMqTIISO
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkiqkO0216
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIzDIwlu97
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv02mW6hUEr
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsCeCUN19I
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAYxBWA8vN
「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……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h2nik8EpW
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5fajp6SLZ
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutvm5xocMV
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbYAMcgxOX
「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⸺」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnGwTFvi60
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpXEDJivOd
「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。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWrog19Sa3
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43ynLK7I90
「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U3u7pG80Y
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqXPA4lGqE
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8qMJqqkiQ
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh3ivX3BZD
「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。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBZhRHU7r7
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQtTPoFctC
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQBXZ7wzLY
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡty97BwPPG5
「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！」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyx2dCLSqk
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFRZ98Yirn
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9UZONShsx
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dUB3fdsxl
「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！」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOluQiSOV9F
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RS0we8okk
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihEI7a701a
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA2lfauFUz
「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8U1ywmeww
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrUoPQ9z3y
「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。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJknWNmpdo
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAnxQv1LJ8
「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUNGxrYhax
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ekjwHc2xn
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYfGxY4R8T
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4oVnkcZuI
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNmTsMyrxr
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13tyvAlaB5
「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……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5qEAjos16
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjr6Tc38XYQ
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RqTdK4Wac
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OQwWYPI6Z
「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？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbR4tN3K4a
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSkWzFRXaR
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC8GxABcdb
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDygaqCrOz
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayVDW4yTKF
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzG4i9oAeT
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhuhmixX4g
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdka0UiatD
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh1gzifnEt
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvILx03ECp
「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……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eRu1xXvN6
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J07p5Kt5D
「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！」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsUFUWgdO9
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2HxPNLnfX
「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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzKf2cFvJ4
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKw1jmN6qYD
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZHpqhvS5W
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M8JQ1sD8N
「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？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0JYjdt2ZL
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLQ7LCFtMY
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpcyjZHTfR
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dJOyJHwHz
「它……是冷的？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmDEDCEHo9
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm4P6wokBg
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB2RSnQxCo
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmsa6RTWbP
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD4tkZMOS9
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImUSPCH7UT
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSM3YHN878
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l5Cb8SrwI
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。315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cL9EARvwM
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIDjP6pUo9
「這是什麼？」315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVJLuKtHi7
315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsOyTlUVYa
「這是……大麻果汁……」
