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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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy38K5fWby
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「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDIysKU3Us
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYgMbQqewr
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ9ku9jgLf
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5LtepAAbQ
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbjktzDHS0
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsvS60ZiGm
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd95kcXHO0W
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SYnlz2atw
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj6W8dEYoM
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB0aZbjNH1
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnDE5vNPCl
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm7wO9WIqO
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMaVISAcBj
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxs5sNaOSl
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyDCepzij6
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvg8R3pFVt
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9ievAxRJ1
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7yvgWzm4a
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P2zCnrvwF
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBIfU9eXRI
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsFHOHPPcw
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6WIBHKLyb
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJECU7nA2S
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Sj0g0GN0U
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezMHb9N398
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7JwcagA7v
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTh70xQIA9
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsScpnqzpzq
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWNMG7JBeB
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7wNY0EeXP
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL7aINFxbv
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhciUa2XNk
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtR4QctBgW
笑一個(╹◡╹)317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlffmYp6CV
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhHlziifZx
「笑……現在？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFoK65H5TD
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJTFNklLdQ
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshUysFbsT3
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IDorq0unz
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRSa0Pw27U
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfr1M0QTy4
「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。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUGTVlE8If
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcysQx0MUVX
「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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHCeWDHI35
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidnfdKl28A
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1ViYbOLU8
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpeX4rE1cR
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WKs6lPt6L
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJnXCdlknu
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPr5mWuDdE
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIxum6lYtz
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZy5lZkBWY
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQNg12ojKU
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4maso6OXJx
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcx4e4YxKD
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtDZLqQbKh
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2fQjy6cqM
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nDk1KFhrT
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIn3BCJWBl
「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……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV20vK7KTL
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4kXSVlBgM
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzNG8QHqyD
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1Nx97KoYP
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tvqp7ZuRZ
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxZ35Ix9Kc
「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。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmU0gooMFMG
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c5q1gNkFk
「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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6sstt2wXl
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCccsWqki8E
「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。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdG2VWBu34
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0FOEUTbtV
「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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLn1Mx4L5b
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7cohUTtAG
「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……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPQ8mLuiJK
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpuikxlrnL
「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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoBphi6wwN
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1jri6cLET
「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！」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsVTtttPsq
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTnL4pIyOq
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQklnnjkdVu
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc0PBPZj7F
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkujn3Hn2Pm
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVZQxnWiH6
「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……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjZro7dpHO
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6geHHnsA8e
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I1TeWgXE8
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO6YWLmgZs
「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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOoNN657B7
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuzsvoVMnm
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z3Lfeft64
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPOFsiq0Ze
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBer6c7Zset
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pHmhBjVJh
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqjrORDMET
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpB4e1rW7B
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaVODumN0o
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6FvFf5URf
「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……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluFArAaHqF
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25OyJF2ovs
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88GqaiT4Xy
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4jPzOnp6o
「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⸺」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDK4EeOxS6
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5A0I3Edpw
「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。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCTmQBdoGY
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNS8HuD3oJ
「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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkERI83F1E
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW21tVpTV0
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWDxtLgqp1
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTbkFfL8Cw
「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。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpF7nU4gHp
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigmQyTk1Bk
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0AAljBYnK
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU5MdZQZjm
「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！」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiWUauHu8R
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThxJ6TI653
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPxCfbdUjb
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KFLDlrtes
「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！」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuehyB3Dy8i
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTCREOVv43
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEv38ORGlyu
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTs31aCsm10
「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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhZXjhgpyY
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTy3ZPFbbI
「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。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JVx8RoIfR
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLLIsftdDj
「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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06ooowdJBN
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIPUtVLOwl
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnVGND6mKm
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFb5NF3b2m
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdysnYIjGF
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzpS7SYsDC
「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……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVviT7wqvYh
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3fOb4cVUp
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHB8y0iJqz
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lJuwsVtwP
「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？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnuCFehK1C
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSUeVSAfve
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtKJStpiwl
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcqZRGkRZR
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu2plscXab
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yhfEtkStE
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL0Ghd7ycl
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRObbCNea1
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOviQmAOcw
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMCoMLucjv
「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……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRex72fmYye
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AylkYRVzX
「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！」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdgbiQ18IE
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1SBmYJJL7
「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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJyRsMJN8d
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqOFYwlfU5
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgW7Zkdxs0
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2gfHNAQXB
「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？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqRK4fkgdU
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUx3IeFI4J
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyHCFqS6WI
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ldm6Abyn6
「它……是冷的？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyba0GQa6u
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWhtKMIm3v
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFbR9PRxYV
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwk2cnjp59
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDM2pLRcQ5
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh9X32yf2s
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKeD6uzqlM
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsPpMsTm6g
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。317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt70oj9NROk
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLER7a8smzt
「這是什麼？」317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vYaBz3xDw
317Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaliM8Xx2Y
「這是……大麻果汁……」
