x
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i7NFtcGXV
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvb59goYE1h
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7PKk0jBj8
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSUbxkyDyB
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfNaXuEnVd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcboHRrvvf
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1ElR7JniM
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMb01E2xkkK
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucgJ67qpGo
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQmyDymQ7s
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw7lj91HBJ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbFYSNGFSx
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNnZRl4uSC
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K8mSDay90
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgrIHOyfsB
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBqs5yrO0Q
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4208rUvcvp
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi9xQvNe9C
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv4QBZxEza
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiihKWIMEfR
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfKlEKREba
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO157ABJgg
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyDBgb82l9
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPhXyejAK8
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPLkjYOFbx
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy58ffi2HL
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5MsHPEqtZ
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHo9xcPY2tE
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V2QrY9y9s
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yYd7HkDy5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUruq9wTS7q
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj6UrSjhw5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfH98YAFJx
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyPCZmUDe7
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66jG9dKwCh
笑一個(╹◡╹)320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMUBedBImu
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn7llGjuVi
「笑……現在？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGm54pYqrX
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02yljAwzXf
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y81OxAdkp
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJmMpzMstI
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNIl4R09Ky
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjf5g2At2z
「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。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB1mmHdZG7
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpE5DVNURH
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdC5Wegpjw
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBvGO0O6Ze
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4THlHDieI4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcHTQV9kMU
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC8w4kQpKF
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivGCzyT6pp
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjoBpWKjNQ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoybVkXB30
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDWNeZGgmk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWKDCbGN8Y
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FdiwBJIxx
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvUVId1Cyo
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCREJuldUq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWsc7srlSj
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJeto8TcoH
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsd2KydknK
「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……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbcIT4YOi5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBrXNutHdB
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPB7HtI7Og
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzp8APjCgf
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT1VAED2Oj
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx8K7TSNpQ
「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。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBr93btdL6y
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHV6cuGkxy
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssleZQlGG4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasEnoH81Em
「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。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGBogV4i45
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdI4JjbfOn
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccJhOf2lqn
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVNPA73GMz
「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……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGaJleRDHd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UPdn8ubIX
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8IpxO5GY8
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2THh7lJRI
「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！」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sP4qXtHtk
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKW0BLPVIx
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm98kppcGv
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxDpvAh5QB
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3XotTVIgQ
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRoxbl7MrY
「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……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj4mOqTXX4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO8D1CZqDa
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoCFQKY4t7
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcfgLLNYZU
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5tDkb1hmV
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDB9idKTc2J
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNNxfchfyd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCVTq5HAkz
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xMuxrDWFz
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDhPgQvxdu
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9km3p4pn7
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku1fqRm0rY
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3RVhxxAW4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8p4yObvVf
「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……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKRhnDIHk3
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSFr7ENkyl
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhZLAmvTyp
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjrNA8xZKm
「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⸺」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj244U27Tpd
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ6ewCentO
「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。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S9Adbgywt
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLN3rS2TNY
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuhBak9Ssz
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAylIoiu31I
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlySuFMxyM
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqnzSVltGg
「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。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf35oUlIpe
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi6YUNCJck
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0rHc0ros4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsKpFYxmII
「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！」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagUapqjDPT
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTgNXXuqaI
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugXjzo42sF
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntUURwAjqs
「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！」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsARX9eNT1F
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbGnfYGiHM
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipN4YPzZLL
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q04EbiS20
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNh8TFz30k
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5c3F6izfX
「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。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5q1rtoRE5
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gMzvG8iov
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWUdePdONR
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3AyAXNokG
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJY6XEZ87vq
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLu54u89LT
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtLZnWxo1o
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvWGa8yRbH
「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……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGGOuTieqH
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGyIJKcwtn
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT69yb2XyO1
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7VctuQe5a
「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？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDa7WwuEcyf
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXHGUHUXOI
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqIGZ6O0Vr
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysGCv20Bxt
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQja0TVZoe
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡassZMjkplp
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1fO8Mjv9M
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VlA8Mmyr7
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZS8v1Z3o4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdaUg5RweZ
「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……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIm62ElcRB
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMryKF9bFhQ
「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！」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYj0RiPWV79
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YT2nQnL2g
「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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvJuocdAAo
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRBcg49Js2
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKDkrPuJiD
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsWHbKfb4x
「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？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxPh5Z0oZ3
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl9qXDPzVm
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98WGZ0oPvP
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Its1naWNl
「它……是冷的？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyMQ8zlGQ8
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCeZ9TjmlQ
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNbRgPw81H
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCUp8Tgz2R
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsFXq98QBb
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnVzinksJx
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE3HF9pvyc
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXpYEsh9ig
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。320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NnfE78yw4
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Upr7EeG75
「這是什麼？」320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgJup7CLEv
320Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSGQFYklj3
「這是……大麻果汁……」
