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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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevgdoBcGpV
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CU3bJE7k9
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxQEnQeZQr
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XcbxtjD1W
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQclPrWpF0
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsn8oYRcxd
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLORL0eBNd
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDk26uUAU5
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7bvjPsgkZ
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbfRjxhsEE
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcV1KFVbDuH
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOJ35wVLAL
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKQe4J5qur
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpCBM6EjSK
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6ScGn1yYE
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLuktP9Zuj
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHnMydErWB
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ5xOJjA3q
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeAC4EsVax
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx2k6Tfzsi
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsmyJQzTH4
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoeClexiu1
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ71blUnbDf
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0zBaNArxg
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrKAirYYyF
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD73NhSNCGs
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuniqpm2dbV
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6rDwJkrqg
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9isuWTmTo
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sAE1opSrx
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1RX5oD8TH
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNwXUuRZwe
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eYT9OMxPi
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyliYSqykDy
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXvHlNTZQQ
笑一個(╹◡╹)348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmupK7qO46i
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTeIyTv9S6
「笑……現在？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0bp8nYXws
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN7zU0RJ7U
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt5QVof4Hv
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSBqjlsasE
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEROlzZMpei
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzI0O8x3JS
「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。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4OYWGyMSR
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4deT68nyU
「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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsFwIwnRQj
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4kV3wVGkV
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRuB34TfRu
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgIWrWlKEY
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN9ctQJGUE
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oA5N4Az1A
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQstiPgMS64
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWM6uizun6
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8n4bUiaKd
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeIwEGQDYg
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QwEhlU1Fu
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjdfpeTpa9
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiEwrYRMPB
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qCMI6reqp
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIzECsOYev
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uraQ5G0El
「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……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVjrLqgFPZ
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj97xsLV32G
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi17ao4SX5
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuwgugPRI5
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeSHLKlZUv
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTIdFlWnZB
「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。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc09U4xOCPT
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg23F2NkA1
「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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8FE5yYlJd
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MHqmzRlwx
「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。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmZn6p4NUj
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfvbo8hrrN
「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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4saNGyiBl4
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCTbI6efUE
「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……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u57lJYVTY
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjeDZsjCdP
「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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnIkEvGppk
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLDXtrK7wV
「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！」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYS6J2oW7Bn
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq8gQH1zKT
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9V5EmGBt4
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YTjTAzcrx
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9tM5twH2e
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOBb1gREtV
「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……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx65c34zPJy
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXFk1bf1EW
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5DRpwMRzX
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqs0nmzdhk
「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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLlE2DL8hK
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTpZRB45cp
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCkh25cPW7
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEnQvU1htQ
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7YQHdIaic
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkclJXf3RcA
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡet8R8gV65I
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHt9YxeaeZ2
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4SmShfggu
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u3cc7qVY8
「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……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSdF8lX3rT
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI2J4xSW55
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXomo9w4fyI
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2zogPqj7Z
「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⸺」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8R0UNYOu7
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawQ3CyguT9
「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。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsnEQHEFQC
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRriBExiz71
「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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGHCgdocR2
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6eBRVcg8l
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWFMR80o3y
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnAxARwgjm
「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。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd73EYb6ax
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTiucouZli
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXVKjipdq7
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcWh1GNRxE
「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！」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLwDxnzyCW
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vtMTlbGeQ
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPZih0EQnc
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtSFpqqxFD
「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！」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ipWUAG6t5
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xtIG4xUHi
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiGvOSO0WF
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5WB9MedgI
「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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnNGzyqZKx
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonGRLKzXZG
「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。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fJsDAfOtA
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtteVaiokEm
「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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzekX7nx1dK
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVTRnkOB5O
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXhcn9IqHa
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJzN5xwFSU
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8r9JeC1c3
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCF60EtKt5
「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……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tBqArb6iE
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVp6nISc5x
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhVSNxDp5K
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiKa9rknwK
「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？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8DPBmZsx7
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMURQJHlChP
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBVmdPmhsj
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWFnYPXfpJ
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWEsENI9ib
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa7jjzn45F
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRh8XY7AhK
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXwBjtMx6P
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsisqnckNxr
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdvQm00bf8
「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……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2KnJVzcpO
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCblgKZrSaP
「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！」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSQccgzGBu
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRfw3FW2zg
「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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE70uzIZyTG
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13rv8XiL7O
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcYXkMO25c
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOCy6GdlSI
「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？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECavOQ1WaX
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RiJNbw8nl
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPlfYMJgLb
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCMIoHZ219
「它……是冷的？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHLfUA4DI0
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRa2Wh3p8w
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3iOvGnsuk
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0tk67LK0x
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfyxl9RgXu
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ3gaxzuaU
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9x9AnWxPU
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtxikvrlNp
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。348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZKEBfJLJX
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknFKMmXseV
「這是什麼？」348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Cu1fROZVy
348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8X2enUTeR
「這是……大麻果汁……」
