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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPPqVn9GeG
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcj1eg00Si
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig8WyJbQsR
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HbDMGgIya
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcKPyj5Ezu
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86CJtF0fRh
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KWzI4qKZi
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yjoAZShHw
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROexVl2UpR
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbsCTMMyNc
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn6KFLxtVi
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFbPB44aMk
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6suFNw7A52
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7d5OtI7MK
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIodefTaAX
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqe5tjEYvt
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUQXO6w0DK
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlaSEdb0kP
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA0UkHq1xr
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5koZMnCHeZ
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEbj7pr9NF
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBPt47FQeo
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrJN0YkVCS
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3xVigE8GO
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxwyjDQo3D
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBR6voY0eN
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QAUoB8Ebs
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjUBVbQiWs
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAvdewZI76
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C60MujYlD
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnmTKiK8Rb
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3gmv6sPM2
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq2n6MAbHY
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvyfsbPiEt
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHUWmT1iQ3
笑一個(╹◡╹)468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq0j2g4pdD
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXx2rlUAa6
「笑……現在？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfimBAjdJD
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJexuYjSZV6
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6bGsnAss6
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzNyQ0j3U1
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWO12XSxaaH
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6fdEbL0th
「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。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfEkMkq6Ix
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPoLIVHOsh
「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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5T61DipUUh
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fDSm4DKjD
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OaAEyo7Xz
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6NK2Ek9le
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ349kyj1qQN
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuLlUMtPrB
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuogRZW9Qiw
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A161gBGb1
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJokSzbgpo
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncozY1OmE4
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaji9ZO2xIx
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqQGKAZF75
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkV9BAT2Lt
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBul3RPLogK
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxRGyConcV
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFq2wCgNw8
「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……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptAHeVfCDi
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL7GIxuSYd
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyXqc18wKV
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXTQEJv8Qu
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9QU1fh5Ue
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD0FsjxK2K
「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。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2tyk9gSj3
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH4h0MYR4Y
「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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZiR800xRB
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPAGuXf11u
「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。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWu1eO2R0v9
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdlC8IPLNk
「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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3BVvbHNIU
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotupegjL9A
「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……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qWCgLEpua
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeH1CPzjX5
「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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RrW4Lwzq8
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUTMkMpo9V
「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！」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ncMDh2H5f
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk3lUe23WZ
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcumfMiksE
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9cCDmePyN
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mwuEzvg0B
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLRjJfwLih
「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……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBekTe1JJup
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj91OmQ3su
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmc6USumwZ
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2yhFCwuDS
「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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMiAVMSCNp
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcZsEkScQc
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HCh09zM4d
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMxSddRiSX
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ND9H8LYqt
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSyov9MbiZ
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmY7km0LR4
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjHkhjMBi0
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjuXonz5OI
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hbIMtuySx
「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……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvND07s4Jba
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFv3jHGE43x
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLDNsDWWAr
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxOs1mrDjg
「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⸺」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0zGgbjunt
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WkkhaBhAu
「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。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8rVbey0aq
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wzMeRiQBH
「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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB9xG8Od8h
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzayeLbzWU
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxKHMR7dyq
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61VC2k95e5
「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。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEAA9H6Usu
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdRFzwAzCt
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYXtSpJvLk
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ost8tR1kP
「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！」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3fYuY67d1
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y8XkwfPhA
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDLhMRVZzr
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPFayu6oek
「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！」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfSunNEba5
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgojy9Rs0v5
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0vS7Mnimw
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjJlJ5TbGq
「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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpulLmgmL4
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjRtP0rUJE
「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。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHDq0vk0wl
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZT2kvi7qf
「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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fzgdLAX8I
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1X9FO3GLV
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjaPUKp6Rn
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qGYCiMZgX
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4LOqPQ1YT
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUfISpwWOO
「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……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYaDuz9K1q
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98lAYX6mZW
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXaonk3quU
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8yh5QAo8D
「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？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iqGAeNEnH
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHuMzQix24
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfTA5uOypD
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUEnpYZrkM
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLheWXTfMGK
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcyKyCKhrP
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c2Nw2tdq0
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4WHQTpYaN
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8W6uom33O
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5T5nbxFau
「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……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdobmspoOx
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTfNDAIlV2
「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！」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKttIt2kgU7
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cTvIC5aUG
「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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8ad3dtjzx
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFERX0tL80
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcDnp1jgsU
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfPHMm3sn9
「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？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiMuwJQuob
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BiWvmc99p
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG6eBAB9Ms
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXQaR9Oj09
「它……是冷的？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazYlfZGkwx
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrMBzgTk1J
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyt6zY7CNM
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhDgjCv0cW
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluePNZ1KOY
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5iD1j3pRA
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t9UquBC6E
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ4vlsl4Lh
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。468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddgvBDXJGg
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNB9OtkLI9
「這是什麼？」468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9CiAYjkyQ
468Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIaOqH0K6x
「這是……大麻果汁……」
