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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtYp9BrxQl
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDnmi8EEYK
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTc07UagKq
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVKUHGoRpQ
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7n7qaad3Y
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XEv68oDwR
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHXNQbiLWY
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4t6sHdsuz
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqkDpyIAM9
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdvUEHAdPg
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSUjXYDok1
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRvoiaSAra
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0l5GxmKVtT
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJSKKIxKpZ
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm0blx28Cr
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0qfUaQfhL
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p9NIPG0Ht
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLCG0mEuGf
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvgGeLfcPs
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkWLQL9uZt
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3qqH51wJW
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q3pNT5JpH
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4RB4gHjgL
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInpJsfkRNk
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tRca6R2f4
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHkt0edxz8
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtbgISB4Ck
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx679scuAf
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qgzXkc2Xr
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDYvaP645Z
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRafChLbbG
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAnnFjU1HF
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsHS3FNTlV
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLlKNYbh0s
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvicmrAOaS
笑一個(╹◡╹)475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCOz7bJwvq
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L5N3ybZwc
「笑……現在？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLxjPrZo3I
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2RoP28QoL
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCb0GXaSIh
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP0RrSotpH
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPpNcGDtMF
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwepd4AbDe
「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。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9GPGC8NGN
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz1nnL7kYZ
「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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NN8xL5T7Z
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYqweGbBKw
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCT8HA8eAd
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETZBurDnSl
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6SK4S4byC
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwjD9UebUV
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTactQ1sEz
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWreShCi2S
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOBOn5XN0l
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtnPKcn37f
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVR0O40B6X
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wIcZChQMT
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGjYZAO9cg
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymaS57QsvO
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bE1pMGzBO
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2IrG4dOrC
「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……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1blliBaFmP
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42VLBJ5UqG
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklh0poVPcf
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneka735HjF
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYa9SR1Fui
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzL9dzRRA9
「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。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt87EjzOSk
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86VYiRl6V5
「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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF8fDwYDv9
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxjfc6CKhD
「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。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CQlLt96RA
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5lrDN32Yj
「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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJKv3d25ex
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQJf6hQcYQ
「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……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs4tcEUJt4
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHJKIQkqn4
「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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2XzSe4fKb
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGM0VPhaER7
「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！」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKz12rE7Yq
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNQCQINN1Y
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACMQ4ltHVM
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzYRc1ByBq
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6vI49cCzX
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmjmYt8ZR1
「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……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNoiqgew6v
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvlFuxm9Ke
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsjmVFGYpt
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1Q5cPz3QP
「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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXzHyxJNZN
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmIpD37nFC
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55nj7Ev6L8
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv9hotWEne
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni0yl2y0Hv
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kIrc4hIij
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBT4SntkA6
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwGAjj2fpx
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVhWK80qLQ
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl8uGqUbI4
「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……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c4VEr2zqx
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvucpsKYetV
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtLkfwUooq
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQ5uY2Corn
「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⸺」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIkJFvfMxE
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2Z94paYR1
「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。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf39VTjuAC
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqtXRpZCii
「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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TYyDhtP6N
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65w9zor2En
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEOPWo9fC9
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHudZCwTR2f
「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。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmqT4OLaEK
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5HOPKd4JX
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj4aw3RJQi
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ1xRXm5n7
「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！」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH716bc3L48
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGunYDu1Irx
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO05uVdw7lY
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzyr90gOTR
「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！」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGo9HLdcGGJ
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMza1VvQQQk
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CXU9Bwa4G
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfuBtdKgZ2
「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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjUe7Tgo1e
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxXusmXjxf
「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。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvLa1KSCuq
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBFRnqBL9K
「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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkHQVJHWKE
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEDToW5dDF
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl3VzRVUPA
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nLq9dGuGS
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iuGbmhYts
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62QF8Hqk3p
「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……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrIItK9wVn
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScFTJNxtLh
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtDQj4UeuM
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplSKF3G4EY
「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？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAF97jeZLu
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuftVXHsvQ
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDNTL2tkbu
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsatyv7aoE
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG9Gp2ch7x
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNRIF5qRZC
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSV6erD3BC
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「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmgHKMfOW5
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyQ5UqTYRM
「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……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcb8qAWDAA
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaCCV4SbNN
「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！」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldatDai7LC
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「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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe21GilKRY
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麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC8azhzPK7
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「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？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q8TMDJgZz
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7XROEtP1T
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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOmke11cFb
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「它……是冷的？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99hrIq07Un
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「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc76L8fLBTe
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「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkJWUbumn5
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aU3pBNhyg
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk22jHrWS9f
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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。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0XMKIEKfW
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「這是什麼？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF9Hx7PaeH
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「這是……大麻果汁……」
