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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb9SpKwlzG
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3TaFSHPCh
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPAsfXpO5H
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAqLhQ6WK9
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcBDvZgiNU
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9srWtGzgEU
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgISHwEEdYb
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNH6Q93YD4
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjs5AEuJhoY
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0c40NycLlZ
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7Ut6mHHnX
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmGdYcq6TZ
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SxBsLEm33
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFTLOtLZzx
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40YCe6tpls
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcgEvoHJgA
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PKGepIoK4
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGCAcmY1ac
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFX7SqkA3YN
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwMbcerMeD
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97myURixs6
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBxCqFAXak
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9vAAU2eaX
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrILWnP5VgY
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW1gDuX1Id
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BsS5OBTfb
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xHEOtFho2
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oLzykaEqF
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pU5ghE3vD
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7dPWnzD43
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr3SALO7Jh
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTPB0Nke6g
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtXIeWjoWr
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr3XhXcbB3
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdXabgr1Uu
笑一個(╹◡╹)475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5PA3P8A2U
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddTt0r783J
「笑……現在？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdZf0wFGIt
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmn0CCfI20U
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfNg87kS5l
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FXfTIBPLq
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ8VDljsLC
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gGvSQnh5x
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmJcLI05C2
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUPXuwtyzu
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGs3zf9pjD
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYGinsBFrs
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJeZgVpzqy
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucEClO9Rwo
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoXUEXvbLU
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULVdpnh5do
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIQzkAFk74
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OsFyiBNNR
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP31KAXzxRD
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpo5uZdQeZ
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22WaZ97esE
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBzEQHzpFZ
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA2lzKAX7i
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDGFP7UkF4
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWY6De65xO
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ09cEtzqEB
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi4lWMXXfr
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaoE8bJJ4q
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO3KDIP1N3
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCYrvwCrWJ
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItFHDQmNj2
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFCkhlvkk9
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrSFJKTiVL
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1QNNJvfYe
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHX1CVPaZ4
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfcMXVrk6z
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF1AWNe3kq
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBS8N0w5lK
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyuxmxnGnN
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHMGHUMtlS
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2TootVTgo
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26r0kvYjHh
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOwe9fhXIP
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wFg0ZNKVq
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLMUuTUTtV
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU5JhWcf94
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixbYkLQ1Mz
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4J2ho3Zxq
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uZiIyYmC4
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5AA3m7Gf3
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnLtYCsXZK
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiXNpKXrp4
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiIMciruUt
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5peT0Ziwe
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY8MlxR0b1
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJZlUwTI3w
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8vs1auBIl
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMg2l3sIme
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSTUECPbo8
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDMWUmJbM5
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkDBG5ogP6
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnztDqfAJ3F
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfBlsph9Er
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUe5WXoouP
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9IoXOGHgL
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBKZSt5sRt
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PWnYBycOu
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqkz56ip61
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVeRKHySZ8
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8hKVn95cK
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyVfiwbwfs
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEbfgO4nOh
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd62qdCvKlp
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUoK0FHJb1
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPT1zSoqHv
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq7w6l4rhq
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZQ8QOA1QX
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjRZLXCGsk
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiewbPBA0Zx
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJThOCNb1K
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi18XkzVSWx
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJMklWp4op
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yRKSPzBDw
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt41jqDrNh2
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPawPJiobU
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMkwx9s109
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvOQgWPgn8
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ511ZNNK9vv
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvfSCzb87f
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3PFzAVuKl
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lZhbjcH8C
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6hJUBuwNq
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nUhAKzvEM
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2I18qtDdo
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAVzYUCtuI
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q0CAKBHY1
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiBNO8ui1L
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4idRi1li95
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv86ajiDkk
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5pscJdLq1
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTDfip6TW1
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbZxTXHSww
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUAmlSUnOm
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwO86oRQwj
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOHvPdZ3AR
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShl3IS56qg
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClvHLxjN44
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGhit5PSzK
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlmIeUm9y5
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RCNqw5514
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3e376oDXz
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcgZxEbZh1
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjuxlqar9z
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesd9aqQsLM
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosgYXG8XPt
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCom7KeuhT
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡged78aVi95
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBHNjiLBY4
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI58zdro6YB
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PwJxtCWd8
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96htEtTIQ3
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzaIY2ElGd
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlzFqY0Gf9
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「它……是冷的？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj1DCM4qkZ
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7g1xceztKS
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouwv9kgOwK
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxV16LPsvqs
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6X8xrvSUX
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndY3OYwvVD
「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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43P265m8mK
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2Cf9SiFfY
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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v8rbU0Y6o
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「這是什麼？」475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W4OJqDFqP
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「這是……大麻果汁……」
然後按「加至主畫面」