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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr5bpQ7xKU
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2u1FX9aQB
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbREQtzBYmT
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32A3f6PPKJ
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnszY2SLp1w
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM5cFzVwvc
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7DlfT1ZLr
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6JPVcpR9o
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5DSrdrI85
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQRXi6SU8z
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm6oSymGMk
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWXP96cQ5M
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5LnPh897l
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I3sC15xK8
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXhmu3wEg9
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYEBVgMae8
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTMhAML9eO
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VVUlSuPKS
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmNZPeGa4d
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXj02tQqlV
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv2ja4jXIH
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyVgJSJ3d6
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1g7H9Ks76
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD42UwCVY7
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcInnnNlo81
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOKtrSWf54
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrifLQwaqt
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdRCtY7Yp9
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJo1weX3xZO
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oh48DfOqr
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWM7Bpi2bqQ
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKavcHOrL8
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOkcEwiVcB
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCRzWX324F
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAMthkED33
笑一個(╹◡╹)427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjPztbXHIP
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGe1QL3fDc
「笑……現在？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJadNC9u64
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUq4r3J3wS
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A9GqI2Ei8
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYgBw53g4x
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfIpypitA6
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgGyTR6bnO
「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。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3vH1qjTPM
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaswibcv7I
「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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMhLtqlHLH
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4Zuypn69Q
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BzGUhwLQa
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbUNZCQLqr
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoIaXdjh4Y
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ivuo2PYjF
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkTRtvjGbj
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXkozpPuek
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsDjcIYFzc
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XUY1kIc7d
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6wbjKvW8Y
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ5fzh5FEQ
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡendL5bUrjP
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAE56sN8Kvl
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhLrhgNk09
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEiIa2Jimy
「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……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2QWl3M92H
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrqYFsAk41
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsgWa32klU
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOVgHqw1dR
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4bsW7TuQX
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizsE3U4hUi
「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。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ27BPOmiP
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcXQWdwWgh
「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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryCRrJTuVv
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7o9yfwnJq
「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。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRx87imOAa
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9JdnynkY4
「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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKslGxfcaj
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9OcJEF5X0
「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……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp3NhDCOIJ
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruGTqNQyaj
「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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCU7V4HMuz
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8799so6f46
「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！」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2eXz1QaLb
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSydCwto8qG
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd2aeauHgM
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xj1QSKZgj
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlQplR3fgc
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgECcQWBgT
「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……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdz793GMVi
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQIJDA52ei
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJITa9h0mjF
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh2JmcNNll
「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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCF7c8c2Eh
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvRyi30iLd
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BlPqQnYzN
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TJWQFbiXa
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV11P3SIT0m
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN8nwpoYHG
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8A1aRA1Gd
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn3XWrWBNY
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2B2b0zhWw
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSpq6ePwv5
「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……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjGyPZAHdW
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybPhqZyiwd
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt0OiaAgzF
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95TVywB8Vh
「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⸺」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0y60UIPfpY
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbngg3dUPs
「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。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRQamtV88u
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zDRxHrH8C
「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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBNJ3z3QaL
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkkwtAM4Fx
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jZAZQTTYL
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NWVEDuEHo
「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。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTNCi0Oxnq
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaplfy5nbGY
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGDKm5ut9k
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCUWDL8tBx
「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！」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1AoyL7Xw6
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyGj9D0Zxn
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt2ELABowX
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfMFLeC7Z2
「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！」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7xkiGHaW0
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiEEjfKhVO
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDvtVenKZ5
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xXW2QBDKh
「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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3t9eH0Kq9
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpH1fBrf7d
「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。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbWIjB74ku
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF0Tk3ipv7
「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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzdHMrEipl
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwmCWySczZ
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5xILt9hFu
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPylNfRKRo
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeezzVCoho
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7wwUtcXGt
「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……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pajXH6yZL
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NVfe5woDv
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFSeJe8m8e
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgeBpi8P1a
「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？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7OKpmxGZF
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjy0XmtOLT
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbynRQG3VG2
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ITKwnvtP5
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatLQlE3vk3
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDEuWbmaUC
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIEER0GOD5
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFtVJb7cvO
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rme1IK5N1
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwHnJoL0cZ
「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……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDUSxnddDz
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sbBIWrT8f
「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！」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN38K3tzn3R
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr77rtVMpJz
「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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFwY0jybDT
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYYIcfD7gm
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOkPlQK4nS
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrocl4kp42m
「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？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C61BjkKJr
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhiYTcucPf
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmdcPVAdxD
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlO8atgr049
「它……是冷的？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPbXhbhNYK
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToiaYueG9q
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIl3llEuwq
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkefgbqzgI6
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRHh36Ehvr
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rydQpvsrJ
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp7Hbvvoss
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGKIACzWd5
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。427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS73maWULYc
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESB2VeQlEt
「這是什麼？」427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwLLpLDz8w
427Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfgEqH9hbw
「這是……大麻果汁……」
然後按「加至主畫面」