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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgYamJND64
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY139xymgNK
「快出來，慢跑時間到了！你不怕生病嗎？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KDIOpwNFj
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEhhxt6D5y
嘉娜莉敲打房門。齊波翻過身，把棉被蓋上頭頂。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcsBW5mm2e
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qh0hm1PS4
突然，一雙手抓起被單，把憂鬱少年捲到半空。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaZ4EX2x7c
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm4RCtQFPe
「噢！妳……怎麼進來的啦？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAujwlaRm1P
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFyF01UfS2
「生日當密碼，當我不知道？走了！」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA5nI29hoM
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdazHwhZLpo
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhK3JgLHDj
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnKyczjB0f
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VhEnu01DO
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCCsvWg19I
「哦！納沃的駕駛？終於看到真面目了。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvt5OWzH7W
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZq6VpPCg5
蓬鬆爆炸頭、充滿節奏的腔調，他是吉米。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRLw9stgxF
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uHos8IyUu
「謝謝你救了大家，不要灰心。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZaht9hNok
「漁船都有逃生裝置，他們有足夠時間的。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqKpjYqno8
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5iiMHVK6X
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X4yB0jCjp
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzobIRBF2oR
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGQencuhHQ
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi34LBAGMub
齊波被女孩眼中的漩渦吸引，不知不覺就忘記呼吸。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPRclr0zQO
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9acoUANH1G
她輕拍胸口，張開小嘴擺出三個形狀。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrBB2RZTBk
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawngpNPSzh
「麗、伊、斯……妳不能說話嗎？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMz9pHHbh1f
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgydRrrk3xu
女孩點頭，拿出紙筆塗塗寫寫，塞到齊波手中。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttBh5PHzCu
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOsFrM6fZH
笑一個(╹◡╹)354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjx8ACUDPA
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoWSxgubJ9
「笑……現在？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0FXyH477k
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylfEGWU83V
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqlmFsrCD1
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxujBocMdO
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR255mI68nr
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolAPmVcDJi
「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。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST4vHjUWwv
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAc6yI2bDH
「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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrjmb2G20q
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28wVFEqsKb
拉卡利‧透納的鼻子佔滿視線，把吉米嚇得往後跳。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunqZsqkZJf
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGOrkRDIri
「咳嗯……醫生，她狀況怎麼樣？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiW8dx0580
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfiimzWG2w
「嗯，這些病徵……怎麼翻譯比較好……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjssaFkazod
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMSZDmWimd
努那船醫的遺憾表情已經給出答案：吉米不想面對的答案。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQB6JEtXfs
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbJkMYj7LB
「唉……還是得指望帝國科技嗎……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZp2zgYfjb
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazkVBfEAxs
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYTG2qKMOb
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKfRGPhG5D
「我知道妳看開了……但是，大家還需要妳啊，我也是……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8IdxpgEtF
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9ERdpUhRR
「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……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqX5fhp51f
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADHSoGr7Ew
「謝謝你！謝謝……願意幫我們……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua1HTBSHml
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQhILZ7psy
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHK3soitfA
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla4VQzAVJl
「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。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55lgFX0vnW
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjG1zK9IO8
「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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQhBqb4xq8
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKQMldFx2s
「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。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Iq3LAKmAW
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc12CMWyjFO
「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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvSbuqkYE8
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Qoxem5k5F
「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……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGptUZGgiy
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Dt2TFkR6Y
「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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYUpptftcf
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqzDaZeq19
「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！」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJzKl1kBbU
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21zmjzzndd
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsiAwLzxdU
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtCznIo8iD
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAvSXqFBB0
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nUowG9zgq
「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……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l05jdFoOk
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxOvvGTv3r
「嘖，真不是時候……」吉米騷騷頭，準備告訴米勒封港的壞消息。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw70tQ3rfp
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt7plK7ks7
「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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69uzP2mRGA
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UlhDbwLno
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7WbEZoqrO
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhztteHsQ3k
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HJD2tdDeW
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsiCSGKRTV
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAFZrjkFvF
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AxG4JDvnr
「那些人在燒的……是錢嗎？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BwywEeaoj
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3JVdAOlWc
「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……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5FY6WTP1V
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLztWDHpnN
吉米確認麗伊斯的輪椅開啟步行功能，同時講解歷史。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCptXDKvqp
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvOFl0vlRU
「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⸺」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vVZigKp19
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZAizoZMn6
「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。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeuDQQec2J
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCDOi8MHOQ
「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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdRkKHTFlt
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnkxjFXNWP
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bFmOGruag
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCQrmXTjWg
「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。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIpGhIrrm5
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76w9Ou7NvZ
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsR1UUia1sU
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8pyDJhYqf
「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！」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaYVh8oOlC
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4IG2KNMSR
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsclGgs4u7t
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQI170IXO8
「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！」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7inDFphboH
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwSNbcQxFV
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOmbEFJs4o
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EOMZaOLYH
「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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDhk2yxkj4
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEkleAjmKm
「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。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3hxPCXWTl
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c8aIOF137
「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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IfBlXG1QJ
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKwy2MNIZk
「可惜，外環牛排耶……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5jmtrg5iY
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtXhkzhBQa
兩位嚮導拔下觸鬚、節足，開始大快朵頤。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB0DCnxS4A
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv9K5Xpmu2
「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……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2JlbDSGvW
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpiq0amd3I
「還能怎麼吃？用手抓嗎……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFCn3Qn4sf
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpQ0VaN9LS
「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？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17Hs8Oqou4
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf26Nfk56l
「這個嘛……還沒決定……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTYY8uYiT2
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPoyCP5MOA
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kQYJ0lR2Q
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4UDpmGXyD
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErPPNQM4Er
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBsDeIag31
「吉米，她一直都這麼……特別嗎？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNG4jLbvfC
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR9IZJYQIz
「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……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkbDSamuEX
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRTPDhgO1T
「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！」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGj1OjMhrl
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoOoRIxQij
「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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71YrpcfTnr
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9F4xWz03B
麗伊斯的雙眸與閃光共鳴，手語開始滔滔不絕。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXKeVayUrW
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjcVUKsN4R
「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？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWazKIrQqr
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw37dLlFdU
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21fUf3ciKv
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUb9SY5hW1
「它……是冷的？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgdHa7cvlS
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp70CmHDvnu
「廢話……等等，這些原子好像認識彼此很久……」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrXPDpjTCJ
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmHNfM0gsM
「嘉娜？別裝了啦，呵呵。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMdtpV7kFm
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1GWuC48lC
「看來我們的攝影師有點資質？啊，甜品來了，吃了會更有感覺。」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiLQm4mr6y
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw6t64Dts9
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。354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOKQDNTDzi
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUgJRYuYRv
「這是什麼？」354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy8ioK64aj
354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKDxxj3V9L
「這是……大麻果汁……」
然後按「加至主畫面」