他們偵測到O-4的浮動已經有一段時間,期間一直無法搜尋到牠。只得知許多場大規模脈衝多是O-4在場的時候,卻從來不得窺伺其本體。233Please respect copyright.PENANAlXGZMjXnSe
233Please respect copyright.PENANAS9OHUDE9zy
如今原因不明O-4停滯在某個場域從未動作,恐怕沒有比此時更好的時機。233Please respect copyright.PENANABrhxpVFOBg
233Please respect copyright.PENANAYfrmKAq6s4
而當他們派遣搜查員趕往現場後,首先映入眼簾的是座廢棄的小學校舍。仰首覆及視線與曠野的常綠樹,使人分不清外界的時間。233Please respect copyright.PENANABUzy0Lms6a
233Please respect copyright.PENANABBgc3BKmIM
隨後步進毫無圍欄圈堵,看似狹小的門楣後方是極其深長的空間;興許因地處偏遠,內部破壞並不若想像中慘烈。淡棕色的水泥樓梯,經過廊道偶有的破洞,恐怕為積雪造成的損壞。233Please respect copyright.PENANA1LVPOordjl
233Please respect copyright.PENANAOBarit33zi
圖書室仍可見散落一地的斷簡殘篇,任由龜裂破損的窗櫺吹揚。233Please respect copyright.PENANAECU2CCFdL7
233Please respect copyright.PENANAd0DtZ1VbUf
兩名搜查員環顧掃視時睇見地面有具中空透明的天象儀,除去軸心和經緯度以外,穿插在軸心的是一顆黃光球泡燈,圈繞在經緯度以內的則是被人手工彎摺的鐵絲,點飾著眾多銀色星形的亮片。233Please respect copyright.PENANAbNFv7apFXH
233Please respect copyright.PENANA6b0nmHmhPA
而由球泡燈映射出的餘光尾端,兩名男孩正相互憑靠著彼此入睡。233Please respect copyright.PENANAyUs8pA4x2G
233Please respect copyright.PENANAikuKWXR62Z
但當其中名搜查員再踏前一步,其中位男孩瞬即睜開了雙目。233Please respect copyright.PENANAqVR4JQDH3G
233Please respect copyright.PENANAjqpSV7lRHc
保方想要阻止下屬不要輕舉妄動時已經太遲了,縱使兩名男孩之間的聯繫呈現近乎透明;然而當O-4睜開雙目,浮動的孑立業經開啟磁場,隨時準備好下一次脈衝。233Please respect copyright.PENANAYXJSkiTu9a
233Please respect copyright.PENANAaq2xiiCED6
那猶如短暫凝滯的落雨,不過並非實體,而是只倒映在視野以內的非視之物。通徹得可以看透後方的物質,卻又閃熠著白光,嘗試聚焦時遂消逝不見。233Please respect copyright.PENANAgMS6Jpl4TN
233Please respect copyright.PENANARUEczpWe3g
下屬拔槍的舉措幾乎確立了他死亡的時間,已是不可挽回的衰敗。對此男孩在以常人不可目視的速度潛行達下屬身旁時,保方僅只來得及以同樣的潛行方式:自身駐足在原地,屏息時周圍孑立頃刻積攢為人形,成為「侂」快步繞過O-4挾持那名猶在入眠的男孩。233Please respect copyright.PENANA7KIEGvjgid
233Please respect copyright.PENANAyky1uR8ydh
如果不在第一擊便取得優勢,那麼無論下屬或他都將死在這裡。233Please respect copyright.PENANAIhsVXgAmVU
233Please respect copyright.PENANAEY1j1ceQIc
現在,那對與保方相同,充斥著突出黑絲的雙瞳與他對視。O-4抽出穿刺下屬軀幹的尖椎狀臂膀,垂下手來不再動作。233Please respect copyright.PENANArABGY9nd7K
233Please respect copyright.PENANAjzEhCCFanA
233Please respect copyright.PENANARNtj33altb
於運送過程中男孩一直都沒有醒來,而不明白會否因為宿主的衰弱,即使鬆脫對男孩的箝制,O-4也毫無回擊的意圖。233Please respect copyright.PENANARi3bULbBIC
233Please respect copyright.PENANArGL5g8ixa2
不過保方仍感覺到有什麼不太對勁。233Please respect copyright.PENANA8zXriUMt23
233Please respect copyright.PENANAW7a0qbP4TG
按照常理宿主陷入昏迷期間,侂的動作也會遲緩下來,視意識淺薄的程度,也有立即消散的可能。可是O-4不僅行動自如,甚至緊緊挨傍在男孩身旁。233Please respect copyright.PENANAh1p2z4w9ne
233Please respect copyright.PENANAV5UGijy7PN
如非男孩本身的意念,難道是O-4個體自行作出保護宿主的判斷嗎?233Please respect copyright.PENANAMofT2q78jO
233Please respect copyright.PENANAH62ux45dIu
這是有可能的嗎?明明作為侂?233Please respect copyright.PENANA0zmwRxdCXK
233Please respect copyright.PENANAxvRnT5OSPZ
保方原本以為他的疑問會在基地獲得解答。233Please respect copyright.PENANAsdnxCOUq9G
233Please respect copyright.PENANAEhL3cxRHps
233Please respect copyright.PENANAwMoVqrtY50
「他們同化的程度幾乎已呈現一致了。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAA6tmVlSwvM
233Please respect copyright.PENANAjmqA4wvoDz
「不可能。」周遭浮動的孑立相當穩定,那不是同化程度趨近的人該有的反應;而且要是如此,在他試圖要脅男孩時,O-4就不會停手了。233Please respect copyright.PENANANZDG5mwbF5
233Please respect copyright.PENANANf5iSyKRb1
面對保方斬釘截鐵否決儀器觀測的結果,名木野博士僅面無表情的瞥視他一眼。233Please respect copyright.PENANAAYrIK11pXZ
233Please respect copyright.PENANAnJ3Mp4B5kr
「……畢竟我看不見,所以只能針對檢測到的部份向你說明。」
「左邊那一位是兩年前通報失蹤的男孩,這點沒什麼問題,問題是另外一個孩子。男孩名字叫作草薙,據悉他並沒有任何雙胞胎兄弟,我想和對方交手過的你也應該明白了,肯定是男孩失蹤期間遭受侵入,兩人已經開始共享記憶。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAnAAoLwnStg
233Please respect copyright.PENANAj52CVLrQ3v
「而且按照這種同化程度來看,要強制將侂削弱的話,男孩八成也活不了多久。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAokPnZchpLy
233Please respect copyright.PENANABgdmcitkZY
「……是嗎?」保方攥緊椅背,指關節微微泛白:「那麼,晚點我會去申請火化。」233Please respect copyright.PENANA71odO0ct41
233Please respect copyright.PENANAa2rv0r2sFz
「不,我們要留待觀察。」233Please respect copyright.PENANA4bls7D10VV
233Please respect copyright.PENANAwC3LXwZf1i
「什麼?」
「基地從未接觸過密合度這麼高的案例。然而他們密合度高得驚人,男孩卻仍明顯保有意識,這幾乎是不可能的。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAxZMDxupHGQ
233Please respect copyright.PENANAOHDoXFzLtg
「保方,你到達現場時,現場到底發生什麼事了?」233Please respect copyright.PENANANa1XaOmXPK
233Please respect copyright.PENANAp2d7MvO91h
233Please respect copyright.PENANAqO3EflR5MI
現場發生什麼?233Please respect copyright.PENANAaxQMnUreLV
233Please respect copyright.PENANAYAebR0GX3m
他才是最想要知道的那個人。233Please respect copyright.PENANANMu6BZMZvW
233Please respect copyright.PENANAvPIX6kcM2s
保方獨自一人倚靠在櫥窗旁凝睇那對孩子。男孩的生命跡象保持穩定,不過依舊沒有要轉醒的徵兆,期間O-4靜候在旁,什麼也沒做,似乎對於他們人為什麼會身處在隔離室內毫無關心。233Please respect copyright.PENANAZS22welkTz
233Please respect copyright.PENANASsrthXdICZ
直到草薙醒來,O-4即刻傾前執起男孩的手為止。233Please respect copyright.PENANAlF5JpzBSgu
233Please respect copyright.PENANAQ11W7629PY
相較O-4表現出來的沉穩與淡漠,草薙的神情倒相當符合他的年紀。驚惶不安且無措。233Please respect copyright.PENANAXI9zTt4jeA
233Please respect copyright.PENANAFPQPqp6L57
隔離室內的動靜他們都可以接聽得到。保方聽見O-4沉緩的低語以安撫男孩的情緒。233Please respect copyright.PENANAMir2Ao4phB
233Please respect copyright.PENANAcGxNttvF1T
在此之前侂從未有過這般表現。他可以想見名木野與其研究團隊驚喜交加的模樣。233Please respect copyright.PENANA1onKzj23bd
233Please respect copyright.PENANAPFtpnjT5gP
過沒多久便傳出名木野穿透天花板的嗓音,向兩人要求各別面談。233Please respect copyright.PENANAMDNHTvofiI
233Please respect copyright.PENANAwZXCfjJsYE
男孩表現出超乎尋常的抗拒,他緊緊抓住侂的手,極度害怕與牠分離。233Please respect copyright.PENANAXsRgnMkGe3
233Please respect copyright.PENANA4278Oesb9y
「別擔心,我們不會傷害你們任何一方。」233Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ucqe8m2l7
233Please respect copyright.PENANAWyXX9fixlf
縱使那樣呼籲也沒用,最後還是在O-4的頷首下男孩才答應鬆手,任由區隔他們兩人的門各自關上。233Please respect copyright.PENANAROf0eZWnp7
233Please respect copyright.PENANA0pRBi8RWP2
在這之後離開男孩視線的侂即被團團包圍。但O-4高舉雙手一動也不動,那樣的身姿反倒使得其他作戰人員愕然。233Please respect copyright.PENANAJJpP56J9Dm
233Please respect copyright.PENANAzNHtq2oqxp
「牠看上去胸有成竹。」名木野走過來與他會合。233Please respect copyright.PENANAo7d1BkZEjj
233Please respect copyright.PENANAih7MW8Xm0r
「我們以往所見過的侂多遵循自己的慾望來行動,牠們並不會特別表現自己。是有特性上的差異卻沒有個性,但牠看來顯然不是這個樣子。保方,你有見過像牠這樣的侂嗎?」233Please respect copyright.PENANAC67n8KcptT
233Please respect copyright.PENANA4QAC091c0V
保方交叉雙臂環抱於胸。233Please respect copyright.PENANACb5Tb3G8Au
233Please respect copyright.PENANAv4v9yO8HE8
他不認為博士在等待他的回答,是以決定緘默。相比O-4而言,草薙身上的發現便不那麼使人感到興奮了。233Please respect copyright.PENANAYqrSYMIZ0s
233Please respect copyright.PENANAJOyg5QYG5T
褪去衣物後的草薙渾身是傷。甚而多處懷有宛若差勁縫合手術後的傷疤,表層肌膚摺皺且隆起、揪扯在一塊。233Please respect copyright.PENANAMXQw1dg5iN
233Please respect copyright.PENANAXxwGxbu4TJ
縱然O-4再現草薙的外貌,但並不包括過往的傷痕;和草薙完全不同,O-4不僅體態緊實許多,也毫髮無傷。233Please respect copyright.PENANAJNUoEhOA62
233Please respect copyright.PENANAQPi8FtMLRm
233Please respect copyright.PENANAdNnRDoWkeo
當檢測結束,團隊遠眺男孩奔跑撲入侂懷抱裡的樣子。兩個孩子身高一致,畢竟O-4是依樣畫葫蘆男孩的模樣所生成;但當兩人實際站在一起後,因O-4沉著的神態,總有一方顯得較為高大並年長的錯覺。233Please respect copyright.PENANAErqLJzbwF1
233Please respect copyright.PENANAJkL9in5kij
「主任?你想做什麼?」233Please respect copyright.PENANAK3FAPfr3du
233Please respect copyright.PENANAKfWGdPK607
僅見名木野驀然走到那對男孩跟前,並蹲下身子和那兩名男孩對視。233Please respect copyright.PENANA1RaFSaNutE
233Please respect copyright.PENANALIFJcDFHkF
他從手中遞出兩具護環:「你們願意加入我們嗎?」233Please respect copyright.PENANAc4fBZnvUBj
233Please respect copyright.PENANA8uXnSo0HBo
那樣的舉措使其他研究人員無不倒抽口氣。233Please respect copyright.PENANAWcH5S0J9L5
233Please respect copyright.PENANAxYxyhB2l8K
233Please respect copyright.PENANAFkDfo2pOAP
「主任,你到底在想什麼?我們應該要盡快火化他們,要不等到意識完全同化的時候——」233Please respect copyright.PENANAy5CfR3BljG
233Please respect copyright.PENANAfNAFwndL86
「他們兩人的意識已經幾乎同化了。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAXyhJoBZGuS
233Please respect copyright.PENANA16SZdU52YH
「你說什麼?」233Please respect copyright.PENANAHPAi2lAeuh
233Please respect copyright.PENANALwVnaJxkJt
「別擔心,牠暫時沒有危害我們的打算。」名木野攤平桌上的地圖,那是他們標註O-4製造脈衝的多個地點。233Please respect copyright.PENANAoAE7c9JqQV
233Please respect copyright.PENANAL5uEH6CbX1
「牠引爆的事發現場都至少有一具侂的殘骸。」名木野垂眼凝視以往標示出來的赤點:「截至目前為止他們兩人通力合作幹掉多少具侂了?」233Please respect copyright.PENANA5bojrUnTv8
233Please respect copyright.PENANA9T02BOCQ0B
「我想不必我說你們也明白的吧?這並不尋常。如果是我們的搜查員,為防止意識被剝奪,失去身體的主控權,凌駕侂的次數及時間都極其有限。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAa3M0kummLx
233Please respect copyright.PENANAi2z0Pg6TvA
「不過O-4現身多久了?男孩的意識仍然保持清醒,生命跡象也沒有問題。你們難道不為這個發現感到興奮嗎?如果可以釐清他們兩人之間究竟有什麼特別的地方,也許就能夠知道如何在不耗損身體機能的情況下操作侂的方法了。」233Please respect copyright.PENANA1XGMVUVqev
233Please respect copyright.PENANASUEU1V3dA1
研究人員各個默然的面面相覷。233Please respect copyright.PENANAztIJFnS8KZ
233Please respect copyright.PENANAFdcjVrjz3E
「……也許這是一個陷阱。O-4行動表現以來一直都相當謹慎小心,也許是他們找到我們,而不是我們找到牠。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAH3bibo0zHu
233Please respect copyright.PENANA2LynBxzlir
名木野沒有否定該名研究人員訴諸的憂慮,他率意的聳肩:「那麼,牠找到我們了。現在就來讓我們看看牠到底想要什麼吧。」233Please respect copyright.PENANA4iE0KntgGh
233Please respect copyright.PENANAXhvFbyHwky
233Please respect copyright.PENANABCVe5OjEY2
基地寢室配備的床鋪為雙層床,不過兩名男孩並肩坐在下鋪床沿,緊挨向彼此臥躺。233Please respect copyright.PENANAKTkS1ZKKSs
233Please respect copyright.PENANA0vGxspmLuR
「透,我們為什麼會在這裡?」於黑暗中男孩的視線只隱約看見身前另外一個自己的輪廓。233Please respect copyright.PENANAqenLeHU4Ov
233Please respect copyright.PENANA4jwhenYLsJ
「我們需要更多力量,秀一。」被男孩喚作「透」的牠說。233Please respect copyright.PENANA8IsZoExE7E
「外頭的傢伙光憑我們兩人已經寡不敵眾。但要是能夠利用那些人的話,我們絕對可以做到更多以往做不到的事。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAJlAIr8MwNd
233Please respect copyright.PENANAO6uBtTvQFY
「……不過這些都只是藉口,」透拉過男孩的手攥緊:「我不想要你對我有所隱瞞,我知道你已經撐不了太久了。」並摩挲著秀一的後頸,兩人的額頭相抵。233Please respect copyright.PENANA07jeW67nFY
233Please respect copyright.PENANAgB2W64SaiS
「如果透仍在努力的話,那麼我也可以。」男孩的眼神堅定,語調也顯明不容得辯駁。233Please respect copyright.PENANAk0pBVHkRwX
233Please respect copyright.PENANAED8ZjBzAqG
「我明白。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAsvFom4cpEE
「找到他,並摧毀他,是我們兩個人共同的願望,也因此我們兩人方能結合在一起。是痛苦使我們連結彼此,成為一個完整的人。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAu2edGaESGV
233Please respect copyright.PENANAWryI212euL
透迎睇男孩的雙眼。233Please respect copyright.PENANA0lxai7vCyc
233Please respect copyright.PENANAjT2YMe8F2O
「不過你也明白的吧?秀一,不管我傷得有多重,只要回到你的身邊就會沒事了。」233Please respect copyright.PENANAEFOkeUg0kw
233Please respect copyright.PENANAQyZ8uHH1WF
「我就是這樣的存在。」233Please respect copyright.PENANA1ofoHYX9bA
233Please respect copyright.PENANA6WOScoTxBX
「所以你必須待在安全的地方才行。唯有這樣,我才能夠一直回來到你的身邊,直到我們完成未竟之業,我們會撐過去的。對嗎?」233Please respect copyright.PENANAFBsBlNn55E
233Please respect copyright.PENANA0jQ1dF9G7q
233Please respect copyright.PENANAk74jD11W93
他們說明草薙已經失去從前的記憶,僅記得O-4是他的雙胞胎兄弟,自他有意識以來他們便一直待在一起。233Please respect copyright.PENANAWQZJZa9SeL
233Please respect copyright.PENANAk4ZfJd2Yu5
相反的,O-4對男孩的境遇知而不言,甚者有個可以區分牠和男孩之間的名字。233Please respect copyright.PENANA7NOUdjiB5x
233Please respect copyright.PENANA9nARQnqtyi
曾經他以為自己是最貼近侂生活的那群人,不過在遇見男孩和他的侂以後,這樣的想法已然瓦解。233Please respect copyright.PENANAShrQ8voBaG
233Please respect copyright.PENANA1nh01O3kmu
侂的成形在昔日被稱為「亡靈」。多是無法離開現世的依戀,有的與人牽繫在一起,有的則如喪失人格般暴走。233Please respect copyright.PENANAWHSxJsmJp6
233Please respect copyright.PENANALTRO5ENCLC
當然他們不會接受已與無稽劃上等號的稱謂;是以想方設法再造出一個新的名字,比較拗口的那種。然而私下人們依舊管祂們叫作亡靈,抑或分崩的靈魂。233Please respect copyright.PENANAoiFQKaxfLz
233Please respect copyright.PENANA658TR1bva9
大多數像他這樣的搜查員,藉由凌駕侂以滅除過分干預現世的侂。233Please respect copyright.PENANAMQgyBf5uS3
233Please respect copyright.PENANAbsNTXwqYVX
他們多是試圖凝聚散落的孑立方能做到這一點,這即是代表不是每個人都像男孩的侂那樣,擁有極其鮮明的形體,卻不被有形的靈魂困縛。233Please respect copyright.PENANAo4fyUABpW8
233Please respect copyright.PENANAPxYevd6tdW
一般侂的目色也不若O-4那樣有神。至少每次他在與侂接觸連結時,侂的雙目仍然呈現一片黑水,只有充盈滿溢的黑色絲線於頸後方飄蕩。233Please respect copyright.PENANAkN89wqwt43
233Please respect copyright.PENANAyMBaFdLyli
他們彼此之間顯現連結的線也仍呈現墨色。233Please respect copyright.PENANAaojaFjFO5b
233Please respect copyright.PENANAbuBEcQ1Vsa
應該沒有其他問題才對。233Please respect copyright.PENANARUkwpiHaqk
233Please respect copyright.PENANAzZpDJxTems
可是當名木野詢問他有否見過如同O-4那樣的侂時,只有非常偶爾的時候,當他緊閉雙眼,他會擁有某種錯覺。233Please respect copyright.PENANAWv0XEQzMf6
233Please respect copyright.PENANAnwUizrhgZO
彷彿他連結的侂似乎也有一張掩藏於邃暗中的面孔,而祂亦承載千言萬語的疇昔,可以對他訴說。