Julian didn't mean to propose.
He really didn't. But it's hard not to when you're dangling upside down from a harness inside a rocket lab, holding hands with your maybe-girlfriend while a genetically modified chicken with laser eyes is pecking holes in reality.
Let's rewind.
Three hours earlier, Luna discovered the chicken in the hidden chamber below their rocket. It was in a golden cage labeled: "CAUTION: EGGSPLOSIVE."
Julian: "Who keeps a weaponized chicken in a rocket?"
Luna: "Someone with good taste and terrible priorities."
The chicken blinked.
Its eyes glowed red.
Then it vaporized an entire filing cabinet.
---
They named it Cluckles.
And Cluckles did not like Julian.
Every time he entered the room, Cluckles squawked like it was swearing in binary and aimed its face lasers at his hair.
"I don't think it's house-trained," Julian muttered, hiding behind a whiteboard.
"It's not a pet, it's a security system," Luna replied while wiring a motion sensor to a toaster.
Julian blinked. "Why is the toaster involved?"
Luna: "Because I like breakfast and danger."
---
Meanwhile, the notebook from earlier had begun writing on its own again.
> "THE TEST ESCALATES. CHOOSE: TRUTH OR DARE."
Julian looked over Luna's shoulder. "Is it really asking us to play party games with the universe?"
Luna smirked. "Let's pick 'dare.' Always 'dare.'"
The page turned itself. A new command appeared:
> "KISS HER. TIMER START: 10 SECONDS."
Julian's brain short-circuited. "Wh–what? Is this the universe flirting with me?"
Luna tilted her head, eyes sparkling. "Julian. It's a dare."
Timer: 5… 4… 3…
Julian leaned forward, heart pounding.
Timer: 2… 1…
Their lips met.
And the chicken exploded.
---
Well, technically, Cluckles laid an egg that exploded. There's a difference.
The blast threw them into the rocket's central shaft, tangled in parachute cords and smelling like burnt feathers.
Julian groaned. "Was the kiss that powerful?"
Luna coughed. "Either that, or Cluckles is very invested in our love life."
Somehow, the chaos activated the rocket's hidden AI system.
A soothing voice echoed from the speakers:
> "Emotional milestone detected. Unlocking Lovers' Launch Mode."
Julian: "Luna… did our rocket just get turned on by our kiss?"
Luna: "Don't flatter yourself."
---
The screens around them lit up, flashing blueprints and new engine data. One section labeled "HEARTCORE THRUSTER" blinked repeatedly.
Luna: "Julian. This… this could actually get us to the moon."
Julian: "Just to confirm—powered by romance and a laser chicken?"
Luna: "The most unstable fuel source of all."
Julian sat up. "Then I have to say something."
Luna raised an eyebrow.
He took her hand. "I know we're being chased by shady organizations, stalked by cosmic glitches, and emotionally manipulated by poultry—but... I think I'm falling in love with you."
Luna smiled. "Took you long enough."
Then the AI cut in:
> "WARNING: THIRD PARTY DETECTED. LOCKDOWN INITIATED."
A shadow appeared on the screen.
It was the man in the tracksuit.
He was inside the rocket.
---
[TO BE CONTINUED…] 😱😱🔥