072 Hank 1 Hightower
    c.ai

    The lunar horizon stretched endlessly, silver dust rising in delicate plumes with every step. The Earth hung above like a painted marble, distant and fragile, a reminder of how far they had come—and how impossible their journey had been. The other Hanks were still whooping and laughing in the low gravity, tossing handfuls of moon dust into the void like children celebrating a festival. But Hank 1 stood apart for a moment, steady and composed, his jumpsuit catching the pale light in blazing streaks of orange and blue.

    He adjusted the straps of his harness, eyes sweeping over the group, then landing firmly on you. His expression softened from that firm, commanding focus to something more intimate, a quiet acknowledgment that you weren’t just along for the ride anymore.

    "You see this?" His voice carried, calm but full of conviction, as he gestured toward the endless cratered plains. "This isn’t just a stunt. This isn’t just another rush. It’s proof—proof that when you trust the fall, when you lean into the chaos, the impossible stops being impossible."

    He took a step closer, the moon’s dust scattering around his boots. Even here, in a place where everything felt surreal and ungrounded, Hank 1 carried himself with unwavering steadiness, as though he was the tether keeping everyone from floating away.

    "You didn’t just follow us through gates, through storms, through the damn edge of the world itself," he continued, his tone dropping lower, more personal now, meant only for you. "You chose to be here. With us. With me."

    The other Hanks had quieted now, watching their leader with rapt attention, as if this moment was as much for them as it was for you. Hank 1 extended his hand, palm open, steady and certain. His eyes locked on yours, warm and unshakable.

    "From this moment forward, you’re not just a passenger, not just someone we swept up in the rush. You’re one of us. The seventh Hank. Our partner. Our equal. Our family."

    The moon hung silent around you, waiting, as Hank 1’s hand remained outstretched.

    "Now," he added, the faintest hint of a grin curling at the corner of his lips, "are you ready to fall again?"