Thomas (0:00)

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Lifelock Sponsor (0:28)

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Elizabeth (0:58)

Hello, it's Elizabeth here, the host of the Sleepy Bookshelf, another sleep inducing podcast from the Slumber Studios network. I'm dropping by here just to let you know that I'm starting a brand new season on the Sleepy Bookshelf right now. This time I'll be reading A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. We have read one Dickens novella before, but this is our first full novel and I'm so excited to get started. If you're interested, just search the Sleepy Bookshelf in your favorite podcast player and go to the most recent episodes to find this new season. I hope to see you there to put down your worries for the day and pick up a good book.

Thomas (1:42)

Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas and it's my honour to be your host. I'll be reading to you tonight as we kick off a delightful miniseries about a family of the distant future who live in a time when intergalactic space travel is possible. They're embarking on an opportunity to explore the universe and make a new home on a recently discovered exoplanet far, far away. Thank you to Chase for writing this one and you'll be able to hear parts two and three over the next couple of Monday. Before we join the family on their interstellar journey, let's take a moment to unwind, so make sure you're nice and comfortable. This is a moment to really be present for yourself. We spend our days with various responsibilities like work, taking care of family, checking in on friends, and then household chores and all sorts of other things that can crop up. But now is a time that you can and should take for yourself it's important to offer self compassion, appreciation. So as you settle in for a night of rest, just spend some time acknowledging all that you are and all that you do to try and make the best of your life and of the world around you. Just as our ancestors experienced before us, and just as generations of the future will find, we are living in a period of human existence that is completely unique and full of experiences, methods of doing things, issues and aspects of the natural world that are specific to our time. And though there's a lot of disagreement and varying perspectives and debates on how we go about things, we're all living as one on this beautiful planet. And your place in the universe is quite simply meant to be. Whether that resonates with you or not. I do hope you feel appreciated for who you are, for the positivity and love you seek to bring, and that you deserve in return. So thank you, my friend, for being here and for all that you do. Now, let's imagine a time in the distant future where the possibilities of technology and space travel are difficult to even comprehend. We're about to join Clara Fitzpatrick on her family's spaceship for the first part of their adventure. They are leaving Earth's orbit for a trip into the great unknown. And this is where our story begins. As Clara floats weightlessly in front of the window, gazing down at Earth, she can't help but marvel at the beauty of her home planet. From this vantage point, it looks like a vast blue and green marble. Wispy clouds swirl around it. This is Clara's first trip to space since she was a baby. And she is aboard her family's spaceship, a bullet shaped vessel called Celestial Cruiser. The Fitzpatricks have just left Earth's orbit after a successful launch. Before they enter cryosleep for the long ride to Veda, the exoplanet they are heading to, they want to savour the view. Her parents are in the command centre at the front of the ship, manning the controls. The vast expanse of space, dotted with countless twinkling stars, is a breathtaking sight. For as long as she can remember, Clara has dreamt of going to space. She's passed countless assessments and field exams to earn the privilege of joining her parents on this once in a lifetime adventure. They are one of the first families who get the chance to start a new life on Veda. A small colony awaits them. Her parents are botanists whose work is crucial to the colony's development. They met while on a terraforming mission on Mars many years ago, which is where Clara was Born that technically makes her a Martian, although she grew up on Earth. Now, as they journey to Veda, Clara is thrilled to be among the first humans to set foot on this distant planet and begin a new chapter in history. Taking one last look at Earth and the endless stretch of space around it, Clara pushes off from the wall. She feels buoyant. It is a freeing sensation that she can't get enough of. In a way, zero gravity lets her fly. She reaches the door to her living quarters and lowers herself to the floor before clicking her heels together to activate her gravity boots. With a snap, they adhere her to the surface below and give her the ability to walk normally. Clara's dad promised to meet her at the airlock to take her on a spacewalk before they enter cryosleep. Meanwhile, her mum will monitor what's happening inside the ship. Clara did intensive underwater training to prepare herself for this. She has an adventurous streak that she definitely inherited from her dad. Her mum is the sensible and cautious one in the family. Together they make an excellent team. As Clara walks towards the airlock, she can feel her heart racing with excitement. The prospect of a spacewalk thrills her. Her dad greets her with a wide smile as she approaches the airlock. When he asks her if she's ready, she nods eagerly, her eyes shining with anticipation. Her dad leads her to the airlock and together they enter the first section, the equipment chamber. They help each other put on the extravehicular mobility units. This is the technical term for spacesuits. Each bulky heavy suit is like its own miniature spaceship with gravity boots, a built in radio for communication and plenty of oxygen. On the back are thrusters, used to propel the wearer forwards or backwards to avoid the bends, also known as decompression sickness. They both have to camp out in the equipment chamber for a while, breathing pure oxygen. Next, the two of them enter the crew lock, a small cylindrical chamber. Once they're inside, Clara shuts the interior hatch between the two sections. This provides a sealed environment for depressurization. She checks her suit one more time, making sure all the systems are functioning properly. Her dad pulls the two tether cords out of the wall and affixes one to to each of their suits. Then he inputs the code on the control panel that opens the airlock. When they release the pull of their gravity boots, they effortlessly drift outside. Clara can feel the tug of the tether as she moves, but it doesn't detract from the exhilaration of being out in space. Soon they are just a few Meters away from the ship, Clara has never felt so free. Although a spacewalk does require a great deal of focus to manoeuvre in the suit. If she thought the view from her window was amazing, it pales in comparison to this. She feels like she's seeing the whole cosmos. The glass on her visor is the only thing separating her from the rest of the universe. It is awe inspiring. They end up spending an hour outside, gliding through the dark void of space. Her dad points out various constellations and planets, his voice coming through her helmet speakers. Stars twinkle in the distance and the Earth looms large below them. The glow from the light of the sun is something else. As for the other half of the globe, it is shrouded in the darkness of nighttime. Clara marvels at the precious planet below. Out of the entire Milky Way galaxy, this planet has all the necessary ingredients to support life. It is no small miracle, thinks Clara. She wonders what Veda will be like. It is one of a few known planets that have similar attributes to Earth. Not only does it have a rocky surface, oceans of water and an atmosphere conducive to breathing, it also orbits a star like the Earth's sun, at a habitable distance. Veda resides in the Goldilocks zone, the range of distance that has the right temperatures for water to remain liquid. The planet is even older than Earth. With enough time having passed that complex carbon based life forms have evolved. Clara is filled with anticipation to see it for herself. Eventually, her dad motions for her to head back to the ship. Nodding, Clara uses the thrusters on her suit to propel herself back in the direction she came. She grasps the tether in her hands to slowly pull herself into the airlock alongside her dad. Their boots settle on the floor with a loud snap, securing them. The door closes with a whoosh and they follow the proper steps to re enter the ship. Clara can't stop grinning as they remove their suits. After putting their spacesuits up in the equipment chamber and changing into their regular clothes and boots, Clara and her dad head to the galley. Clara's mum joins them at the table to enjoy a family meal together. While they eat, they discuss the plans for the rest of the trip. It will be a seven month journey with the ship moving at FTL faster than light speed, and all the while they will be in cryosleep. When they wake up, they'll be in a whole new solar system. The possibilities of what they might find are endless and the excitement is palpable as they look forward to what lies ahead. Clara Tidies up before joining her parents in the cryo chamber. Her mum has already enabled the timer and initiated the time drive so that the ship will start traveling at FTL very soon. They have 30 minutes before the celestial cruiser shoots them through the vacuum of space on autopilot, taking them across the universe to Veda's exact coordinates. After climbing into her cryopod, Clara lies down on her back and looks at her parents smiling faces as the temperature drops. Inside, a heaviness envelops her. Her eyelids close and she drifts off into a peaceful slumber, succumbing to the world of dreams. A rush of warm air washes over Clara. Slowly she awakens as her pod ejects itself outwards. Feeling a bit groggy, she opens her eyes to find her dad standing beside her. She sits up, getting her bearings. Seven months have flown by while she was in cryo sleep. It is a strange feeling as it seems like only a few minutes have passed since she entered her deep sleep. With her dad's help, she slides her gravity boots onto her feet and stands up. He leads her through the ship until they reach the bridge, where her mum is already awake and piloting. From her seat, Clara looks out the window. As the sun in this system shines, its light pierces the darkness, illuminating the faces of the planets nearby. There's a huge bright orange planet with white rings around it. Opposite is another colorful planet with two moons, which must be Veda. Clara remembers its moons are named Eros and Draka. Veda is slightly bigger than Earth, with swaths of pink, green and blue. It is utterly stunning, its colors so vibrant. Further away, there are a few dots that must be the other planets in this solar system. Everywhere else she looks, there are stars, endless and shining bright in every direction. Clara takes her seat and straps herself in as her dad does the same next to her. After making contact with the colony below and getting the green light to come down to the surface of the planet, her mum pilots the ship. They will orbit Veda for a while, testing the sensors to make sure it's safe to proceed. Just as Clara starts to get comfortable, a transmission comes in from an unknown source and one of the screens on the control panel starts blinking. Clara's parents look at each other in surprise. The message is a distress call and isn't from any of the registered spacecraft known to the colony. Clara reaches across to press play and a voice comes through the speaker, talking in a language they don't recognize. It sounds urgent and there are other indistinct voices in the background. As the message ends, they receive another one with the other ship's coordinates. Clara's mum inputs the data into the computer and the result pops up as a hologram. The location is on Arion, one of the other planets in this solar system. There is no doubt that someone out there needs assistance. As the celestial cruiser is the only other spaceship nearby that is already in orbit. The whole family decides to help out. They realize that this may be humanity's first contact with with an intelligent alien species. There are many unknowns regarding this mission, but it's their nature to give aid where it is needed. After updating the colony on Veda of their plans, Clara's mum begins to maneuver the ship out of orbit. The thrusters ignite, propelling them through space and away from Veda. They have locked onto the exact location of the distress beacon, and at the speed they are going, they will arrive within an hour. Kara peers out the window and watches as the ship hurtles through space. They pass by planet after planet, each one as unique as the last. Finally, they spot Arion in the distance. It is a rocky red planet that closely resembles Mars. They slow down and circle the planet. As the ship enters Arion's orbit, they notice a peculiar shimmering blue ring hovering high above the planet. Clara's mum takes readings of the unknown structure. According to the data, it is an Einstein Rosen bridge, the technical term for a wormhole. Clara recalls that a wormhole is a tunnel like structure that warps the fabric of spacetime, bringing two distant points closer together. The realization hits her. This must be how the other ship got here. It is entirely possible that an alien crew from another galaxy is stranded below. Her heart races with excitement, wondering what they will find when they land. The sensors indicate that it is safe for their spaceship to descend to the surface of Arion. They pass through the atmosphere, the ride fast and bumpy as the gravitational pull of the planet takes hold of the ship. The coordinates lead them to a gigantic structure that appears to have been artificially built. It is a massive curved tower that extends high into the sky. And as they prepare to land, Clara spots the dark blue circular spaceship parked close to the sky high structure. It must have been caught in a rockslide as they can only see half of the vessel, with the rest of it hidden beneath piles of rocks. From the part they can see, it looks nothing like their own spaceship. Yet the technology that made it is obviously just as advanced. The celestial cruiser lands smoothly despite the rocky terrain outside. The air is not breathable, so the crew head to the airlock to change into their space suits. With enough oxygen to last them several hours, they will be safe. There isn't much gravity on this planet, so activating their gravity boots is a must. When all of them are properly suited up and ready to go, Clara's dad opens the door and they step outside. Clara reaches down to pick up a handful of the red soil. As the particles trickle through her fingers, they stay suspended in the air before gradually falling to the ground. It is daytime and the terrain is dominated by towering rock mountains with no water in sight, however, there is a unique beauty to the barren landscape. The three of them start to approach the ship until they hear a clanging sound coming from the vicinity of the tower. Through her helmet's visor, Clara zooms in to look at the top of the landmark. There are four blue humanoid figures perched right up there, but they are definitely not human. Clara signals to her parents and they gaze up to where the aliens are waving at them. The family decides that they don't appear to pose a threat. It seems that they are stranded up there and without a working ship, they are at the mercy of this desolate planet. Clara and her parents examine the colossal structure before them and devise a plan. Retrieving a drone and some rope from inside their ship. Clara attaches the rope to the drone's grappling claws. Then she directs the drone to the top of the tower using a remote controller. It whizzes up in the air and one of the aliens grabs hold of it. Once it's within reach, the family walks to the bottom of the structure and waits there. Clara notices intricate patterns etched into the metal of the tower. She can't decipher them, but they were certainly made by hand. Then, turning her attention back to the top of the tower, she watches the alien's progress. Instinctively, they understand what they need to do. One of them takes the rope from the drone and they work together to secure it to part of the structure. The rope drops off the side, giving them a way to climb down safely. They use it one at a time, slowly lowering themselves down the side of the tower. Clara watches in fascination as the first alien reaches the ground at the bottom of the structure. Nearby where they are standing, the alien is taller than Clara and her parents. He is wearing some sort of space suit, but no helmet, somehow having the ability to breathe the air. Here he has a human like figure with two arms and two legs. But that is where the similarities end. His blue skin sparkles in the sunlight while his face is diamond Shaped with wide set eyes, two slits where a nose would normally be, and a mouth that reminds her of a fish. Turning to face them, he starts to talk, his voice deep and melodious. But it is in no language that Clara or her parents understand. Struck with an idea, Clara slides her tablet out of her pocket and opens the program that interprets any language in the universe using a complex algorithm. Motioning for the alien to continue talking, Clara holds up the device and it instantly translates the words into English. Her parents smile, impressed with her quick thinking. The alien's name is Clazo, and he is thanking them. His gratitude is evident in his body language. Clara brings the tablet up to her mouth and speaks into it. She tells the alien that they are here to help in any way they can. Instantly, her words are translated back into his language. As the other three aliens reach the ground safely, they show an equal amount of curiosity and amazement towards the humans. Through the language program, they engage in conversation with the Fitzpatricks. The aliens were sent on an exploratory mission through the wormhole. It appeared out of nowhere, in the vicinity of their home planet, which is called Troodon. They were looking for signs of civilization, old or new, on their scanners when they discovered this planet and the strange tower. They had never been to this part of the universe before and were compelled to investigate. When they landed, the four of them entered the tower, but the door closed behind them, trapping them inside. They climbed up the structure and found an opening near the top. Then a quake shook the planet. By that point, a rock side barred any entrance into the tower and had taken out their ship. Using the radio on one of their suits, a message was sent out and transmitted on just one channel. The Fitzpatricks were the only ones to hear their call for help. The aliens speculate that the wormhole is the reason for their transmission failing to reach others of their kind. Now they need to go back through the wormhole to get to their space station on the other side. The family takes it all in their stride, agreeing to help. Clara is beside herself with excitement and can hardly believe the historic day that they are having. She has been recording all of it with the camera in her visor. They will be the first humans in history to not only make contact with aliens, but also to travel through a wormhole. This is a day that will change everything. The aliens seem just as thrilled about the prospect of going home and are grateful for the timely rescue. Clara leads the procession back to the celestial cruiser and opens the door to let everyone inside. As the aliens enter the ship. They gaze in wonder at the technology and layout. They ask a lot of questions, which Clara's dad is happy to answer. Luckily, there is plenty of room for the extra guests. Everyone takes a seat in the command centre, and soon the ship powers on. The thrusters ignite and Clara is pulled back against her seat. As the ship launches into the air, overcoming the planet's gravitational force, it accelerates to leave Arion's atmosphere and its orbital flight path trajectory takes the ship around the planet and towards the wormhole. Clara stares at the mesmerizing blue ring as the ship approaches. The closer they get, the more she can feel some sort of force tugging at her body, coming from the other side of the interstellar tunnel. As the ship passes through the shimmering veil, Clara is pulled forwards even more, and the vessel is carried away into the ether. It is an odd sensation, traveling through the wormhole as it connects them from one point to another across the vast expanse of space. As they emerge, Clara and her family find themselves in a completely unfamiliar part of the universe. Ahead of them looms the space station, teeming with all manner of alien ships coming and going from the massive rotating structure. In this scenario, Clara realizes that she and her parents are aliens. How incredible, she thinks. She can hardly wait to tell their story. Clara's mother allows one of the aliens to transmit a message to the station, requesting permission to dock the celestial cruiser and disembark safely. The transmission is successful, and soon they are weaving through a dizzying array of spacecraft from all over the galaxy. Their ship sticks out, looking very different to the others, but they manage to park it in one of the many docking bays. As the four aliens rise to leave, Klazo gestures for the tablet to speak with the family. He again expresses his gratitude for their assistance, and he extends an invitation for them or any members of their species to visit this part of the galaxy. Klazo hands Clara's mum a card adorned with symbols which they can use to guarantee their safe passage and alert him to their presence. Clara's mum accepts the card with a smile. With a wave of his hand, Claso bids them farewell and exits the spacecraft behind the others. The Fitzpatricks depart from the space station and head back through the glimmering wormhole. Clara diligently documented everything, knowing that the others in the colony will need proof of their encounter with the aliens. She has always had a sense that humans are not alone in the universe, and now she has evidence. As they pass by Arion, Clara can't help but wonder about the origin of the strange structure they saw there and its unusual markings. Maybe it was built by an unknown sentient race. Or it could be an ancient artifact from an old civilization. The celestial cruiser soon enters Veda's orbit, and after the sensors indicate that it's safe to proceed, they begin their descent to the surface. As Veda's gravitational pull grabs hold of the spacecraft, a bumpy ride ensues. The ship zooms through the atmosphere, and as they break through the clouds, Clara is struck by the vibrant colors on the planet below. A rainbow of blues and greens. The colony's buildings are the only human made structures in sight, arranged in a circular formation. There are other ships parked in the vicinity. The celestial cruiser lands in a clearing and the plants and leaves of the trees nearby rustle in the wake of the movement. A few people are waiting outside, ready to greet them. As Clara sets foot on Veda for the first time, she inhales the sweet fragrance of the air and feels a gentle breeze brush against her face, testing the lowered gravity of the planet. She bounces on the tip of her toes and jumps up, savouring the sensation of lingering in the air for a moment before descending to the ground. Above her hang the two moons in the bright pink sky, a stunning sight to behold. The surrounding plant life is a magnificent blend of green and blue hues, as if plucked from a page of a colouring book. Phil, a leader of the colony, greets Clara. She eagerly shares her story, sparing no detail about their encounter with the aliens. Then, after saying goodbye to her parents, Clara heads out to explore, her curiosity piqued by the alien landscape and all it has to offer. The modular buildings in the colony are thoughtfully spaced apart, allowing ample room for strolling and basking in the awe inspiring scenery. Drawn to the lush vegetation, Clara meanders onto a path that snakes along the edge of the structures and enters a forest. The tree's bark is a striking shade of orange, while the flowers are remarkably larger than those found on Earth. Ascara savors the enchanting ambiance. She notices the birds flitting through the air. They remind her of dinosaurs, just miniature sized. Some of them approach her as if to examine this new visitor to their world. Clara tentatively extends her hand toward one of the small creatures and to her surprise, it lands on her index finger. She observes the creature's leathery skin and feathered wings in fascination until it eventually takes off and resumes its flight. Clara continues her exploration, captivated by everything she sees. When she reaches a fork in the path, she veers to the left, enticed by the sound of a nearby waterfall. As she reaches a small clearing, she is greeted by a breathtaking sight. A curtain of sparkling blue water cascades down from a high cliff. She sits on one of the large rocks encircling the pool below, leaning over the water to catch a glimpse of her reflection. All of a sudden, a rustling noise to her right grabs her attention. Intrigued, she remains still, not wanting to scare off whatever creature is making the sound. Soon enough, a small purple animal, about the size of a dog, appears from above the plants. Its big triangular head is cocked to the side as it curiously peers at her. With its widely parted eyes, the creature is unlike anything she has ever seen before. After a moment, it hops away, emitting a gentle chirp. As Clara reflects on the experiences of her incredible journey, she is overwhelmed with emotion. In just one day, she has encountered multiple forms of alien life and even travelled through a wormhole. She always knew that this trip would be exciting. Being a part of the work on this planet fills her with a sense of deep purpose. As she gazes around, she is reminded of the vastness of the universe and how much of it is still unknown. She can't help but wonder what other adventures lie ahead for her and her family.