Good evening, and welcome to Nighty Night with Robbie a Chaudhary. Bedtime stories to keep you awake.

I'm DJ Lubal, the shows producer.

Tonight's tale reminds us of a very important lesson. Even as we progress as a society, evil tends to never change.

Please enjoy the red light.

Once upon a time, there was a brave woman who wrote a letter to you in the hopes that they could save your life.

Hello, whoever you are. My name is Danica Burakova. I'm a life systems engineer on the talus IQ ship bound for the new colony on talus.

Just like you, I woke up before I was supposed to, while everyone else was still in cryo sleep.

If you're reading this, I'm dead. But if you're reading this, you don't have to die.

Before you write me off as a madwoman, read the logs and the transcripts, and then get ready to fight for your life.

Danica's log December 20, 2300.

His smiling face was the first thing that I saw. I felt like I was dying when I emerged from my cryo stasis pod.

The first breath I sucked in after so long, just stabbing my lungs, making my chest feel like it was either going to collapse or explode.

We locked eyes, and his gray irises gave me something to focus on besides my pain and nausea.

There was a persistence in that gaze, and I was reminded of a bird I saw once with unblinking eyes, but I can't remember what kind.

He said, hey there sleeping beauty, you're finally awake. He looked like he was in his mid to late thirties.

He had hair the color of sandpaper, pale skin with a bluish hue underneath, like someone who hadn't seen the sun in years.

He kept his gaze on the floor, avoiding my nakedness, and extended a piece of fabric to me.

I was confused and just stared at it. It's a towel he said.

He told me it was okay and tapped the lid of the pod with his finger. There was a warning written there.

Do not exit your pod unassisted. To avoid injury, please wait at least 30 minutes before attempting to walk. Confusion is normal.

Full memory returns within 60 minutes in most cases. If it does not, please see him medically in it.

I suddenly remembered what the fabric was for, and grabbed the towel, wrapping myself up tight.

...