CHRISTON

No one on Earth knew or even suspected the true identity of Christon. They knew him only as a rambunctious boy of nine years old with dark brown eyes and skin that tanned a deep bronze in the summer. He was an ordinary Earthling who went to school, had trouble with reading and math, and who joined team sports like hockey and baseball.

In fact, Chris (his Earth name) was not himself aware of his special powers or abilities. For, when he had traveled his long journey through space from Rangor to be born as a human egg, a large portion of his memory had been erased and many of the strange events, which had happened to him, had been forgotten.

However, a small number of his abilities did remain active and very much alive through his frequent daydreaming and fantasizing - which he enjoyed immensely but which got him into endless trouble in the classroom. He was forever letting his mind wander off to play in the stars, to fiddle with dials in a spaceship, to dream, and walk on new worlds.

Just as he was meeting and beginning conversation with a new alien acquaintance, a sharply spoken "Chris!" would bring him back to the reality of present time where he wasn't paying attention to his lessons and had earned a new punishment.

It was at night while he lay on his bed waiting for sleep that Chris was truly able to let his mind wander unattended and free. This was perhaps the best time of all for him - a time of peace and not one haunted by responsibility and attention. It was a time where he could wander unheeded to all ends of the universe and enjoy it immensely. It was "his" time and his alone.

This particular night was somehow different. His body was restless and his mind jittery. Several times he tossed and turned, unable to gain rest and calm, somehow thinking that something was out of place - not all was in harmony as it should be.

When he finally did lapse into sleep, it was only to be approached by faces unknown but strangely familiar - taunting him - crying out for help - reaching out to him. He awakened suddenly, covered with sweat and breathing fast. Nothing like this had ever happened before. It was frightening for him because it was so different.

He passed it off as the results of the extra portion of banana split he'd had before going to bed. He got up and drank some water. Now, because he was fully awake, the events of his dream didn't seem so scary. "It's just a kind of nightmare - a bad dream," he thought.

He went back to bed and again after a few restless minutes, regained sleep. He had been resting calmly for about forty minutes when the faces returned. This time there were only two - one male and one female.

"Christon! Christon! Listen!" they called. "Listen carefully to what we are going to tell you."

What a strange mixture of feelings he experienced when for some unknown reason he realized that he knew these people and loved them very much. Something tugging at his heart made him twinge as he recalled that they had once been very important in his life.

Who was this man with such a distinguished and determined face but whose body, once strong and supple, was beginning to lack flexibility and give in to age? Who was this beautiful woman with long, soft hair framing a face, which once was smooth but now showed the wrinkles of time? Even their clothing bearing that insignia were known to him. But, from where? When? How?

Again they began to speak earnestly to him. "What we are going to tell you will seem quite unbelievable. You may reject it and pull away from it. It will be a complete opposite - a contradiction to your life and the way in which you have existed up to the present time. You are not a native-born Earthling, Christon. You are our son,” the man said.

“You were born on Rangor but during a time of unrest and war. We feared greatly for your safety and after much thought decided to send you away - away from your family, your home and your planet to live on Earth until times became settled and peaceful. It was because we loved you so dearly that we sent you away,” said the woman.

The man continued, “Every precaution was taken to ensure your safety and adaptability to human family life. You would still be unaware of your past had it not been necessary to contact you. You, our son, are the sole heir to the throne and ruler ship of the planet Rangor. We are near the end, on our last reserves, and can no longer maintain our position.”

“There is a greater war rising,” said the woman, “and you are needed to return to your homeland to train for the defense of the planet. Only your strength and power will save the remainder of our people. We are too old. Our powers are dwindling. You are strong, our son. Your forces are untapped. They will grow and mature with careful instruction and training.”

“You are our last hope,” the man stated. “Please, come with us. Return and join our forces to defeat the enemy. We know how difficult this decision will be. You are very attached to your Earthling parents and have grown to love them as your own. We will give you some time to think. In twenty- four Earth hours we will return for your answer. Goodbye, our son... "

The faces vanished as quickly as they had appeared, leaving Chris in a state of confusion and disbelief. Had he really heard those voices speaking in his head? Did that race of people exist or was this just part of another dream?

If it was true, then how could he possibly help? He was aware of no special powers. He was just a boy - an ordinary boy living on Earth. To think that he was "Christon" was beyond his wildest dreams. Imagine, him, an heir to the throne of Rangor! Special powers! Needed to save a race of alien people! How could it possibly be true?

Sure, he liked to dream of what it would be like - traveling through time, meeting new creatures, having daring adventures. But that was just daydreaming! It was something he had always wished for. Now to be given the opportunity! Was he as brave and courageous as he thought? Did he actually have something to offer? He let his imagination run wild with ideas!

When the morning light brought the dawn of a new day, Chris was still awake. He heard the alarm go off in his parents' room. He listened as his mother got out of bed, dressed, and went to the kitchen. She began to make breakfast. He heard his father get out of bed and go to the bathroom to take a shower.

But, Chris just lay there in his room, exhausted and thinking. When his mother rapped on the door and came in to kiss him good morning, she was confronted by a very pale and lifeless boy.

"You look terrible!" she said. She felt his forehead and nodded, "Just as I thought. You're running a temperature. Perhaps you're catching a cold or coming down with the flu. Maybe you should stay home from school today."

"No, please mom," said Chris. "Last night I had a couple of nightmares and I didn't get much sleep, that's all. I'm o.k. I'd like to go to school - really!"

"To stay home and rest might do you the world of good, but, I'll let you decide," she replied. "You know your own body by now. Breakfast will be ready in five minutes."

Very slowly Chris got up, washed, and dressed. It was as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. In fact, he did have some intense thinking to do - and an immense and important decision to make.

In the kitchen he sat at the table, ate a bit of breakfast, then played with the rest of his food. Later, he trudged wearily along the street to school. There was never a day that went by so quickly for Chris as that one. The hours slipped away as he sat nervously at his desk, his body twitching but his mind a hundred light-years away.

The teacher must somehow have sensed the urgency of his condition and let him be. Today she didn't interrupt his state with questions or try to force him to concentrate on his lessons.

When school finished, she noticed that Chris was still in his place. He had not gotten up to leave. She walked over to him and quietly called his name.

“Chris,” she said softly, “it's time to go home.”

He started slightly and turned in her direction.

“Are you alright?” she asked. “Is there something bothering you? If you need to talk with someone, maybe I can help," she said.

"Thank you, but no," he replied. "This is something that I need to do."

"Remember, I'm always here," she stated.

"Thank you," mumbled Chris as he got up, turned, and stumbled out of the room.

When he arrived home, he told his mother he did not feel very well and that he was going to lie down for a bit.

She looked at him with concern and love and kissed his forehead lightly. "Oh, sweetheart," she said, "maybe I should have made you stay home today after all. A nap sounds like a good idea. I'll call you when dinner is ready."

Later, when she went into his room to bring him some supper, she was alarmed at what she found. Chris was laying in deathly stillness on top his bedcovers. His skin was a queer shade of grey. His clothing was sopping wet with perspiration and he was mumbling in a state of delirium.

She immediately called the doctor. After his examination, the doctor told her that in his opinion Chris had contracted a rare virus with symptoms similar to an extreme case of the flu. He gave Chris a shot of medication to help him sleep and said the fever should break by early morning. Chris' temperature would drop and his body would return to its normal state soon after that.

But, unknown to them, Chris was not just fighting off the flu. His astral body was thousands of light-years away, preparing to fight one of the worst enemies in the cosmos. Yes, he had decided to believe and accept his dream, to put his life in the hands of fate, and to take his place as heir to the throne of Rangor. His Earthly parents had no idea how truly brave their son was or of the special powers that belonged to him. From that day forth, he was to live his life as two people. In the daytime on Earth, he was the boy called "Chris." At nighttime, he was "Christon, Ruler and Protector of Rangor.”

In one life, he was just an ordinary boy. In the other, what extraordinary adventures he would have! Above all, no one must ever know his dual identity, nor could his two lives ever meet!