The Helianx Proposition/page 48
Noe slowly became aware of the changes that had been taking place within hir body, autonomously adjusting hir to the slightly different conditions of planetary life.
Unfamiliar bacteria were analyzed and assimilated, as hir sensitive internal organs
reconfigured themselves to cope with the denser vibrational structure of matter.
Over time, sHe found the substance of hir body drawing in and compacting,
hir great size gradually diminishing as the millennia passed.
Long ago all Helianx had learned the advantages of delegating many of their internal biological processes to their indwelling devas. It had freed their minds to focus on what had always interested them most, their endless journey of discovery into the vastness of the mental and spiritual realms that had so enriched their long lives. They had come to think of their bodies merely as vehicles, as houses, that they had turned over to caretakers to care for while they were traveling out of them. This had resulted in a level of devic autonomy which had allowed the Helianx to adjust to a wide variety of physical conditions, and was largely responsible for their reputation as intergalactic shapeshifters.
Noe, however, had been advised by the computers that sHe would need to establish a far more collaborative relationship with hir deva, if sHe was to modify hir body sufficiently to accomplish the mission. SHe had not originally greeted this information from the computers with much enthusiasm. It had felt like a backward step to hir, since it was a matter of some pride that the Helianx had managed to detach themselves so completely from their bodies.
Once on the planet, and as sHe came to terms with her Mure(?) prospects, Noe quickly recognized the wisdom of the computers' counsel. Hir prime intention for the foreseeable future would have to focus on preparing hirself, on keeping hirself safe through many millions of years of climatic changes and the inevitable planetary disasters. SHe needed to hone hir body and spirit for the time sHe would be able to pass on the Helianx DNA to the appropriate host species. And the only way this was going to be accomplished was to work very closely with hir deva.
These were the thoughts that were running through hir somnolent mind, as Noe lay along the coastline, lazily prolonging the moment sHe knew sHe had to move hir life into the sea. Hir explorations on land had already been rich enough and hir natural curiosity had allowed sufficient time for hir body to adapt to the many viral and bacteriological challenges this new world presented.
However profuse the flora and fauna were on land, however, it turned out to be nothing compared to what Noe observed when sHe did finally enter the ocean. Swimming creatures of every shape and size circled around hir massive head, as sHe sunk deeper into the cool water. Seaweed as tall as forest trees stroked hir belly and small fish burrowed into the sandy seabed when hir shadow passed over them. Life seemed to be everywhere sHe looked, as sHe swam slowly with the tide, hugging the coastline and relishing the velvet sweep of water over the length of hir body.
