"But … how?"

"We helped it to become something that could meet our needs, and then the most daring of us joined with the Centaurian who, is now our mother ship."

Bilal was bowled over. He could have never known that such a thing was possible. He looked around and ran a tentacle along the familiar walls. "But why was I never told?"

"Because it is possible—though not advised—but we can adapt to be whatever it takes to meet our own needs," Mother-Mina said. ...