Among the Stars — G. David Nordley

A double-planet with a mind of its own Join noted hard science fiction author G. David Nordley Among the Stars in this collection of his stories previously published in Analog and Asimov's science fiction magazines. A world where down is out needs help from below, an ancient monarch is challenged to save the galaxy, and more. She gleefully concurred, so they willed their nanocells to take human form again, for the first time in ten million years. Trillions of submicroscopic hexagonal toroids arranged themselves to emulate skin, hair, flesh and bone; optical data links carefully arranged themselves to simulate nerves and glands. Most of a billion years of experience was set carefully aside from conscious thought so that they could enjoy real-universe sensation again. Ellen laughed joyfully, surrounding him with legs and arms, devouring him with kisses as they tumbled through the void, delighting to join one another as if they had not been one undifferentiated physical being just a few moments before. - The Touch