"Did you feel like that?" I asked with surprise.
"Of course. I wanted to make my own choice."
"But you never told me."
"There was no need. I came around to the Council's view before I met you. And Edith will come around to mine. Don't worry. I know how to handle this."
And she did.
I helped a little by altering a few reflex arcs and basic attitudes, but Ven wouldn't allow me to modify the higher centers.
"There's no need to make her a mindless idiot," Ven said. "You didn't do that to Donald."
"Yes, but Donald controls his emotions. He doesn't like me any better than Edith likes you, but he doesn't work himself into an emotional homogenate every time I make a suggestion. We argue it out like rational intelligences. Often I can use his experience and viewpoint. And when I can't agree, he will cooperate rather than operate under control. He's not like that bundle of glands and emotions you are trying to make into a useful proxy."
"She is a problem," Ven admitted, "but if I had her here—"
"That can be arranged," I said. "I'll give you two weeks. And if that doesn't work you let me perform a prefrontal block."