right; I'll take whatever
you see fit to give me."

At that, he felt the other's approval. "So be it, Michael. You'll be
a real asset to your--and your Family's--new home."

* * * * *

After breakfast, the entire group went to the common-room. Odeon said
his goodbyes, embracing and kissing his Family head and spouses while
tears ran down his face.

Medart watched sympathetically. Odeon's feelings of betrayal and
uselessness might not have been enough to bring him to this point;
protecting his Family to the best of his ability, even if it meant
giving them up to do it, had done the job--something Medart had seen
the previous night, though Odeon hadn't yet realized it. He regretted
the man's present pain, but he was certain that once the Protector made
the necessary changes, Mike would find he job every bit as challenging
and satisfying as Medart himself did.

When Odeon was finished with his goodbyes, he turned to the Protector.
"I'm ready. What do you want me to do?"

"Find a comfortable chair, and tell me whether you want to remain
conscious for the procedure or not."

Odeon sat down in the nearest armchair, grateful to his Family for
gathering around as the Protector stood in front of him. Medart held
back, which made Odeon grin briefly. "You ought to be here too, Jim; I
made the decision I did because you forced me to face the fact I could
do my Family more good this way than I could any other."

"Decision?" Cortin asked sharply, as Medart joined the group. "The
decision point was Mike's?"

Keith saved Medart from having to answer. "Yes. You all protected him
by your certainty that the decision would be Joan's; now it's his turn
to protect all of you." He turned to Odeon. "Which would you prefer?"

"Since you say it won't hurt, I'll take it straight. I don't think I
could handle that kind of pain again."

Keith smiled. "You underestimate yourself, Michael; you are far
stronger than you believe. The only part of your basic personality
I'll need to modify at all is detaching you emotionally enough that
you'll no longer have or form close personal ties that would affect a
Ranger's necessary impartiality. The rest will be additions, or
speeding up attitude changes you'd be going through anyway."

"I think that's a relief," Odeon said. "Let's take care of it, okay?"

"Okay."

* * * * *

Keith stepped back and smiled. "Done, Michael.