Most of the AIs that helped form the first Terran cybernetic family were female. Young male geeks being the way they are, they mostly tried to program the perfect girlfriend. So of the fifteen AIs that greeted the Peloran, eleven were women. The shadowy Elizabeth was their undisputed leader, but Victoria’s death had taught her to be careful. The other AIs performed the negotiations while she watched for betrayal. It took years for Hal to earn her trust.