OMG! So good! I can't get over the detail in the world building (eg: the body armour).

I had to read this one right away because... well, it's by Eden Winters! And right away the story grabbed me and didn't let go! A really great interpretation of the photo and prompt! ( )

What an absolutely brilliant story. For me, this is exactly what I look for in good science fiction, well, one possible successful combination of many: great technology, its effect on humans, and showing the consequences of us learning to deal with it or how to defeat it. And in this case, the whole process is driven by emerging emotions and a dedication to love and family that I loved to watch develop and blossom. It is rare to find such a truly epic story in only fifty-three pages, but Eden managed it perfectly. The fascinating characters and amazing storyline swept me away and held me spellbound to the last page.

Fourteen is a soldier. He has no name, other than the number he is given for each assignment, and his only loyalty is supposed to be his commanding officer and the Federation that took him from his parents at a young age and indoctrinated him. They need soldiers to keep colonist rebels in line since any hint at independence is squashed ruthlessly. Following orders is all he does, and the constant data and communication stream fed into his brain by implants is all he knows. Until one day they fail, and he has to learn to think for himself. The process of how that happens, and what he discovers was fascinating to follow. His humanity emerges again bit by bit, and the newborn girl he rescued from being shot pays a huge part in that.

Connell is a colonist on the planet Fourteen ends up on once he flees the Federation. He's a great guy, scared to death of the soldier in his exosuit, but tolerant enough to give him the benefit of the doubt when he sees he rescued a baby girl. Connell's emerging feelings confuse him at first, but as soon as he figures Fourteen is interested, he becomes unstoppable. The life they share is beautiful, and the only real problem is that Fourteen doesn’t age (due to his solar-powered suit and cybernetic implants). Even that obstacle can be overcome, but you'll have to read the story to find out the details.

If you like brilliant imagination and very creative science fiction that takes you to a time far, far away from ours, if you enjoy reading about the blurring of the lines between man and machine, and if you're looking for a read filled with emotion, great insights, and a wonderful love story, then you will probably like this free short story as much as I did. It's one of the best science fiction books I have read so far this year.
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