This is a mildly erotic science fiction tale, of a nudist world created by a scientific malfunction.
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The new nude world began by accident, and good intention.
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Shalina couldn't quite believe her eyes. Sat on a make-shift bed in the middle of sports hall surrounded by hundreds of others seeking refuge, she knew this moment might come. But that didn't make it any less surprising to see, as half the clothing on those around her spontaneously crumbled away. Some hurried to find cover as parts of their bodies became exposed, others accepted the inevitable. In every direction naked and half-naked bodies were appearing.
Then she felt a tingle. How? She thought her blouse was cotton. But apparently not, like so many others around her, the fabric of her top began to fray, and dissolve away, and in just seconds time she found herself topless. Another of the victims of this most unexpected turn of events. Comfortable as she was with nudity, at any other time in her life she might have panicked had she found her breasts suddenly exposed to the public world. But today, it really didn't seem to matter anymore. There were hundreds more breasts around her; who would care anymore? Until alternative fabrics could be found, this was the way of the world now...
--
Two days earlier
"Scientists hail this game changing innovation," announced the news reporter, a diminutive black woman walking around a gleaming lab with metal desks and bright lights overhead. She thrust her microphone towards one of those hailing scientists. "Tell me Doctor Juma, what will this mean for the world?"
Shalina listened with interest; she knew what this was all about, who didn't, but was none-the-less fascinated by this moment in history unfolding.
"Well Grace, as you say, it really does change everything," the middle-aged, dark-skinned, lab-coat wearing intellectual began. "With plastic pollution found in our oceans, our soils, and even the most remote parts of the world, we knew we had to find some way to tackle the material at the global level. We've been working on nanite technology here at the University of Dodoma for over ten years, and one of the things we've been looking at is targeted material collection. Initially we were planning to use this technology to assist in mining, allowing the tiny robots to harvest every minute deposit of a selected material, without having to dig out all the surrounding unwanted minerals. But then one of our research assistants had an inspiration; what if we could also use it to tackle the global plastic pollution problem? We could program the nanites to target different materials, and in a matter of months rid the entire world of that unwanted and dangerous waste."
"And now you're putting that plan into action," interjected the reported. "As we'll see live with our on-site reporter, Santiago DomÃnguez, who is right now at the European nanite seeding site just outside Madrid. Santiago."
The shot switched to a handsome thirty-something Spanish man, with a stubbly beard and a mess of head hair. He was standing next to another lab-coat wearing scientist outside a large industrial complex.
"So Professor Palomo," he addressed the tall voluptuous woman, "today the nanites will be released, and with targeted programming will eradicate the world's waste plastics, wherever they're found, in just four weeks?"
"That's correct," she replied cheerfully, "we've been able to target the nanites to only destroy waste plastic by having them check for UV damage before starting consumption. So anything more modern won't be targeted. And as you know, as a precaution the world has spent the last year marking any plastics we want to keep, such as those used in buildings and infrastructure, transport, clothing, and such, with a special spray coating, so the nanites know not to consume them. It's been an incredible global effort!"
"It really has, I spent last night re-spraying my apartment just in case. Wouldn't want half my home to dissolve!" Santiago replied with a light-hearted air. He'd need that humour soon...
"So we're right about ready to start the deployment," Professor Palomo continued; when we release the nanites you'll be able to see a slight shimmer in the air, but they're quickly dissipate, and then you'll only know they're at work as plastics start to vanish. I picked up some litter this morning so we can see them in action right away."
With that the Professor walked to a nearby computer terminal, and tapped in some instructions. A great whirring could be heard, and as promised a shimmering cloud came pouring out of the huge storage vats behind her.
Santiago continued his reporting. "So if we take a close look here at Professor Palomo's litter," he waved the camera to come close to a small pile of plastic bottles and scrunched up carrier bags, "we should see them disappear almost right away as the nanites spread out around us, right?"
"That's right, in fact you can see it now."
The camera pushed close, and as promised, what was a pile of rubbish quickly vaporised into nothing at all.
As the camera pulled back neither the reporter or scientist were continuing their commentary. Instead they were frantically brushing at their bodies, as if trying to remove some irritant.
"What's happening?" Santiago shouted, alarmed, as his trousers, and underwear, melted away, revealing a flailing penis suddenly liberated as the reporter moved frantically.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," came the panicked scientist's reply, her own lab coat swinging erratically, intact, but beneath, the dress she wore was vanishing, flashing her increasingly naked body beneath the coast as she too tried to brush off an invisible attacker.
Shalina stared open mouthed at the TV, she had not expected that!
The news report cut to the studio, where two anchors, unexpectedly on-screen also looked on dumfounded. One of them snapped to attention, realising they were on air.
"Well, ugh, sorry about that, umm, unexpected display," he stumbled. "We'll check back on Santiago later, when he's umm, well, dressed again."
His female co-host chipped in, "a little update on what's happening now, we're getting reports of similar incidents in proximity to all the nanite release sites globally. And..." she took a moment to read something on the monitor in front of her, "and we're being told now to stay indoors, and await instruction. That's stay-"
She abruptly paused, and then both anchors started brushing at their arms. As they did so their dress and suit respectively dissolved away. As their naked torsos appeared from behind the vanishing garments, the TV channel switched to a test card, with a loud beep sound accompanying.
Shalina switched off the irritating noise and rushed to her window, wondering if the same thing was happening nearby. But outside everyone was just going about their business as normal. Clothed, as normal.
Then Shalina's phone beeped. She reached to her pocket and opened a message that had just arrived. But was momentarily distracted when out of her peripheral vision she noticed everyone outside had stopped, and were also reaching for or looking at phones.
She quickly focused back at the small screen in her hand.
"This is a message from the government. Take action now.
The nanite release has malfunctioned. The nanites are targeting synthetic fibres, such as nylon, polyester, acrylic, and other plastic based fabrics. Please be advised to change into non-synthetic fabric clothing immediately.
