| The news reported that a new plague was running throughout the world. The effects were quite mild and suspicions that it was fabricated were dashed when it was shown to have very short-lived symptoms... and almost nonexistent morbidity. |
| It would take over a month for the effect to be realized and the world to learn that this epidemic had been engineered after all.
Several months passed as study after study discovered that the single-celled organism took residence in the human body and functioned as a symbiote. This added resident of the intestines made something that helped retard aging. Unfortunately it also recognized all known oral contraceptives and neutralized them before the body could absorb them. Other effects included a new component to the body's mucous lining which would break down latex almost immediately. This last had serious side effects. So many women had become pregnant by their boyfriends that the "sudden marriages" became the norm as the religious organizations pushed their agendas in the face of this new threat. It was actually an accident that the link was found; one of the more prominent anti-contraceptive churches had funded development of this new symbiote as a means to pressure all people to be "prudish" when it came to sex. Once that church had been expunged the world adapted. New contraceptives had to be engineered, of course, and all of the condoms on the shelves abandoned. |
It would take over a month for the effect to be realized and the world to learn that this epidemic had been engineered after all. There were cries of "terrorism" on the part of whoever engineered this new bug.
Several months passed as study after study discovered that the single-celled organism took residence in the human body and functioned as a symbiote. This added resident of the intestines made something that seemed to make thyroid hormones work better (which seemed to provide a sudden jump in economic productivity) but it wasn't the only payload of this new agent. Unfortunately this symbiote also recognized all known oral contraceptives, neutralizing them before the body could take them up. Other effects included a new component to the body's mucous lining which would break down latex almost immediately. This last had serious side effects. So many women had become pregnant by their boyfriends that many "sudden marriages" became the norm as the Religious Right in the US pushed their agenda in the face of this new threat. It was actually an accident that the link was found; the Attorney General of the United States was implicated along with the so-called "Religious Right". It was apparently intended to ensure that those who had sex would pay a price. The rest of the world was most displeased ... as were the majority of US citizens. The Second Amendment was finally recognized as the check-and-balance the framers intended it to be. The world had to adapt, of course. New contraceptives were engineered, both hormonal and barrier methods, but this took some time to develop. Humans, however, seldom forego activities they enjoy. |
| So many women had to become married after this new bug had spread that it was referred to as a ...
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