A nudist cult

The Children of Lerna were, by all accounts, a cult. Dooley had seemed a bit awkward talking about it, though Peggy couldn't see why.

They'd come to the SSR's attention due to its founder's ties to HYDRA, not helped by the increasing number of high profile people (especially their wives) suckered in, though a decent army of common folk were getting drawn in too.

So she was to pretend to be a recruit, follow their ways and get as close to the founder Smith's followers. (Smith was absolutely an assumed name, but the SSR's research division had tracked a dozen different aliases and they weren't sure which was the original, so it was as good as any).

They'd set up a commune in Central Park. The next morning Peggy feigned a casual walk through the city, passing near to-

Oh. Peggy swallowed, quickly realising both that Dooley had left a tidbit out, and why he had seemed so awkward.

They were nudists. She could see a dozen different naked women from just where she was, milling around an improvised dwelling area. She was expected to infiltrate and 'follow the ways' of a cult of nudists.

They'd planted a small garden, growing their own food, and there were a few tents set up for communal living. It was hard to focus on that though when there was so much skin on display, along with the prospect of what would be expected of her.

Peggy swallowed. This was too much, she should just walk away.

But if she did that there was no way she'd ever be assigned a mission again. She knew Dooley; presumably this cult only accepted women. That was literally the only reason she'd been assigned.

If she didn't do well, she'd be stuck doing nothing for the rest of her life. Peggy swallowed, steeled herself, and approached.

"Hello sister," a nude redhead approached her, a beautific smile on her face.

"Uh, hello," Peggy said. She tried to smile back, keeping her eyes pointedly looking straight ahead. "I was just... wondering what all this was."

"Do you like it?" the redhead said dreamily. "Here we've shunned the trappings and ways of the modern world. We're free from stigma and shame and..."

"And clothes, I notice," Peggy said. She couldn't help herself.

"They're so restrictive," the redhead said. She shuddered.

"It looks... peaceful," Peggy said, omitting the 'also humiliating.'

"It is," the redhead said. Her eyes lit up. "Would you like to join us?"

And this was the do or die moment. Peggy swallowed; could she really go through with this? Strip down, walk around naked in front of all these people?

If it was the only way she'd ever get a mission again, though... Peggy flushed.

"I-I'll try," Peggy said.

"Good," the redhead said, beaming. "Come with me, we can initiate you right now."

Eyes wide, Peggy found herself following.