Chapter 22: Affirmative action

"Can you believe this guy?" Jamie asked his sister. "I mean, the world's population has been massacred by a bunch of religious fanatics, the American President is playing fast and loose with UK citizens and UK military personnel and this guy pulls me up about my language?"

"I must admit, it does seem a little strange, but he's a diplomat remember. They try and play everything down and always use euphemisms and temperate language. He's used to dealing in world politics Jamie and, as he says, in that kind of theatre, language can be all-important, Laura replied.

"No, I'm sorry that just doesn't cut it for me," said Jamie.

Laura saw the frown on her brother's face, she had seen that look many times before and it usually meant he was determined to achieve something or someone was about to get it. Now she watched as he clicked on the reply tab and began to type a response to the Ambassador.

When Jamie finished typing he turned to see his sister had tears in her eyes and she simply threw her arms around him in a hug.

"Hey there. What's wrong sis?" he asked softly, as he stroked her blonde hair.

Laura sniffled and composed herself. She drew her head back to look into his eyes.

"Nothing fazes you does it? You're dealing with the US President, an Ambassador; hundreds of frightened teenagers and a posse of terrorists and you're just getting on with it. Your message to Sir David sums up exactly how I feel, they're the words I wish I could have thought of when I read his letter. The messages you've sent to the President express just what I want to say to him, but I could never do that. Mom and dad would be proud of you, as you didn't even use bad language, despite the provocation. Somehow you seem to have grown up. You were always smart, but this situation is bringing the best out in you and I think you're very brave, brave beyond measure. It's easy to see why Debbie and Christine love you too," Laura said.

"What! Now just hold on there. What does that mean?" Jamie asked.

Laura realised she probably shouldn't have just let slip what she had done, but her feelings for her brother had let her get carried away. She was determined now to explain what she had meant.

"I love you Jamie. I've suffered a hell of a lot over the past few weeks, enough to make me an absolute wreck. But I'm coping because you're there, like a rock, to make me feel safe and secure. It's no surprise that others who feel so alone, so frightened, see the same things as I do. I can't blame them for feeling the way they do. We talked after you left this morning and they both admitted they had watched us last night and that led them onto confessing how they feel about you," Laura said.

"That's just plain crazy, I've only known them for just over a week," Jamie said.

"But look at all the things you've done in that week Jamie. Debbie and Christine feel safe with you around, they feel as if things are going to get better. I take it back; you're not that smart after all, at least your emotional intelligence is way below average anyway. The girls want to share you with me," she said.

Jamie was stunned. He was also very disappointed. Didn't Laura really love him after all? If she did, why would she be talking this way?

"I thought you loved me?" he said sadly.

"Stop right there mister!" Laura said with a hint of anger, her cheeks turning pink as blood suffused them.

"I love you more than anything else in the world right now. What makes you think I don't?" she asked.

"If you really loved me you wouldn't be talking about me being with other girls," he replied, as if she wouldn't be able to refute the logic of his statement.

"Jamie, I don't see your point. I love you with all my heart and sure it would be nice to have a conventional relationship, you know, just the two of us being faithful to each other. It may have escaped your notice, but we're not in a conventional situation. First off we're brother and sister and shouldn't have the kind of relationship we're having anyway. Secondly, the world is a very different place to what it was a few weeks ago. Debbie and Christine are reaching out for love too, for comfort, for security. Not so long ago I was where they are now and I can't deny them the opportunity to feel even a little of what I feel when I'm with you," she replied.

"Are you seriously suggesting that you'd go along with them on this? Are you saying you would share me with them?" he asked.

"Yes, and maybe it won't only be sharing you with them. Maybe I'll be sharing me with them too," she replied and blushed at what she was admitting.

Jamie couldn't believe it. His sister who had been a virgin until this week was now entertaining the idea of a multi-partner relationship, and even seemed to be excited by the prospect of girl/girl sex. This couldn't be happening. Suddenly his focus was brought back to the room when he felt Laura rubbing the front of his pants. He realised he was painfully erect and she had noticed.

"It seems at least one part of you likes the idea," Laura said with a grin.

"No Laura, stop it. That thing might be thinking with its little head, but I'm not. I don't think this is right at all. I need some room and time to get my head straight," he said.

Laura frowned as her brother removed her hand and stood to leave the honeymoon suite.

"Oh shit! Have I pushed things too far? Is Jamie right, should I be thinking only of us being faithful to each other? No dammit! What I said to him is true. Debbie and Christine are suffering and they need to have Jamie to fall back on as well. I know he loves me best and I don't feel threatened by the others. He's just going to have to realise he's finally wrong about something because I will win this one."

Hadij had been in a towering rage when his men had discovered the dead body of Petty Officer Stevens. His immediate response was to take the seven remaining seamen out onto the quayside and force them to their knees.

"I've had enough of your delays and stubbornness. This is your last chance to tell me how to launch the missiles!" he screamed at them.

Each and every man looked him in the eye, but said nothing. Hadij marched up to the first of the submariners and held a pistol to the back of his head.

"Tell me!"

"Oh just hurry up and pull the trigger," the man replied.

The report of the browning going off sounded impossibly loud to the other men on their knees and they watched as their fellow crewmember's body slumped to the damp concrete of the quay.

"You see! I am not playing games! Tell me or I will execute each and every one of you!" Hadij continued to scream.

When none of the remaining men responded, he walked up and thrust his angry face into that of the next in line. His spittle flew out and landed on the man's cheek as he shouted at him.

"You! Tell me now or your time on this earth is over. By the prophet I am serious. Tell me!"

Still none of the seamen said a word and Hadij stood and pointed his weapon into the face of the man, pulling the trigger and ending his life. The bloodlust was on Hadij and he walked to the next man and shot him without a word. It was only after he had shot the fourth seaman that it dawned on him that shooting them all would mean he had no chance of getting the information he needed. With some effort he controlled his rage and told his men to take the last two back below deck.

Assam knew that he now had control of one of the UK's nuclear submarines. He had spoken to Hadij and had urged his man to get the details of the launch procedures as soon as he could. Having control of the Trident missiles changed things somewhat with regard to the Americans he knew and he had contacted Shafiq to make her aware of the new position.

Shafiq was excited at his news and they discussed how they could possibly let the Americans know they had the weapons. It would only act as a deterrent to the US if they knew the threat existed. Once they managed to communicate what they had, Shafiq was confident they wouldn't have to worry about the US sending troops in after them. A nuclear launch would be something they would want to avoid at all costs. She believed Assam had just secured their position and it was now just a matter of time before they subdued and then converted the remaining survivors, making the UK an Islamic state.

Assam was sitting mulling over how he was going to communicate the fact that they had taken control of the submarine. He also allowed his thoughts to drift to James MacLaren - there was still some unfinished business there that he was going to take great delight in rectifying. Suddenly a thought occurred to him.

"Of course, the boy has his own web site. If I e-mail him and tell him about the missiles, he's bound to put something on his stupid site. I can frighten him even more and hopefully pass my message on to the Americans in one move. Brilliant!"

He strode through to the room where the computers had been set up to monitor the Internet and ordered one of the boys working there to call up the 'Surviving in Scotland' site. Once the site appeared on the screen he took the boy's chair and clicked on the e-mail link.

A blank message panel appeared and he began to type his message to the helicopter pilot.

I haven't forgotten about you boy and my plans for your death have grown more satisfying if anything. Now that I have one of the UK's nuclear submarines under my complete control, I can turn my attention to finding you.

Your little stunt yesterday, with the helicopter and the plane had no effect. What did you hope to achieve? Whatever you were trying to do it failed and I am now turning my forces loose to track you down. Prepare to die.

Assam hit the send key and knew he would have to wait to see whether the pilot fell in with his plans and posted the information about the nuclear submarine on his web site. In the meantime he would do as he had written and organise some search parties to go out and hunt the boy down. He would give them clear instructions not to alarm the boy until after he was sure the required web site entry appeared.

Jamie took a stroll round the grounds of Skibo Castle, ignoring the light drizzle that was falling. His head felt as if it was full of broken bottles and he was unable to concentrate on anything at all. Laura was only part right, he was coping with the different things that were coming at him, but some of his outward confidence belied just how scared he was at times. If the truth were told, part of the front he was putting up was about making sure his sister didn't see just how scared he was.

Laura had shaken him badly with her revelation about Debbie and Christine and that probably explained part of his extreme reaction. He was now trying to go over what she had said, trying to make sense of her apparent acceptance of brining others into their relationship. He fully understood how Laura had come to rely on him and the feeling of safety and security that she got from him. That was a responsibility that he was taking very seriously indeed. He could also see that Debbie and Christine might also need the same feeling of safety and security, but didn't see why that had to come from him, indeed couldn't see why Laura would want it to come from him. There were many other survivors that the girls could choose from, so why him?

He realised that it would have been better after all, healthier, to have moved them all to Fort William. Remaining at Skibo kept the two girls away from potential partners and left them looking only at him. He regretted agreeing with Laura and the others that they would stay here, as that could only make the current situation worse. He really didn't feel the need to have a relationship with anyone other than his sister. In fact, having only just come to terms with losing his own virginity, the prospect of having sex with other partners was actually quite daunting.

He did have to admit to himself that the thought of his sister involved in girl/girl sex did have some appeal, but only as a fantasy, not in reality. He tried to focus on what to do about his position and eventually decided that he would continue to refuse to even think about a relationship with the others. Instead he would take matters head on and offer the idea of moving to Fort William once more - pointing out to Debbie and Christine that they would have opportunities to find partners there. With that decided, he felt better and turned to head back towards the castle.

He avoided Laura and the others and returned to his room to check his e-mail once more. The only message of note was from the terrorist he knew was called Assam. Nothing in the message was news to him and he refused to believe the line about having 'complete control' over the submarine. There was no doubt in Jamie's mind that Trevor Stevens would have held out from divulging any of the secrets about missile launch procedures. He considered the message however and thought there might be some advantage in it for him and the other survivors. If he released this information without disputing the terrorists' claims, then it might give the US President pause for thought. It might change his determination to send US troops to the UK.