Half a month later,the group of four were still going about their research.They were first working with the thought that they would take it easy now that their team task had been completed.
But they had become too engrossed in their personal task and didn't even notice when they started to sleep in their research area.
Working and sleeping in the same place had made their bond a little firm.
It was already the 25th day of their first month here,but they had not attained much in their personal task.After many failures they were still not disheartened.
But they were still slightly disappointed.The cause of their disappointment was not their failure.But that they could not achieve the goal they had set for themselves.
There was little hope to succeed in their task by the end of the month if they kept going in their current direction.
So they either needed a new direction or inspiration.For this they took a rare rest from their month long work.
They sat down and discussed their viewpoints for a while but there was no conclusion.Though they did get more familiar with each other's thought process.So,not really a waste of time.But they still needed to do something regarding the task.
His voice was so low that one might wonder whether he was talking to Luke or to himself.
Seeing no reply to his question that he had asked in concern,Tim was a little irritated.But he still did not turn back.
Suddenly, he was pushed from behind by someone with tremendous force.Tim started stumbling,and if he did not crash into Yushin which reduced the impact on him,he might have fallen head first on the ground.
Tim was frustrated at not being able to accomplish the task,adding this push by someone and his somewhat haughty attitude,there was no telling what would happen now.Tim turned around,extreme anger evident on his face.It seemed that his frustration working by law of conversation of energy was converted into anger.
Just as he was about to erupt at Luke,He heard Luke saying"I think i know what should we do now".
Tim stopped as his brain was analyzing what Luke was saying.
After a moment of thinking,a bright smile blossomed on Tim's face.There was no need to question whether Luke was telling truth or lie.It was because of trust.They had lived together for some time now and he knew Luke was not one to joke about things like these, usually the solution put forward by him would be backed by solid hypothesis and reasoning.And they just needed a direction for now.
Tim asked"What is it?".Attention of the other two was also captured by Luke.Their faces showed newfound hope.
Luke cringed a little seeing them pinning all their hopes on him but still replied"How about we introduce a new plasmid in bacterium than the already present one"He was not asking a question but stating his decision.Even if they did not want to do it,he would still try it.
Tim lowered his head a little and started whispering to himself,this time he really was talking to himself. Yushin and Allen also did not reply and also started thinking about it.
They did not ask if it was possible or not.
Because a scientist doesn't classify things as impossible or possible but by whether he could accomplish it or not. It might seem like the same thing but not quite.
If it was said to a true scientist that a man could lift a planet with one hand,the scientist's first thought would not be whether it's possible or not.But what was the process involved in it.
Tim,Luke,Yushin exchanged a glance.Tim said"Its worth a shot".Yushin and Luke simply nodded their head.
Today they were beat,circling the institute had used most of their energy.But a new source of motivation energized them.They grabbed a quick bite and returned to their research area for continuing their research.That day they failed miserably,but that did not damp their motivation
The next day they were also met with failure.
But the day after that resulted in a ray of hope.There were only only about two days left till the end of month.They could also try to complete it in the next month.But they were unwilling to do so.And wanted to complete it in this month.
The result might be the same doing it now or doing it next month,but they were still unwilling.Their reason would only be known by them.
The 29th day of the month,while they were in middle of usual routine,they all got a mail from the institute.They were again asked to report to the hall,two days from now,on the 1st of next month.
The quartet increased their speed by a notch.They even decreased their sleeping and eating time.They wanted to finish it as soon as possible.Their wishes were answered and on the dawn of the last day of the month they finally achieved a result.
They were very proud at the result.Their adrenaline vanished and they slept then and there because of too much exhaustion.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The next morning,Allen was nudged by someone.He was a little irritated at how he could not even take a rest when he had already completed the task yesterday.
So he stubbornly resisted against the cruel nudging.He heard a familiar voice"Wake up Allen,I also want to sleep more,but we need to go to the hall today"
Allen remembered it now that he said that.Otherwise he had already thrown it out of his mind.He was completely focusing on the work after all.
Allen reluctantly got out of his sleeping quarter,went towards the washroom installed in the research area,wanting to take a shower.
But he suddenly felt someone grabbing his sleeves,a bit annoyed Allen asked"Let me a take a bath will you".
The person replied"Sorry,but no time.You can finish your business after coming back."
Allen recognized the voice now that he was in a clear state of mind.He said"Surely we could manage a few minutes?"
"I am afraid not.The time to arrive at the hall was 9 Am.It is 9:05 right now.You also know how strict discipline is.We are already late and can't afford more time"
Allen grumbled"You should have just said so"He could not do anything about it other than grumble,because the other party had already helped him.He would have missed going to hall if Tim did not wake him up.
The quartet got out of research building.Allen asked the trio"Why are we so late?You should have just woke me up"
This time the one to reply was Luke"We also didn't remember there was a gathering today.I woke up to go to washroom.I was returning from there when i saw that i had marked a day of this month.Not remembering what was it about i reviewed it.
After that i awoke Tim who awoke you two."
Allen understood the reason and calmed down a little.Irritation had dulled his thought process.Now that he had gotten over it he could think calmly.
They arrived at the hall.They wanted to get in from the backdoor but alas the hall had no backdoor available for them.
They tried to sneak in the hall,but the quartet stood out as they were a "Little" late to arrive.They saw the same president standing on the same platform,but now his expression towards them was not very...pleasant.
He asked"Do you four know what time it is now.I was delayed by you by ten minutes. Tell me am i getting that wrong"
The quartet was silent.The silence seemed to not be in their favor. So Tim bit the bullet and stepped forward."Sir, we have made a breakthrough in our research.Some issues arose during bringing it.I believe that it would provide us a new direction in project "Evo".
The president had no reason to believe them.And it would be usually thought that they were just trying to avert the trouble.But the president got more serious hearing that.
"Bring it to me if that's true"
Tim didn't hesitate and sent a copy of the data to the president.The president watched the data without speaking.The quartet also followed suit.After a couple of minutes he raised his head slightly and he had a rare smile on his face.
He said"Truly, it is as you have said.This will truly provide us a new direction to follow.Even if it may not be successful, for your effort your group will be promoted to the quasi 2nd division.You will have to fulfill certain condition to truly step into 2nd division".
Wow,that was a real change in attitude.
The reward was huge and slightly beyond the quartet's expectation.
But it could be easily explained.They might have made small progress within small amount of time,but the potential it had increased its importance.
They were quite happy with the reward.They might have only risen by a single division if they submitted it to the main center.
A experienced researcher truly was different than an inexperienced researcher.The president could tell the value of their achievement so accurately in such small time.It proved that he had not become president through a backdoor.
"The research this group of four has submitted has given us a new way.And it really might be possible to accomplish our goal with this.Please take them as role model and work hard like them"said the president loudly...at least Tim had a delusion of that.
Again the president left without giving them the change to ask anything.And taking in the speed with which he left, the doors would have swung heavily if they had been mechanical instead of pocket ones.There was only complete silence in the hall in response to the President's sudden exit.
He checked the surroundings but everything was the same as when he left for a bath.Coincidentally his sight fell on the fermentation tank.The more he neared it the colder it got.And he even had to rub his palms when he was standing close to it.He observed the bacterium and was amazed to see what was happening.