Chapter 11

The first year of examinations on Vermouth seemed to be nothing compared to the second year. The tests became more advanced and painful for Vermouth. During the first year, Vermouth didn't show any signs of pain, but this time, she couldn't pretend, anymore.

The scientists with Atsushi and Elena were carrying out all kind of tests on Vermouth. They even went as far as taking the samples of tissue from the inside of the Vermouth's body. As, it required to open her stomach; Elena insisted to put Vermouth under anaesthesia, because she didn't want Vermouth to suffer more than she already was,

There were some scientists, who thought that anaesthesia wouldn't be needed as Vermouth would heal herself, anyway, but Elena refused not to give anaesthesia to Vermouth.

Unfortunately, Vermouth's immunity to drugs prevented it to last as long as it was needed. Atsushi had to give her three shots sometimes to make sure that Vermouth wouldn't start to feel the pain, when they were extracting the tissues samples from her internal organs.

It hurt Elena, when she heard Vermouth's screams, when anaesthesia stopped working. She also made sure that there were breaks between each tests. Some breaks lasted even two weeks. Elena also ensured that the tests didn't take much time. Some scientists regarded that if they would spend more time on tests, then they might even finish earlier.

However, it took more time for Vermouth to heal, especially when her internal organs were damaged. Although, Elena and the scientists didn't touch Vermouth's internal organs such as: a heart and a brain. Elena had received information from the Boss that if Vermouth's brain would be damaged, then she would die.

Vermouth, also, couldn't have an object stuck in her wound, for example, a knife; otherwise her wound wouldn't heal completely, just around the object.

Vermouth wasn't indestructible as the boss had implied, when the boss had ordered Elena to do these tests.

Elena was actually glad that Vermouth had limits in her healing process. If she would be fully indestructible, then who knows what horrible examinations, Vermouth would have to be tested on.

The scientists were thrilled by Vermouth's abilities. To think that they had felt excitement, when, Vermouth's small wound from a needle, healed. Right now, they could witness how Vermouth's internal organs and deep cuts in her skin were able to heal.

The other thing that Elena, Atsushi and the scientists were elated about that Vermouth had immunity against all different kinds of drugs and poisons. Elena thought of how great it would be if people had this kind of immunity. She also hoped that they would be able to prevent people from suffering from all kind of diseases.

Even though, Elena knew that these tests would help her and other scientists to create the drug that they all dreamed about; she still felt guilty, because of what Vermouth had to go through in order for this drug to be created.

Atsushi told Elena that she shouldn't feel this way as she actually was helping to create a drug that would help many people.

"Only one person suffers from our research and many people actually will benefit from it. Think about how many people, we'll make happy," Atsushi's eyes shined from the excitement.

"I still feel bad about Vermouth. She doesn't deserve to go through this, again."

Atsushi put his hands on Elena's shoulders and sent a little smile towards her, "You right, she doesn't deserve this, but people, who, will use this drug, definitely will deserve what the drug will give them."

"I'm worried that the boss may not be willing to share with others with this drug," Elena said.

"What are you talking about? We're not working so hard on this drug, so the boss can only take it." Atsushi didn't sound happy on Elena's suspicious.

However, she had this feeling that the boss wanted this drug only for himself. Elena didn't hear any remorse in the boss' voice, when he had given her the order regarding Vermouth. Elena, quickly, realized that the boss only cared about themselves and no one else, not even Vermouth.

Elena would have to make sure somehow that the boss wouldn't be the only one, who would take the drug.

Elena and Atsushi named the drug, the Silver Bullet. They felt more that this drug is more their project than the boss', who didn't even deign to help them in the research. Elena, sometimes, wished to be able to leave the organization with her family and create the drug away from the boss.

After eight months of the advanced tests on Vermouth, Elena said that it was enough. She went to the boss and told them with her firm voice that she and the other scientists wouldn't carry on more tests. Atsushi and other scientists wouldn't be against to do more tests, though.

Elena was aware that the boss wanted these tests to last two years, at least and it passed less than two years, since the examinations had started.

To surprise Elena, the boss agreed as they informed her that the reports the boss had received were satisfactory and now, they should actually focus on creating the drug itself. However, they mentioned to tell Vermouth that it was the boss, who ordered the end of the tests.

The boss got a nerve, Elena thought, irritated.

She didn't have strength to argue with the boss; it wasn't even worth it. She informed Vermouth about the examinations being over. She wanted to apologise Vermouth for what she and other scientists had done to her, but before she was able to do it, Vermouth was already gone.

Vermouth went to the boss' office; the boss was looking through some papers.

"Vermouth, what a nice surprise. It passed quite time, before last time I saw you." The boss smiled at Vermouth, putting away the papers.

"I, actually, am little angry at you that you let Elena to do this examinations one me," Vermouth stated coldly.

The boss laughed nervously. "Vermouth, I've told you that I wanted to refuse it, but Elena insisted, she even told me that without these tests, they wouldn't be able to continue to work on this drug. I was afraid that we could lose our life chance."

The boss took Vermouth's hands in his and he looked straight into her eyes.

"You know that I will always make sure that you will be safe."

A small smile appeared on Vermouth's lips. "I know and I'm grateful for that and for the fact that you saved me last time, especially, that it made that we returned to the starting point of the drug research."

"And now we have a chance to get back what we lost," the boss said and then he asked concerned, "What's wrong? You seemed musing?"

"I'm going back to America. I need some vacation from all of this," Vermouth informed the boss. She needed a long break from the organization. Vermouth had created a fake daughter, Chris Vineyard, for herself, when she was in America, last time. Her non-existent daughter would be around seven, right now.

Chris Vineyard was needed, so Vermouth could freely go out. However, it would need to pass years, before Vermouth could go out as Chris. Right now, she would have to play role of a mother.

"Of course, you deserve this. I hope that staying in America will help you to forget about these bad moments." The boss caressed Vermouth's cheek; she, whereas, took the boss' hand away and said sounding serious, "Nothing will make me to forget about all of this."

"I hope you will, someday," the boss responded.

Elena, Atsushi and the scientists were very busy with creating the drug. They were analyzed the samples taken from Vermouth and they were mixing them with other chemicals to see what chemical reactions, it would make.

They obtained many samples from Vermouth and thus they had lots of possibilities of how these could be created, though it didn't mean that all of those possibilities would be effective.

Working on the drug were taking Elena and Atsushi lots of time, so they weren't able to spend much time with their daughter, Akemi, who was already three years old. Elena wished for her daughter to be raised under normal conditions.

If, Elena's parents hadn't decided to move from the Great Britain to Japan, then Elena's daughter would have a normal life. However, she wouldn't meet Atsushi and she wouldn't be part of the drug research. Unfortunately, she had to pay a terrible price for it, by losing her parents and sisters.

She missed them very much and she wished that she could see them again. Elena, also, felt very sorry for Ichirou. She actually had spent time with her family, before they died and Ichirou hadn't had this chance.

He treated Elena, Atsushi and Akemi as his own family and he even told Elena that he wished for them to be his real family. Elena loved Ichirou very much and she treated him as he was her own son.

During her free time, she and Atsushi went together with Ichirou and Akemi to the tennis court. Back in Great Britain, Elena used to play tennis with her family and friends. After, she moved to Japan, she never could find time for this, so playing tennis brought good memories for Elena.

While, Akemi was playing with her ball and Atsushi was watching her; Elena was learning Ichirou, who was already eight years old, how to play tennis. Atsushi said that he didn't have skills and patience for it; Akemi was still too young to learn playing tennis, but Elena hoped to learn her daughter too, at some point.

Ichirou was making quick progress and Elena noticed how Ichirou was a clever a boy, who would grow into an intelligent man, someday. She only hoped that he would use his intelligent in a right way.

About two years later since Vermouth's leaving to America; Atsushi and Elena were called by the boss. Elena wondered what the boss thought of, again.

Fortunately, Vermouth was away, so the boss couldn't order to do more tests on her. Elena had found out that Vermouth had gone to America, after she had left. Elena wasn't blaming Vermouth for that. She must hated Elena, very much, and Elena hated the boss for the fact that he didn't cared about Vermouth and that he destroyed her friendship with Vermouth.

"You wanted to see us," Atsushi stated staring at the television.

"Yes," the boss responded.

Neither Atsushi nor Elena spoke, they waited patiently on what the boss was planning to tell them.

"I have looked through the reports and I am happy to see how much progress you have made." They could clearly hear a delight in a boss's voice.

Elena noticed how Atsushi's upper corners of his lips went up; however, she didn't feel that there was a reason to smile. The boss didn't call them to praise them, she was sure of it.

"I read that one of the lab mouse's wound healed after giving a sample of the drug," the boss said.

"Oh yeah," Atsushi sounded excited, though this excitement quickly disappeared on the boss' words. "But this mouse died anyway."

Atsushi lowered his head unlike Elena, who keep her head straight.

"Don't worry; I'm not angry; I just think that mice may not be enough to help you with your research. You need something else, something that you will know that the drug will definitely work," the boss sounded serious.

Elena didn't like the direction of this conversation.

"I'm afraid that I don't understand," Atsushi said, confused.

"I mean that you need a group of people, who you would be able to test the drug on," the boss informed Atsushi and Elena, who hoped that the boss was joking.

Unfortunately, it didn't seem that way.

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