Brother quang?? is he your brother? what book is this from? Sorry i do not kbnow thte answer include more details
A simile can be found when using "like" or "as" between two things. Example: I'm as happy as a clown.
Your question would be a metaphor. Both things are being compared to a science expieriment, probably meaning that they need to have an outcome, but it isn't known for sure if it will be a good or bad outcome.
Things like this can be taken many ways, so if you think something else, I'm sure it would work as well.
I think that It's being used as a reflexive pronoun. "Jolly band of pirates" and "we."
Hope this helps! (:
Sometimes it may not be accurate because it’s a recollection and not real evidence of what actually happened
