I feel so bad that it's taken me this long to update. The juices just weren't flowing for me... but finally, I coaxed the plot bunnies out from underneath my bed and forced them to tell me what to do next. So ta-da! I hope it's not disappointing. I tried my best to describe enough, but leave some imagination to it as well.
I've been blown away by the amount of reviews. That's really what got me to get to work. Thank you everyone who's reviewed. Sorry I haven't been able to answer all of them. They are very, very much appreciated.

Enough blabber, here's chapter 4.

Gregor

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A resonating buzz of excitement echoed off the walls of the ship as they finally grew closer to their destination. The immense speed at which they were traveling baffled Wikus, his mind wandering to old TV shows like Star Trek, imagining Christopher sitting in the captains chair ordering Lt. Oliver to "Go to warp factor 8." Wikus found himself sitting anxiously in the mess hall, munching on small pieces of dried meat. After departing Earth, many of the starving poleepkwans chose to sleep in the mess hall, eating as frequently as possibly. Though he didn't sleep there, Wikus continuously wandered into the large hall when he became bored.

It was here that Oliver found him, eyes glazed over as he stared off at some distant wall.

"Wikus?" Oliver questioned gently. Wikus's eyes immediately snapped up to meet Oliver's.

"Yes?" he clicked, so softly it could have been a whisper.

"Father requests your presence." He instructed, sounding a little too formal.

"He requests my presence? Did he tell you to say it like that?" Wikus chortled. Oliver seemed to loosen up, wiggling his shoulders around as his antennae swiveled thoughtfully.

"You'll have to forgive me. Working on the command deck fries my nerves a bit."

"It's still weird to hear you speak in full sentences." Wikus mused, receiving a few little amused trills from Oliver before he began to stride away, Wikus getting up to follow him.

"Father does not want you to get lost in all the excitement. He's afraid you'll get trampled." Oliver explained as they made their way through the labyrinth of metallic hallways. Wikus let out a huff.

"He thinks he has to hold my hand through this? Did he even expect me to survive in District 10?"

"No," Oliver answered bluntly, leaving Wikus with a cold feeling in his lower abdomen. "But that does not mean that he didn't have faith in you." He finished quickly. Wikus still didn't feel any better.

They reached Christopher's quarters a few moments later, the large poleepkwan waiting patiently for them.
"Wikus. I'm afraid there's been a slight change of plans." He began, his tone incredibly formal. Wikus began to wring his hands.

"What the fok is that supposed to mean?" his voice quavered as he cursed. Christopher sighed.
"Don't worry, it is nothing bad." He soothed, though his voice still held an air of concern. "It is only that our leaders wish to… hm… put you through some tests. Question you a bit. Considering that you used to be a part of the race that butchered my people, they are entitled to their reservations." He explained calmly. Wikus swallowed.

"What if they, I dunno, find my unsuitable?"

"I am positive that will not be the case." Christopher assured, his eyes smiling reassuringly. "I have put in my good word."

The ship seemed to shudder around them, drawing and excited chirp out of Oliver, who then looked a bit abashed. Wikus's heart seemed to jump into his throat and his gills flared. Christopher looked towards the door.

"I believe we have just entered the atmosphere. The gravity here is a bit heavier than it is on earth. The atmosphere is also thinner, but given your circumstances I don't think it will be difficult to adjust. However, you may be tired for the first few days." As Christopher continued his pep-talk of sorts, everything seemed to hit Wikus at once. He was in a different galaxy, light years away from earth. Not only is the culture different, but everything about the planet would be different. What kind of animals would there be? Are there other species as intelligent as the Poleepkwans? Will there be battles? What kind of government? Wikus's head swam and he almost felt himself fall over before Christopher wrapped a firm hand around his upper arm.

"Don't worry." He ordered. Wikus could only nod.

The massive ships were docked, hovering a couple of miles above the planet's surface. Wikus was shuffled into a transport ship along with Christopher, Oliver, and several other important looking (and intimidating) poleepkwans. As the ship began to move, Wikus's heart rate skyrocketed as he began to breath heavily. Christopher sensed this, placing a hand on Wikus's arm. Of course, this calmed Wikus, but definitely didn't help his heart rate. The ship slowly glided to a stop, the engines powering down. Wikus's mouth parts fidgeted around as he mentally prepared himself for the worst. As the doors opened, Wikus felt like he was going to shake himself apart. What if the planet is really gross…?

He didn't have much time to form any more questions in his head as a strangely familiar scent hit him. It was a rich, earthy scent, like million year old, fertile dirt.

"Come." Came Christopher's deep, rumbling voice. Wikus nodded numbly, getting up to follow him and his son out of the transport ship.

The ground was soft beneath his feet. The air was crisp, clean, and pleasantly warm. There was a large, white sun and a smaller blue sun that bathed the planet in a mixture of light. Wikus gaped at the three visible moons that hovered lazily in the sky, each appearing as though they could harbor life of their own. They had landed in a large field of yellow grass, blowing around wildly in the wake of the ships. Wikus was thankful for his extra senses he retained in his poleepkwan form. It was difficult to take everything in as it was. Off in the distance, past a small forest of bonsai-like trees, he made out what appeared to be three gigantic mounds with geometric angles and sharp points at the top like communication towers.

Wikus felt like he was drooling. It took him a few moments to realize that he was moving forward. It took him a few more moments to realize that Oliver was laughing at him.

"Shaddup…" he spat, though his eyes continued to dart around wildly. The only other wildlife he had yet to see were birds… or more like bugs with bird-like features. They sat in the trees ahead of them, their four, beady eyes glinting overtop large, pincer-like beaks. They spread their thick, leathery wings and took flight. Wikus let out a sound of amazement. At the tree line, a long row of transport vehicles waited for them. One of the soldiers stepped aside so that Christopher could get in one, Oliver climbing into the front seat as Wikus scrambled into the back. It was like no car he had ever seen. Its dashboard was a hologram steered by, what appeared to be, complete computer control. Christopher quickly selected a destination as the vehicle roared to life and took off down a dirt path.

"You'll have to forgive the terrain." Christopher clicked over the engine. "It's a little bumpy out here, but once we get into the main part of the city they become much smoother." He explained, receiving only a numb nod from Wikus, his face pressed up against one of the circular windows as he watched the strange trees fly by. As they got closer, Wikus found out that the large "mounds" were actually buildings, their odd geometric windows glinting in the sunlight. Beyond them were rows and rows of small, mound-like dwellings that reminded Wikus of Hobbit holes. Only gigantic bugs lived in them as apposed to cute, mini-humans with hairy feet.

"I'm sorry you won't get a chance to see our home first, but I have orders to take you directly to the High Council." Christopher explained, the vehicle turning down a semi-paved road towards the closest of the three large buildings. Wikus immediately felt the lump return to his throat.

"Right, right… no problem." He assured, trying to calm himself down. "Just gonna asks some questions." He began to nervously tap his left hand on his leg. Oliver looked back and gave him some reassuring words as the vehicle cam to a gentle stop. The three exited the transporter, which immediately took off back in the direction of the landing ships. Wikus felt like he might snap his neck trying to look up at the building that towered above him.

"Quickly." Christopher prodded. "The sooner we can get this done, the better."

The Hight Council was the most intimidating thing Wikus had ever seen. After taking what can only be described as "the elevator from hell" up some 50 stories, Wikus found himself being separated from Christopher and Oliver and man-handled by two very bulky poleepkwans. They passed a lot of, what appeared to be, offices in which poleepkwans shuffled around data pads and busied themselves over the influx of residents that now needed dwellings and jobs. The two poleepkwan guards lead Wikus into a large, peristyle courtyard with a high, glass ceiling before promptly turning and leaving, the door closing with a resounding bang behind them. Wikus could only gawk at the seven members of the High Council, being the oldest and most colorful poleepkwans he had ever seen. They all wore long, black robes, standing behind seven large pedestals.

"You are the hybrid?" asked the center council member, his exoskeleton a deep royal blue mixed with black spots. His voice echoed through the hollow room.

"Yes." Wikus answered feebly, bowing his head.

"Come closer." The command came from the third poleepkwan to the right. He was smaller with a bright orange exoskeleton highlighted with yellow. "I want to have a good look at you." He rumbled, leaning forward onto the pedestal. The other member mimicked his actions. Wikus shyly shuffled forward, almost tripping over his own shaking legs. This caused a small murmur from the Council.

"Do you know what we represent?" asked another poleepkwan sitting to the left of the blue one; his exoskeleton was an iridescent green, like Christopher's.

"You are the High Council." Wikus began, his voice trembling. "Leaders of the Poleepkwan race." Wikus ended, his tone almost suggesting it as a question. The large, blue poleepkwan huffed.

"We represent the seven tribes of Poleepkwa, brought together under the Great Brothers. It is abundantly clear that you are to learn our history and culture if you are to stay on this planet." He declared. Wikus flinched at the words "abundantly" and "if."

"I believe you're scaring it." A yellow poleepkwan on the far left end commented, sounding amused.

"Scaring him. If he is to accept our customs, we must first give him a reason to. Degrading him will only hinder our cause." Came the gentle reply from a smaller, red poleepkwan on the blue's right. Wikus let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding.

"Enough chatter. We need to assess the situation at hand. This individual, whether he be poleepkwan or something else, wishes to live among us. The new influx of poleepkwan that were born on that wretched ball of dirt also need to be taught their own customs in the same way he needs to learn ours." The large blue one reasoned, receiving nods and clicks of agreement from the other members.

"What is your name?" asked a frail-looking white poleepkwan.

"W-Wikus." He managed to chirp out, his name translating strangely into their language. It sounded harsh. Inhuman.

"Very well, Veekuse. You are here by given a temporary status declaring your interest in becoming a part of our society. We, the High Council, conclude that you must attend all course studies relating to culture, heritage, philosophy, and engineering. You will receive a short test at the end of three klomks to assess what you have learned and to see if you are still willing to assimilate." Came the direct orders. Wikus wished he could write this down.

"In the unlikely circumstance that you do not find our culture to your liking, we have the technology to turn you back into… whatever you were before." The blue exclaimed haughtily. "Case dismissed."

With that, Wikus was escorted out the door, a small card clutched in his hand. He stumbled numbly down the arched hallway until familiar faces greeted him once more.

"How'd it go?" Oliver chirped anxiously. Christopher said nothing, but merely stared intensely at the card in Wikus's hand.

"Well… they basically said that I was stupid and needed to learn about your culture. So I gotta take classes and shit and then take a test at the end of three… klo…m… fok." Wikus attempted.

"Klomks." Christopher clicked. "It's our equivalent to weeks. I suppose you do have a fair amount to learn." He mused thoughtfully. Wikus rolled his eyes.

"It's like I'm back in college. Only… it's a giant bug college." Wikus sighed, looking down at the card in his hand, the alien writing still barely decipherable to him.

" You're a bug now, too Wikus." Oliver chirped happily.

"Yeah, I noticed that some times ago." Came the sarcastic retort, though it was said with a small smile. He felt Christopher's hand on his back, leading him back towards the elevator from hell.

Sorry if the council meeting went by a little fast. If it was going to be realistic, it'd be another 5 pages long. Haha.
Hope you're still interested. Wikus's tests won't be too disrupting. He and Chris will still have lots of bonding time. ;)

Please review!

Mr. Gregor Samsa