[ WP ] Humans have - by a very large margin - the longest lifespans of all intelligent life in the universe . You are a human student at a multi- species college , and you / your friends are just realizing that compared to them , you are an ancient being .

~2.2x10^18 vibrations of a Cesium atom. That is the expected lifetime of someone from my species, and a source of great controversy amongst my friends. 
 
 D'jargo, a Saiemptalliean intelluctalist, was my favorite friend and lived across the hall from me at the University. He was a great philosopher ( or she? A three gendered species does n't work well in Terran English. ) But that number caused him so much more distress than I could have ever imagined. 
 
 You see, his species was often considered one of the most long lived at ~7x10^17 vibrations. They were considered the most wise and self controlled species in the Alliance. My very existence was a challenge to everything he thought. 
 
 He checked my math several times, since errors do occur when trying to convert units. But, I had defined my lifespan into the most translatable unit. Still, he struggled to accept it. 
 
 `` You live more than three times as long as anyone from my species,'' he said to me one night. `` I just do n't get it.'' 
 
 I looked up at his small centaur frame standing in my doorway. `` What do n't you get?'' I asked. 
 
 `` Your species lives three times as long as mine...'' he said, trying to find the right words. `` I just...'' 
 
 `` It's okay, just say it,'' I said with my kindest look on my face. 
 
 `` What's wrong with your species?'' he finally asked. 
 
 Now it was my turn to be shocked. Of all the things to ask! I was insulted, certainly, but I reminded myself that his own culture did n't have the concept of tact. At least he was trying. 
 
 He saw the look on my face and I could see him shift his weight as though he was preparing for me to lunge at him. I closed my eyes and turned away from him. I did n't want him to think I was going to attack. I never knew a 
 Saiemptalliean to back down from a fight especially one about honor. 
 
 `` D'jargo,'' I said after a moment, `` Come in here and take a seat. I want to understand what you mean.'' 
 
 The Saiemptalliean relaxed and walked into my room. He seemed a little wary, but came to sit beside me on the bed. I took a breath and said, `` You said you think there is something'wrong' with my species. Would you care to elaborate?'' 
 
 He looked at me and took a breath. `` My species was one of the longest lived we had ever come across. Most Alliance species look to us because we have the wisdom that comes from long life. We figured out how to get along because we knew we had to live together. Fights may be something we do regularly, but your species' wars take this to a level no one else can even comprehend.'' 
 
 `` Yes,'' I said with a bit of a laugh, `` We have a hard time letting things go.'' 
 
 `` Stubbornness is one thing,'' he said sharply, `` But your species just seems...'' 
 
 `` Barbaric?'' I offered. 
 
 D'jargo cocked his head to the side in confusion, so I looked up the translation of the word. He laughed, saying `` Your language has a word for everything.'' 
 
 I laughed too. `` My species is pretty ingenious. Maybe that's why we have n't killed ourselves yet.'' 
 
 The Saiemptalliean sobered at that. `` I do n't understand why your species is like that. 
 
 `` Leslie,'' he continued, `` My own people figured out long ago that our long lives mean we have to live with the consequences of our actions. The ch'thuDar-ei live only half as long as my species. They do n't have to live with their actions very long.'' 
 
 `` True,'' I said, `` But they have an overmind that has to live with their actions.'' 
 
 `` It's not the same,'' D'jargo shook his head. `` The overmind does n't have the same day to day life that we do.'' 
 
 I looked him square in his eye. `` You're stalling. What is it you want to say?'' 
 
 He gave a sound I had learned was a sigh and said `` If your species lives three times as long as mine, why do so many struggle to find peace?'' 
 
 It was my turn to be somber. `` We have been asking ourselves that for as long as we can remember.''
