Two men sat in the passenger lounge of the FTL ship.  They looked out at the simulated stellar view: it was impossible actually to seethe stars while in Faster-Than-Light travel, but the simulation was accurate and probably more effective than the reality would have been.

One man was old.  Pacemakers and inducers attached to his major organs forced them to function, however reluctantly, and a portable lung gave him breath and oxygen.  Nevertheless he seemed ready to die, for his whole body was wasted by the ravages of some hideous malady.

The other was a minion: a small, sour-looking man of indeterminate age, bearded and garbed in the traditional loincloth of his culture.

"Shall we celebrate with wine, Morning Haze?" the old man inquired, showing an ancient bottle.
"Is it permitted for your health, Benjamin?" Morning Haze inquired in return.

"Naturally not!"

"Then by all means!  What is the occasion?"

"Today I am one hundred and eight years old," Benjamin said.

"Well!  For that we should make it a party and invite our pilot."

"Yes.  And - your wife?"

"Not yet," Morning Haze said meaningfully.

"I beg pardon.  In my infirmity I sometimes forget..."

"How well we know the cause of that infirmity!  Make no apology."  And the man of Minion smiled as he rose to fetch the pilot.

Benjamin poured two glasses of wine with a slightly trembling hand, then rested the stringy muscles of that arm.

In a moment Morning Haze returned with the pilot.  This was a Xest: eight-legged with a globular body, like the center of a compact galaxy.  Ship's gravity was maintained at a quarter Earth-normal in deference to the needs of the spiderlike creature - and that level did no harm to old Benjamin, either.

The Xest had no vocal apparatus, so the humans augmented their dialogue automatically with Galactic sign language.  "We are celebrating my one hundred and eighth birthday, this day in §460," Benjamin said.

"You have been hatched one hundred and eight times?" the Xest inquired, twitching two legs in far more facile Galactic than any human could manage.  It had associated with Benjamin for more than thirty Earth years, yet still seemed to have no clear notion of human reproduction or aging.
Benjamin laughed as as he dared.  "It is merely our measurement of time.  I was born in §352, Second Son of Eldest Five.  My brother Aurelius was born four years prior, so took the A designation, leaving the B to me.  Thus I am not of the first rank of Five, and never sought to marry; perhaps that was fortunate.  I am indubitably the oldest surviving Five.  The only surviving Five, as my old friend and companion Morning Haze knows.  Since all such humble vanities are soon to end, I celebrate.  Do you imbibe?"

"It is a festive matter?" the Xest signaled.

"Indeed it is.  Be merry, for there will be no tomorrow."

The Xest made a syncopated quiver with four legs, indicating some alien emotion.  It well understood their mission, but had not until this moment realized that the truth was to be acknowledged openly.  "Then one may be permitted the Taphid?"