(Untitled)

[140_96]

Have you ever heard the proverb about how you grow a tree for only ten years, but you have to grow men over a hundred

Comments

[4x4_of_manly]

Who said that? Trees grow longer than ten years.

[THE POINT

LIGHTER'S HEAD]

[140_96]

It's a proverb, so the attribution is generally unknown. Plus they tend to be poetic more than a direct reflection of reality.

[4x4_of_manly]

Never really was much of a poetry guy. Or a military guy. So good on you for quitting that nonsense.

[140_96]

Now hold up there, there's nothing wrong with poetry or the military. I don't think it's very polite to just dismiss one's profession (or former profession) as "nonsense" because you can't grasp why people would do it.

[monotreme_101]

It's interesting. I mean, I get what you're saying... but where I come from, some of the trees are over a thousand years old and still growing. In that time, whole civilizations can rise and fall, let alone individual men.

Anyhow! My name is Knuckles the Echidna. Nice to meet you. You sound pretty smart so I'm guessing you're gonna be teaching in the new school year, huh?

[140_96]

It's not meant to be an strict reflection of the world, really. Trees are pretty self sustaining, no? But humans and their cultivation, not so much so.

And I am teaching in the new year. It's very nice to meet you... Knuckles? Or would you be prefer to be called Echidna?

[monotreme_101]

Well, I think that applies to any sentient species, really... never met one yet who's at peace with the world enough to really be self sustaining. Humans aren't alone, there.

Haha - I'd like to be called just Echidna about as much as you'd like it if I just called you Human, so, Knuckles will be fine. Pleased to meetcha - what are you teaching?

[140_96]

Hmm. I guess in my experience, where people tend to be called by animal codenames... oh never mind.

I teach Data Analysis. I'll be teaching how to look at data collected from battles, optimise it and generally play around with it. I tend of think of it as curiosity with numbers.

[getthisguyoffme]

I get what you mean but doesn't it take longer then ten years for a tree to grow?

You're from the military? I'm not a soldier but my Dad's part of my planet's military and I've worked with them before!

My name's Slippy, it's nice to meet you.

[140_96]

As I've said to someone before... trees are pretty self sustaining. Minds, not so much so since you constantly have to cultivate them.

I'm not a soldier myself, I'm what you'd call a member of the support team. Well, I was a commanding officer but still...

It's nice to meet you too Slippy! Are you a student in this school?

[whitedeviljack]

[IS IT... the very same Mei Ling he's read all about in The Darkness of Shadow Moses?]

Are you the Mei Ling?

[140_96]

The Mei Ling? I don't know about that, I am a Mei Ling but whether it's the one you're looking for I'm not sure.

[She's just teasing you, Raiden.]

[Private]

[whitedeviljack]

[Consider him teased.]

The same one who helped Snake out during the Shadow Moses incident. It's got to be you. What are you doing here?

[Private]

[140_96]

Teaching. And I know who you are... Raiden. I should be asking you what you're doing here.

[... wasn't he a cyborg? Or am I just remembering wrong? Naah Mei Ling, you remember him smashing watermelons.]

[this private message is brought to you by the letter JESS IS ALWAYS LATE]

[foxdied]

Saying goodbye to the military, huh?

[private]

[140_96]

Well, I was never really a soldier to begin with Snake though I was a commanding officer of a ship, that was cool. Nothing wrong with wanting to enjoy some peace time.

[private (aaahhhh HIATUSES)]

[foxdied]

Was it at least a cool boat? No, there's nothing wrong with that.

Listen, Mei Ling, I need you to do me a favor.

[private (we all have them!)]

[140_96]

It saved your behind, if that's what you mean.

What is it this time?