Several minutes after they finished their cafs, Jacen and Nom Anor left the grashal to head over to the latter's backyard. The former Prefect sat on a wooden rocking chair, and then he and Jacen, who still stood, looked out to the not-to-distant end of the backyard. There, displayed were several specimens of a vibrant green plant, all lined in symmetrical columns of five. Behind this field of plants was a tall green gate with a yellow wooden lock to keep out intruders.
"So how long do we have to wait for these gardeners of yours?" Jacen asked.
Nom Anor looked at his organic wrist chrono. "Only a few more minutes. Kunra and Gerret are very punctual."
Jacen nodded in understanding. "You know, I never knew that the Yuuzhan Vong had established the use of credits here."
Nom Anor shrugged. "Sekot believes that if we are to one day become part of mainstream galactic society, we must understand the use of capitalism and an economy. With my help and the help of several other Yuuzhan Vong here who acted as spies during our war against your galaxy, we are doing our honest best to ingrain the idea of economy here."
"Your honest best?" Jacen asked.
"Yes, yes, coming from me, it is very shocking to hear," Nom Anor said. "But for once, it is true. I, for one, have made quite a living as one of the major marijuana suppliers here in La'okio."
"And yet Yuuzhan Vong traditionalists still wanna kill you?" Jacen inquired.
"They are not buyers," Nom Anor answered. "You know, resistance to change for peace and all. Hey, I just noticed you did not wince when I said 'coming' earlier."
"I thought we'd put that off for later," Jacen pointed out sternly.
"Well, at least you are getting past it, the fact that we have to discuss it again with Danni and Harrar again notwithstanding," Nom Anor said.
"Wait, did you just refer to Danni by her first name?" Jacen asked. "Don't you just refer to her as 'the Magister' or "Magister Quee?'"
Nom Anor rolled his eye in annoyance. "Do not be so picky here. We shared her with Harrar, so I think we can use a first-name basis with her now."
Jacen sighed. "The end of this week just can't come fast enough," Jacen said. And then he winced outwardly at the verbal slip.
Not long after, the gate behind the marijuana stock opened up, and two male Extolled walked in. Simultaneously, Nom Anor stood up and went to meet with them, Jacen following along again, as one of the Extolled closed and locked the gate again.
"Kunra, Gerret," Nom Anor nodded to each of them respectively. He then turned to Jacen. "I would like you to meet Jeedai Jacen Solo. Jeedai Solo, this is Kunra, and this is Gerret."
The two Extolled looked upon Jacen in admiration, and the object of their longing stares figured that these two had to restrain themselves from paying obeisance to him for personally meeting one of the heroes who saved them from Shimrra's oppression.
"Hello," he nodded to the both of them at once, displaying a modest smile all the while. "It is very nice to meet the both of you." He then stuck his hand out for Kunra.
With hesitation, Kunra looked up between Jacen and his hand in fascination before abruptly shoving his own out to shake the Jedi's. He shook for exactly five seconds before Nom Anor had to call Kunra out by his name so that he could break up what could have been an awkward moment. Of course, that didn't change with Gerret when it was his turn to shake Jacen's hand.
"Now that the pleasantries are all past, let us get to work," Nom Anor said.
.
When work was all done for the day, and the number of credits they gained from selling their marijuana plants to Extolled and like-minded former elite Yuuzhan Vong were counted - exactly one thousand credits, enough to give Jacen, Nom Anor, Kunra, and Gerret two hundred and fifty credits each - the sun was now just a moving down the horizon. Only a few more hours, then night would come.
Nom Anor promptly paid Kunra and Gerret, as well as giving Jacen his fair share, and then the former Prefect said, "Have a good day, gentlemen."
"Um, before we do," Gerret said, "can we ask Jeedai Solo a question, Nom Anor?"
The former Prefect sighed in annoyance. "Yes, you may, Gerret."
The two Extolled then looked at the Jedi. "Is it true that you had an orgy with Magister Quee, former Eminence Harrar, and our employer here last night?"
Jacen and Nom Anor's eyes shot up in surprise. "Where did you hear that?" the latter asked in a rushed tone.
"We did not hear about it, we simply saw Magister Quee and Harrar leave your grashal earlier today, Nom Anor," Kunra explained. "Rumors are spreading throughout La'okio that the four of you had sex."
"So is it true, after all?" Gerret asked.
"No," Nom Anor answered without hesitation.
"Yes," Jacen answered at the same time as Nom Anor did.
The latter Yuuzhan Vong looked at the human with eye widened.
Jacen shrugged. "What's wrong with getting this out in the open? And besides, weren't you the one who said we had to discuss it with Danni and Harrar later on anyway?"
"Yes, but I did not mean that all of La'okio should know about it," Nom Anor said. "I thought it would be between the four of us." He then glared pointedly at Kunra and Gerret. "You two will go about and deny these rumors when you leave this garden; failing that, or even admitting that, yes, we did have sexual intercourse with Magister Quee and Harrar, you will lose your jobs on the spot. Is that understood?"
"Well, you can tell them that!" a guttural voice came from the other side of the closed gate. "But you cannot stop me!"
At once, Nom Anor moved past Kunra and Gerret to rush for the door. Upon opening it, however, he found no one there; only Yuuzhan Vong going about their day through La'okio.
"Oh, this is going to be painful," Nom Anor said.
"Was it as painful as when you, Jeedai Solo, and Harrar all shoved your phallics in Magister Quee's-" Gerret tried to ask.
"How do you know that happened?" Nom Anor asked, whirling about to face the two Extolled.
Kunra and Gerret both shrugged. "We just guessed," Kunra answered.
Nom Anor sighed in defeat. "Kriff my bantha," he muttered to himself.
