Dylan was lying on a couch reading a holo novel when the Nietzschean entered the room. Hunt sat up and eyed the Nietzschean with curiosity. "So what do I owe the honor of your visit Rhade?"

"I came here to request permission to search for Beka Valentine, Captain," Rhade informed.

Dylan's smile turned to a frown at the mention of the missing executive officer. "I'm worried about her as well. Beka said she'd be back in a week and it's not like her not to let us know if she was delayed getting back. You have my permission to search for Beka. Do you have any idea where you're going to start? I don't' recall Beka mentioning her destination when she left."

Rhade stood at ease in front of the High Guard captain. "Yes, I have a few leads. I'll start with Bamar, Beka and Harper's original destination and then to Kalasan where she and Harper made the emergency landing."

"I suppose that's as good a starting point as any," Dylan conceded.

The Nietzschean bowed his head in agreement. "I merely wish to cover all angles. I'll be leaving right away."

Dylan leaned back on the couch, stretching his arms along its back. "I understand Commander and I agree with your plan. Good luck and keep in touch. I wish I could go with you."

"Thank you Captain. The people on Alannis need help and I'll be able to handle this on my own."

The High Guard captain mentally cursed the timing of Andromeda's humanitarian mission. He and the Andromeda were needed to help Alannis, a planet that had recently suffered a natural disaster. Dylan dismissed the Nietzschean commander before checking his incoming mail.

Telemachus Rhade stared at the console screen in front of him on the Command Deck. The Nietzschean was in deep concentration as he had been for the last half hour. Beka Valentine was overdue from her week long vacation. Normally the Nietzschean wasn't one to worry but Beka hadn't even contacted the Andromeda since she left on the vacation. It wasn't like the blonde executive officer not to let her crewmates know if she was going to be delayed. The dark-haired Nietzschean made a decision and headed for Dylan Hunt's quarters to inform the captain of his decision.

Harper was involved in reading a flexi in his quarters on the Maru when Rhade entered. Harper looked up at the Nietzschean with a mildly perplexed expression. "So what brings you here this time of the evening Rhade?"

The Nietzschean took a seat in the chair next to Harper's bed. "I don't want to alarm you but Beka is overdue from her trip. I was going to try to find her and I was hoping you might have an idea where she might have gone."

The engineer's concerned registered in his eyes. "That doesn't sound like Beka to not check in if she's going to be late. I wonder why she didn't say where she was going."

Rhade almost didn't have the heart to continue, but felt it would be worth it if Harper could provide any leads. "Beka said she wasn't sure. She was going to find a present for your birthday and said she'd being searching a number of places, following leads."

Harper now felt a twinge of guilt. "I told Beka not to bother. She shouldn't have bothered and now she might be in trouble. I'd like to go but Trance has me cooped up here."

Rhade cast the engineer a sympathetic look. "I know it must be hard on you being stuck here on the Andromeda, but I'll find Beka."

The Earther attempted a confident grin. "I know you'll bring Beka back. Just don't take too long in doing it though."

"Trust me I won't," Rhade replied as he stood up. "Did Beka mention what kind of present she was going to get you?"

"Nah, Beka said she it was going to be a surprise," Harper informed. "She was taking me along but wouldn't say where we were going or what my present was going to be."

Rhade sighed before straightening his posture. "Did you drop any hints as to what you wanted for your birthday?"

Harper nearly blushed as he considered the question. "Yeah but I don't think Beka had any intention of getting me a love slave," he joked.

Rhade rolled his eyes at the Earther. "You didn't really hint that you wanted a love slave did you Harper?"

"I was just teasing. I didn't really mean it," Harper quickly defended.

"Did you ever tell Beka what you really wanted?" Rhade questioned, trying to get some useful information.

"Nope, she's already done so much for me that I don't like for her to make a big deal out of my birthday," Harper explained haltingly.

Rhade contemplated the answer. It wasn't exactly what he had expected. "I was under the impression that humans from Earth enjoyed making a big deal out of their birthdays."

Harper cocked his head towards Rhade, surprised at the Nietzschean's curiosity. "You're awfully full of questions tonight. Normally us Earth kludges like birthdays but I've never liked people making a big fuss over me."

The Nietzschean commander now wore a slightly bemused expression. "I find that interesting considering what I've observed of your behavior. I take it you've always taken this attitude with Beka regarding your birthday."

"Sure, I made it clear the first time she tried to go all out celebrating my first birthday on the Maru," Harper replied with a distant look in his eyes. "I really pitched a fit that time. Beka got just as mad back at me and we didn't talk to each other for close to a week."

"I see. So don't you celebrate each other's birthdays then? I seem to recall you working on a surprise party for Beka's birthday," the Nietzschean carefully pointed out.

Harper lifted his right hand dismissively. "We reached a compromise. We would celebrate but keep it simple."

Rhade shifted his weight from one leg to the other. It was time to end the conversion and start looking for Beka. "Well, I should be leaving now. Take care of yourself while I'm away Harper."

The Earther suddenly felt stupid for getting caught up in reminiscing with Rhade. "Hey thanks Rhade. I'm sorry I couldn't give you any leads on Beka. But you gotta come back with her okay?"

"I will bring Beka back Mr. Harper. I promise," the Nietzschean assured as he exited Medical.

Rhade guided the slipfighter out of slipstream near the planet Bamar, Beka and Harper's original destination. A half hour later the slipfighter touched down on the planet's surface.

The Nietzschean checked with the spaceport to see if there was any record of the Maru having landed. Rhade was told that the Maru had been there but left two days earlier without providing an itinerary.

Rhade decided to ask around at some of the stores to see if anybody had seen or spoken with Beka. Rhade looked around the spaceport before grabbing the arm of the nearest person. "Excuse me but can you tell me where I could do some shopping?"

The Bamar native rolled his red eyes and motioned in a northerly direction. "Just go north on Constellation Street. There's a promenade with stores."

The Nietzschean patted the Bamaran on the back. "Thanks mister."

Minutes later Rhade had hired a taxi to get him to the promenade. Once the Nietzschean paid the taxi driver he strolled along the promenade.

Rhade scanned the stores, keeping an eye out for Beka. Although many of the places could easily be eliminated as places where the executive officer would have visited, Rhade didn't want to take any chances of missing any leads. He still checked with all of the shops.

The commander started with eateries, assuming that Beka had to have eaten while on her search for Harper's gift. At one of the restaurants that served native food Rhade showed a picture of Beka to a cashier who remember the blonde pilot. Beka had been there the cashier couldn't remember when or where Beka had gone after eating there.

Rhade was reasonably sure the cashier really did remember seeing Beka and decided to sit down and have a meal. The Nietzschean held out a small hope that Beka might walk into the restaurant while he was eating, thus ending his search. Rhade wasn't so fortunate so he began searching the hotels and motels, trying to find out if Beka was still registered at any local place of lodging. He found the blonde pilot had registered at a moderately priced motel for one night. The motel was simple, but clean. Beka had left the planet four days earlier, but the motel clerk had no idea as to her destination.

Rhade continued his search on the promenade going through the shops, showing Beka's picture to the clerks and customers. The Nietzschean was about to become frustrated at the lack of more Beka sightings when he entered a small shop that sold vintage CDs, DVDs, and holo novels. The commander found a clerk who recognized a picture of Beka. The clerk remembered Beka as she was looking for some vintage CDs with Earth music. Rhade found out that Beka left the store after clerk informed her there were no Earth music CDs available.

"I see Miss. Did you tell the blonde lady where she could find a store with some old Earth music?" Rhade questioned.

The store clerk finished with a customer before returning her attention to the Nietzschean. "There is a small store I heard about on Saskatchewan Drift."

"And where is this Saskatchewan Drift?" Rhade asked patiently.

The blue haired clerk took a sip from a soda can before replying "It's in the next system. One slip jump away."

The Nietzschean quickly thanked the clerk for the information and rushed back to the spaceport. Once inside his slipfighter Rhade entered the coordinates he got from the navigation department at the spaceport. The Nietzschean guided his slipfighter into slipstream, headed for Saskatchewan Drift.