((Yes, I know I've taken a hell of a lot of time for this. Now that I'm started, however, I should be able to post a chapter a week or so again.

As before, I'll see that this is understandable without the first parts, but it is meant as the fourth and last part in what I've come to call The Elements.))

Previously on The Elements (scroll down if you don't need it):

Air

Long after Jim's death on Veridian III (ST:VII), Spock starts to sense a mental call for help from him. He asks an aged Dr. McCoy to follow him into the blue and lands them on the planet Dainam, which is in a state of occupation. Meeting the local rebellion led by the Vulcan psychologist T'Kray, who crashed there decades ago, they also find Jim Kirk in a comatose state.

Unable to leave the shield-protected planet, they need to help the rebellion before they can leave. They regain their youth in an obscure bacteria-induced ritual and do their best to escape before the ultimate escalation takes place.

Earth

After escaping Dainam, Spock, McCoy, and T'Kray decide to return to Starfleet. Their long absence from the service prompts them all to voluntarily take a so-called foreign rank evaluation: one year of training before they return to active duty. Jim is placed in engineering, Spock in science, and the other two in the medical department of the Cristobal de Morales space station.

While people on the planet below start to vanish mysteriously, those on the space station commit random acts of sabotage they do not remember. It is only after a horrible accident they understand the two problems are linked.

Water

As a reward for their success on the Cristobal de Morales space station, Admiral Ndaga decides their training is complete – after all, they did not have to take the evaluation in the first place. Jim is given command of the USS Covenant and sent to Driin, a planet covered almost entirely by water, to re-establish contact with both the human settlers and the native water-dwellers. On the bottom of the ocean they discover a murderous conspiracy led by a Romulan spy who calls himself Tilak, a drug that opens the mind to suggestion, and natives that do not understand the concept of contradiction or self-defence.

Chapter 1

Cargo

'Our task,' Jim said to the conference room, 'is very simple. Pick up three scientists from the Karon space station and ship them to Vulcan. Seeing how two of the scientists will reach the space station after us, we can use the time prior to their arrival for a visit or two.' He smiled. 'I know that this seems to be beneath a space ship, but it is actually a favour to me and some of my senior officers. We will spend a few days in orbit around Vulcan. A few days I asked for a while ago.'

'We're sure we're getting those few days?' Jim grinned at his CMO.

'I … trust Admiral Ndaga.' He shrugged. 'I want to remind you all … and I'll extend this reminder to the rest of the crew … that while Vulcans are hard to offend, I want to hear no complaint about your behaviour while they are on board or we are on Vulcan.' His gaze lingered a moment longer on Lieutenant Blanik. 'They will be very interested in everything they can lay their eyes on. Medical and science departments especially, I want you to let them have their way as far as safety protocols allow.'

'I don't want them poking around my sickbay,' Bones growled.

'I doubt they will, Len. If they do, leave them to me.'

'Thank you, Counsellor,' Jim said to T'Kray, who offered a nod. 'Bones … don't antagonise them. You're aware you want something from Vulcan.'

'Nothing they can deny me and not from those scientists. I'm dealing with sensitive data. I can't allow anyone looking through that. They can knock themselves out in the lab, but not in my files they won't.'

'Fair enough. Questions?'

'Yeah. Why us? I mean … I get that this is Ndaga helping us out, but still. I bet there's more than that to it.'

'Well, this is where things get shifty. And while everything I've said so far is known to the rest of the ship, the next bit is just for the senior staff. These scientists have been trained by the Vulcan Science Academy. They have studied there, worked there, and have later left Vulcan. Stal taught at Starfleet Academy and is a neurologist. He's already on the space station and probably helping where needed. Sinek is an oncologist, T'Lin an expert on molecular biology. I haven't the faintest idea where those two were working so far. What I do know is that they have been recalled by the VSA. I do not know why.' He frowned. 'Spock, T'Kray … why would that happen? Did they do something un-Vulcan and were deemed a threat to Vulcan dignity?'

'I doubt that,' Spock said quietly. 'If they had given offence it would not be the Academy that is summoning them.' McCoy leaned forwards.

'They're all scientists, all in a more or less medical branch. I think it'll have more to do with that.'

'Wouldn't the VSA have more such people?' Spock nodded.

'They would. I do not know if the VSA has ever recalled staff before.'

'They do occasionally,' T'Kray said. 'In fact … I got the message too. It was forwarded to me today by Starfleet command.' Jim felt anger surge in his chest.

'They can't, you're my Counsellor,' he said sharply. T'Kray answered with a slight smile.

'Indeed. And Starfleet told them as much. They also told them that we are coming anyway. You may receive a request to linger.'

'So to a group of more or less medical scientists I'll add a psychologist of all things. Any idea why?' She shrugged.

'No. Sorry. However, it seems … disconcerting. Psychology was never a subject the VSA valued overly much.' Her smile became more pronounced. 'Imagine a psychologist poking around in the unconscious of some of my people and finding – oh shock! – emotions they rather deny than control. Perish the thought. So you can imagine they were very vague.'

'How very unusual for Vulcans,' McCoy muttered, but T'Kray shook her head.

'They're only vague when things get ugly, Len. I don't like it.' She sighed and raised her hands. 'Well, I don't know. If they want me of all people, there must be a problem. You see, not only is psychology very unnecessary for the VSA, it's also that it's me. There isn't a whole lot of Vulcan psychologists, but I'm by no means the only one in the quadrant. My take on Surak, my publications from years ago, my attitude. If I'm the lesser evil, there must be something serious afoot.'