Shigure UW Capture 7a-7b

She spotted her—a faint silhouette drifting lifelessly below on the deck of the sunken cruiser, arms limp, her ponytail swaying like seaweed. RO-500’s heart clenched. “I shouldn’t have let her go alone…” Her fingers brushed Shigure’s arm, cold and slack. A shiver ran through RO-500—not from the chill, but from fear. She wrapped her arms around Shigure, pulling her close. The brunette's lips were parted, her eyes half-lidded. Wasting not time, RO-500 forced the regulator into Shigure’s mouth between her cyanotic lips. At first, silence. "No!!! The Admiral needs you! Wake up!!!" In desperation, RO-500 smacked Shigure's chest between the breasts with her fists. All of a sudden, Shigure's body jerked as if electrified. Bubbles are then released from the regulator in shaky intervals. She's alive, but barely. Now, RO-500 gripped her tight, kicking upward, away from the deep crushing depths of the sea, ascending to the life giving surface above. The weight of Shigure’s body dragged her down, but RO-500 pressed on, muscles burning. She can hear the brunette struggling to breathe properly through the regulator, water sloshing in her throat and sickening gurgles are all Shigure can emit, with no sign of consciousness returning yet. She not yet out of the danger zone, and needs immediate medical attention to survive. "You stupid dummy! Why do you have to face off the Abyssal alone?" [Author's note: I was planning to draw out the scene when RO-500 found Shigure's unconscious and drowned on the floor. But found out that drawing two characters with the backs facing the viewer is not particularly interesting, so I ditched it but uploaded the concept sketch here for extra context. Please enjoy Shigure's butt in her full glory haha. I thought about how to rescue a victim underwater and what is the procedure in real life. I most worried about air overexpansion in either the rescuer's lungs or more water inhalation into the victim's lungs. Both are not ideal, so here are two versions of RO-500 sharing the regulator between herself and Shigure. It might not be particularly interesting for this detail, but I like to as realistic as possible when it comes to underwater scenarios like this. (But not hoping for a underwater rescue situation like that IRL, touch wood haha ) ]