A mask is quickly grabbed by the medico and placed upon the Vulcan's face, and a trained hand glides into his suit, finding a gap at the base of the neck in which to go through. There is nary a minute to waste, even to completely remove the suit, with just how long a time he had been without oxygen. That hand then begins to press against his chest, then release, then press again. The motions are awkward indeed, given the restrictive space in which to work. Yet it is, at least, a start. With no word given to her, the Lieutenant quickly reaches to grab at the suit, and starts to remove the protective garment section by section. And as each portion is removed, the compressions against the Vulcan's chest become much easier, much more fluid. Much more effective.

Soon, the shuttle begins to move, swinging around to face the very path it had taken into the field. Its course being that of an exit, it begins to once again follow the Lieutenant's beacon signals, in a reversal of its prior encounters with them. Lights and screens begin to flicker, and the trio's quick escape from this space is much more crucial. Whatever occurred with the shuttle that the Vulcan and Lieutenant had occupied before, may soon happen to this vessel.

Under the direction of the helmsman, the shuttle's speed increases, the engines pushing as far as they can go. Their escape is soon upon the trio, with the debris field's exit coming into view. The vessel begins to tremble, rattling its framework, control panels, equipment and occupants alike.

Fearful of teetering on the precipice of the incident that befell his crewmates before, the helmsman attempts to push the shuttle's engines even further. Whatever happened all those endless hours ago, may well happen again; and that, he will not have. And, soon enough, as quickly as their venture had begun, it is now over. Well, this portion of it, anyway.

As the vessel trembles no more, the lights and screens cease their flickering, and Sulu's voice breaks through the air.

"Debris field cleared. We're within comms range, Lieutenant."

Of course, the Communications Officer heeds the words of the helmsman, her form moving to act. By her hands, the Vulcan had been freed from his suit, and chest compressions are continued by the medico. And now, as she rises to her feet, there is an odd sensation, of an unsteady body and blurred vision. Oxygen deprivation affects her still, even now after meagre amounts had been given via the mask. And yet, she pushes herself to move, for the sake of the stricken First Officer.

"You alright?" Sulu's query breaks her temporary fog.

"I'm fine."

Her answer and subsequent eye contact to her crewmate are brief indeed, yet with the present task guiding her full attention, it is not at all surprising. A screen is tapped by her deft fingers, and there is a slight crackle in the communications system upon its activation.

"I'll take the shuttle back to the ship, you go with McCoy and Spock, alright?" The helmsman takes a moment to speak, before his crewmate's instructions are given.

Another nod of Uhura's head to heed his words, and a channel is opened.

"Uhura to Enterprise – we found him. Have the transporter ready to beam McCoy, Spock and myself directly to the Medbay."

While the crackle remains, her instructions are understood, and subsequently followed.

"[Acknowledged. We have a lock on you now.]"

And so, the communique is ended, the line severed, and the Lieutenant makes the journey back to her crewmates on the floor. Still the Vulcan does not draw breath, still the medico's hands continue to work, compressing the chest as they had done for sometime.

"Come on, dammit..." At regular intervals, the medico takes a pause, to discern if the compressions have achieved their goal; and every time it's found that they haven't, there is a fresh wave of dismay.

Uhura is uncertain as to just how long it had been since this task was started, yet every minute is vital. Every minute that passes is one closer to her losing him. She knows this, as of course does McCoy, whose brow is spattered with sweat. It is clear that he will not give up...and nor should she.

"Uhura, McCoy...good luck." The helmsman's voice once again breaks the air. Luck, and therefore hope, at this point is much needed.

With the trio in their respective positions, they soon become surrounded by bright golden rings, and in seconds, they are gone. With hope now riding on the skill of the medical staff, Sulu guides the shuttle back home, his face grim.

ooo

The very moment those luminescent rings dissipate within the Medbay walls, there is a dash of figures towards the newly-returned trio. Medical staff are quick to act, assisting McCoy with hoisting the Vulcan onto the nearest biobed. Uhura, still affected by her own loss of oxygen, is once again unsteady as she makes an attempt to stand. This time, a set of hands grab her before her limbs completely fail her.

"I got you, Lieutenant." The voice – and therefore the hands – belong to Doctor M'Benga, who had been overseeing the ward and any patients therein during McCoy's absence, and awaiting his return with this new case.

Now, Uhura too is placed upon a biobed, one not far from the Vulcan. Her vision foggy, her mind is screaming at her to remain awake, to see him, to witness his revival. Yet, as an oxygen mask is finally placed over her mouth, everything around her begins to turn dark, figures and objects murky like clouded waters.

ooo

As that fog seemingly begins to dissipate, she finds herself once again adrift in the void of space. Time and reality have no place now, yet all seems so tangible, so very real. From the weight of her suit to the warmth of her own breath, it is as if she had never left. And, then, there is the added heft of a figure by her side, and that familiar movement of hands...and the oxygen line.

"Your survival is...much more important...than my own."

As the cord is reconnected to her suit, its click inaudible in the airless space, her mind apparently discerns it all the same. And then, a gloved hand is gently placed upon her belly.

"Take...care of our...child..."

In a split moment, he is pulled from her, and they drift further and further apart, until nothing remains but darkness.