Together We Stand, United We Fall

Chapter One: Independence Day

Author's Note: Hello! Welcome to the first installment of my OC's story in the Young Justice Universe. This story was published in 2014 and completed in 2015. Since then, I've completed another installment and currently am writing the third installment. I've decided to return and edit this story. (Edited/Published: 12/04/2018)

As usual, enjoy.

Star City

July 4, 2010

09:01 PDT

Black Canary inhaled deeply before releasing a Canary Cry; Frost Bite stumbled back, attempting to steady herself while also covering her ears.

I flew towards Frost Bite, cocking my fist back before it connected with Frost Bite's nose. With a loud crack, she fell to the floor, moaning.

"That was for making us late," I said, pressing my foot against Frost Bite's throat.

"You're excited, I see," Canary smirked, securing the inhibitor collar around Frost Bite's neck. The awaiting officers hurried over, lifting Frost Bite from the street and into the van marked Belle Reve.

"I am," I paused, glancing at the hovering jet in the sky, "today's the day."

Washington D.C.

July 4

14:00 EST

Green Arrow, Black Canary, Speedy, and I approached the awaiting members of the League and their respective proteges.

"Phoenix," Robin nodded.

"Robin," I greeted.

"Hello," Aqualad jutted out his hand. I clasped his hand, nodding curtly.

"Today's the day," Batman declared, placing a hand on Robin's shoulder.

"Welcome to the Hall of Justice," Green Arrow welcomed us, gesturing to the awaiting crowd of reporters and fans.

"Headquarters of the Justice League," Aquaman added, staring proudly at the massive building.

"And the honorary museum for our predecessor, the Justice Society of America," Black Canary informed, placing her hands on both my shoulders and squeezing gently.

I stared in awe at the crowd, listening to the cheers.

"Aw, man!" Kid Flash groaned from behind us. We turned, seeing the two speedsters skid to a halt.

"I knew we'd be the last ones here!" Kid Flash crossed his arms, annoyed.

Green Arrow smirked, "The fastest team alive and you two still manage to be late?"

The Flash shrugged, "We were a little occupied."

Batman interjected, interrupting their banter begore it begin, "Let's begin, shall we?"

As a whole, we began walking towards the large doors; I felt my stomach churn in nervousness.

"Is that Batman?"

"Oh, I see Flash and Flash Junior!"

"His name is Speedy."

"No, Speedy is Green Arrow's sidekick."

"Well, that makes no sense."

I attempted to maintain a straight face as the flashes of the reporters' cameras went off.

"Ready to see the inner sanctum?" Green Arrow questioned, glancing between Speedy and I.

"Born that way," Speedy answered somberly.

"Glad we are all here," Aqualad admitted.

"Have all five sidekicks ever been at the same place at the same time?" Kid Flash asked Robin, who walked beside him.

"Don't call us sidekicks. Not after today," Speedy hissed.

I nudged his arm, glaring slightly at him, "Be nice," I commanded. Speedy ignored me, walking up the stairs.

"Sorry about him," I whispered to Kid Flash, adding, "Speedy can be a little intense."

"I'm sorry, too," Kid Flash apologized, "it's my first time at the Hall. I'm a little overwhelmed."

Robin furrowed his brow, muttering, "You're overwhelmed, Freeze was underwhelmed. Why isn't anyone ever just whelmed?"

We entered the Hall of Justice, immediately in awe over the bronze statues that towered over us like gods.

"Oh," Robin exhaled.

"Maybe that's why?" I suggested sarcastically.

The metal door that was strategically placed underneath Superman's statue with the words 'Authorized Personnel Only' engraved into it slid open, revealing the Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado.

Martian Manhunter offered me a small smile before taking in the other proteges.

"Aqualad, Robin, Kid Flash, Phoenix, and Speedy," Martian Manhunter called our names by the order in which we stood, "welcome."

Robin and Kid Flash turned to each other, their open palms connecting for a high-five. I turned to Green Arrow, pounding my fist against his expecting one while simultaneously exchanging a wide grin with Black Canary.

We entered the large elevator, the excitement visible in each of our eyes.

"You now have unlimited access to the gym, our fully stocked galley, and of course, our library," Martian Manhunter informed as we emerged from the elevator. Books lined the bookshelves to the brink from the floor to the ceiling.

"Make yourselves at home," the Flash smiled, gesturing towards the small lounge area.

"Quick debrief to discuss the coincidence of five ice villains attacking on the same day." Batman informed our mentors, adding, "We shouldn't be long."

A scanner emerged from the ceiling as a monotone computer droned the Leaguers' designation codes.

Speedy stepped forward, questioning, "That's it?"

"You promised us a real look inside. Not a glorified backstage pass," Speedy complained, crossing his arms over his chest.

The League members paused, glancing at each other in a mixture of confusion and shock.

"It is a first step," Aquaman explained, "you've been granted access few others get."

"Oh, really?" Speedy challenged, gesturing. Towards the civilians taking pictures from the overhead glass ceiling. "Who cares which other side of the glass we're on?"

"Roy, you just need to be patient," Green Arrow stepped forward, attempting to calm his hot-headed ward.

"What I need is respect," Speedy hissed back.

Speedy turned, facing us, "They're treating us like kids," he paused, "no, worse: like sidekicks." He spat the word as if it were venom.

"We deserve better than this," Speedy declared.

The four of us glanced at each other in silence then back at Speedy. I stepped forward, shaking my head in disagreement.

"You're kidding, right?" Speedy questioned, the previous anger in his voice replaced now with hurt.

"You're playing their game. Why? Today was supposed to be the day! Step one in becoming full fledge members of the League." Speedy explained his frustrations.

"Well, sure, but I thought first step was a tour of the HQ," Kid Flash explained.

Robin glanced at me, raising an eyebrow in question; I merely shrugged in return.

"Except the Hall isn't the League's real HQ!" Speedy shouted.

The League members were caught completely off guard by Speed's reveal. Black Canary's gaze drifted away from Speedy and landed on me; her jaw clenched, and her arms crossed over her chest. I remained silent, standing still in my spot.

"I bet they never told you it's just a false front for tourists," Speedy continued his angry explosion, "and a pit stop for catching zeta-beam teleporter tubes to the real thing," Speedy pointed at the ceiling, "an orbiting satellite called the Watchtower."

Green Arrow glanced at Batman; in return, the Dark Knight crossed his arms, waiting for Green Arrow to explain himself.

"I know, I know," Green Arrow groaned, "but I thought maybe we can make an exception."

Batman's glare hardened as the other present members of the League erupted in hushed protest.

"Or not," Green Arrow murmured.

"You're not helping your cause here, son," Aquaman stepped forward, attempting to reason with Speedy, "Stand down or—"

"Or what? You'll send me to my room?" Speedy questioned mockingly. "And I'm not your son! I'm not even his!" Speedy snapped.

Green Arrow's eyes widened in surprise before a hurt expression took over; Black Canary placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Roy!" I shouted in anger.

"I thought I was his partner," Speedy admitted; I wasn't sure if he was speaking to me, Aquaman, or indirectly to Green Arrow. "But, not anymore."

Speedy removed his hat, throwing it on the floor with unnecessary force. The League members stared at Speedy in shock.

"I guess they're right about you four," Speedy insulted as he walked past me.

"Roy, you're not ready to go solo," I argued, watching as he hesitated at the threshold of the exit. He shook his head, never once looking back before the metal doors slid shut.

The computer announced an incoming transmission.

"Superman to Justice League. There's been an explosion at Project Cadmus. It's on fire," Superman explained.

"I've had my suspicions about Cadmus," Batman admitted. "This may present the perfect opportunity—"

The computer announced another incoming transmission.

"Zatara to Justice League. Wotan is using the Amulet of Aten to blot out the sun. Requesting full League response."

"Superman?" Batman questioned.

"It's a small fire. Local authorities have it under control." Superman responded.

"Then Cadmus can wait," Batman determined, typing on a holographic keyboard. "All Leaguers rendezvous at Zatara's coordinates. Batman out."

Batman turned to us, growling, "Stay put."

"This is a League mission," Aquaman explained, placing his hands on his hips.

"You're not trained—" Flash attempted to explain but was cut off by Kid Flash.

"Since when?"

"Since now," Black Canary sternly answered, his icy blue eyes silently warning me.

"What we mean is, you're not trained to work as part of this team," Flash motioned towards the Leaguers around him.

"There will be other missions," Aquaman assured.

"But until then, stay put. And I mean it," Batman warned as the Leaguer's entered the room marked 'League Members Only'.

I crossed my arms over my chest, anger boiling inside me. Roy had some nerve to pull something like that today, of all days.

"When we're ready?" Kid Flash scoffed. "How are we supposed to be ready when they treat us like-like sidekicks?"

"My mentor, my king. I thought he trusted me," Aqualad murmured sadly to himself.

"Trust? They don't even trust us with the basics! They've got a secret HQ in space!" Kid Flash yelled.

Kid Flash pointed at me, "I bet you knew, didn't you?" He accused.

"I didn't. I had my suspicions." I answered honestly.

"What else aren't they telling us?" Aqualad pondered.

"That's a very good question that I do not have the answer to." I retorted.

"I have a better question," Robin paused, "why didn't we leave with Speedy?"

The three boys stared at me. I struggled momentarily, unable to form a response.

A silence filled the room until Aqualad asked, "What is… Project Cadmus?"

"Don't know," Robin smirked, "but I can find out."

He walked to the computer monitors while simultaneously typing on his wrist computer.

"Access denied." The computer droned.

Robin cackled under his breath, "Want to bet?"

Robin typed a new code; the screen filled with numbers as Robin's wrist computer flashed from red to green.

"Woah. How are you doing that?" Kid Flash questioned in awe.

"Same system as the Batcave," Robin explained, typing on the computer's keyboard.

"Alright," Robin sighed, scanning the file, "Project Cadmus is a genetics lab here in D.C. That's all there is. But if Batman is suspicious, maybe we should investigate."

Aqualad nodded his head, continuing, "Solve their case before they do. It would be poetic justice."

"Hey, they're all about justice. It's even in their name." Robin joked.

"But they said stay put," Aqualad sighed.

"For the blotting out the sun mission, not this," Robin persuaded.

"What, are-are you going to Cadmus? 'Cause if you're going, I'm going," Kid Flash excitedly said.

Batman had left the holographic screen with the live feed of the Cadmus fire. I stared at the fire on the screen, watching the fire department attempt to control the fire. I chewed on my bottom lip, contemplating my decision.

I turned to the awaiting boys, smirking, "What are we waiting for? Let's go."

"Just like that? We are a team on a mission?" Aqualad questioned.

"Well, I sure as hell didn't come for some playdate. Let's show the League just how trained we really are." I answered.

Scientists shouted from the windows, waving their arms frantically. The firemen on the ground shouted back through megaphones, promising to save them. Another explosion jolted the building, throwing the scientists out the windows.

I flew overhead, extending my arms; both scientists hovered mid-air, before I settled them down by the ambulances.

Kid Flash pulled himself through the window, yelling over his shoulder, "It's Kid Flash!"

"Appreciate the help," Aqualad sarcastically acknowledged.

"You handled it," Robin noted, "Besides, we're here to investigate. Poetic justice remember?"

Aqualad peered out the window of the door, before gasping and moving away, muttering, "There was something in the hallway."

"Elevators should be shut down," Kid Flash said, reading over Robin's shoulder. I crouched, placing both hands firmly on the ground; the ground pulsed violently.

"Two elevators are shut down, but one isn't. I'm sensing something going down. Way down," I revealed.

"How?" Kid Flash excitedly questioned.

"Since I can manipulate kinetic energy, I can use it to sense kinetic energy," I explained.

"This is wrong," Robin muttered, scanning the results on the small holographic screen.

The four of us ran down the corridor, slowing once we approached the elevator doors. Robin typed on his wrist computer, nodding his head diligently, "Thought so. This is a high-speed express elevator. It doesn't belong in a two-story building. Phe, if you will?"

I stepped forward, pressing my hands firmly on the metal elevator doors. The doors slid open with a hissing creak, revealing a dark shaft illuminated by small lights.

"Neither does what I saw," Aqualad added, peering down the elevator shaft.

"And that's why they need an express elevator," Robin paused, adding, "to hide whatever Aqualad saw in the hallway."

Robin aimed his grappling gun, leaping from the edge of the doorway and into the shaft. Kid Flash and Aqualad stared at me before gasping as they floated beside me. I leaped down, following Robin with Kid Flash and Aqualad following suit.

"I'm at the end of my rope," Robin revealed. He swung back and forth before leaping onto the small platform. On the wall, SL-26 was painted on in bright red.

"Bypassing security," Robin informed, "There!"

I extended my hand, forcing the doors open. I lowered Kid Flash and Aqualad onto the platform, following behind them.

"Welcome to Project Cadmus," I whispered.

Kid Flash took off, running down the hallway.

"Kid, wait!" Aqualad whispered harshly. Kid Flash skidded to a halt, tumbling over as large, ape-like things stalked past him. Kid Flash rolled over, avoiding the fist of one of the creatures.

Kid Flash jumped to his feet, running back to us. The ape-like creatures continued their formation, until one turned back and stared at us. It roared loudly, leaning back on its hind legs.

"No, nothing odd going on here," Aqualad murmured sarcastically.

"Okay, I'm officially whelmed," Robin murmured as the large vault slid open. Odd looking creatures resided in pods throughout the room. They seemed to be in a medically induced coma.

"Welcome to Project Cadmus," I whispered, approaching the nearest pod. I stared at the hibernating creature; I almost felt sorry for them.

Kid Flash ran past me, down the long hallway, leaving a large gust of wind in his wake.

"Kid, wait!" Kaldur whispered harshly. The three of us ran after Kid Flash, skidding to halt at the end of the hallway; I watched as Kid Flash tumbled over, landing at the feet of large, ape-like things that marched down the hallway adjacent to the one in which we emerged from.

Kid Flash rolled over, just barely avoiding being stomped on. He sighed in relief, rising to his feet and ran back towards us. The ape-like things continued to march until one glanced at us. The entire heard halted, roaring loudly at us.

"No, nothing odd going on here," Aqualad murmured.

"Can you open it?" Robin asked me; I placed my hands firmly on the vault door, closing my eyes to concentrate.

"No," I exhaled, "it's made out of lead."

"Give me a second," Robin paused, "this door's security system is stronger than the others."

With a loud hiss of air, the vault door slid open, revealing a giant room filled with more pods containing more odd creatures. A large, blue orb floated in the center of the room, glowing brightly.

"The things in the pods seem to be responding to the orb's energy and producing their own," I noted.

"This is how they hide this massive underground facility from the world," Kid Flash murmured, slowly walking past a row of pods, "The real Cadmus isn't on the grid, it generates its own power with these… things. Must be what they're bred for."

"Even the name is a clue," Aqualad paused, "The Cadmus of myth created a new race by sowing dragon teeth into the earth."

"And this Cadmus creates life, too," Robin revealed, motioning us over to where he stood. He had entered a cord from his wrist computer into Cadmus' computer.

"They call them genomorphs," Robin shared before exclaiming, "Whoa, look at the stats on these things! Super strength, telepathy, speed, razor claws. And that's just the icing on the cake."

"Cadmus must be using the genomorphs' powers to benefit them somehow," I whispered, watching Robin scroll through the list of registered genomorphs.

"These are living weapons," Robin said.

"They're engineering an army," Kid Flash concluded, glancing around the room.

"But for who?" I questioned.

"Wait," Robin paused, typing rapidly on his holographic keyboard, "there's something else. Project Kr," Robin groaned, "The file's triple encrypted. I can't—"

"Don't move!"

I turned around, immediately positioning myself into a fighting stance. A large group of genomorphs and a man in an armored suit charged towards us.

"Wait," the man paused, commanding the genomorphs to standby, "Phoenix, Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash?" He pointed at each of us.

"I know you," I stepped forward, shielding Robin's movements as he attempted to hack into Project Kr's files. "Your name is Guardian, you're a hero."

Guardian visibly smirked, "I do my best."

"Then what are you doing here?" Kid Flash questioned.

"I'm Chief of Security," Guardian explained, "and you're trespassing. But we can call the Justice League and figure this out."

I glared, scoffing at his threat, "I'm sure the League will approve of you breeding weapons. These genomorphs are Cadmus' slaves."

"Weapons? What?" Guardian cut himself off; the horns of the genomorph that sat on Guardian's shoulder glowed a bright red. Guardian winced, gripping his head suddenly.

"It's not me, I swear," I muttered, easing Aqualad's suspicions.

Guardian composes himself, standing tall once more. "Take them down, hard! No mercy!"

"Go!" I shouted, pointing in the direction of the elevator in which we came from.

I extended my hands in front of me, igniting a large force field. The genomorphs slammed into the force field, growling and pounding against it.

I flew towards the elevator, breathing heavily as I land beside Kid Flash.

Robin leaps into the elevator shaft, shooting his grappling gun as he plummets into the dark abyss below.

"We are heading down?" Aqualad questioned.

"Dude, out is up!" Kid Flash shouted into the dark shaft. I flew into the shaft, motioning for Kid Flash and Aqualad to follow me. They floated in the air, gasping slightly as I maneuvered their bodies easily.

"Excuse me, but Project Kr is down on Sub-Level 52," Robin explained.

"This is out of control," Aqualad murmured, rubbing his neck tiredly, "Perhaps," he pauses, "perhaps we should contact the League."

"Too late for that now," I said, pointing to the glowing 52 on the shaft wall. I pressed my hands firmly on the metal door, sliding them open with easy. I ignited an orb, prepared to attack, but no one was on the other side of the door. I gently set Aqualad and Kid Flash down, before landing behind them.

"This is weird," I murmured, noticing the dirt floor, "The other Sub-Level was more developed. This Sub-Level has dirt floors and more pods."

The four of us walk down the long corridor, in silence, until we reach the end of the hallway. The hallways were littered with bins, full of dirty clothes.

"Which way?" Aqualad pondered.

"Yeah, bizarre looking hallway one or bizarre looking hallway two?" Robin retorted sarcastically.

"Halt!"

We all turn around simultaneously; a large genomorph, wearing an all-white jumpsuit, stands us down in the center of the hallway. Its horns glow red as it telekinetically lifts two plastic bins; I outstretch my hands, lifting the remaining bins in the air.

I glare at the genomorph before throwing the bins with all my might.

"Nice," Kid Flash grinned, watching the bins topple over the genomorph.

"I try my best," I smirked, flying beside the running boys.

"Now is so not the time to flirt, KF," Robin snapped.

"Guardian's back and he brought back up," I informed, glancing behind us. We turn a corner sharply; a woman emerges from a room guarded by an open vault door. She glances up from her clipboard, gasping in horror as Kid Flash slams into her. I press my hands firmly on the vault, forcing it to remain open.

"I'm not going to be able to hold on much longer," I revealed through clenched teeth. As Aqualad runs past me, I flew back, watching the vault door seal shut. I collapse onto my knees, exhausted.

"Phoenix, are you alright?" Aqualad asks, concerned; Kid Flash and Robin hover over me as Aqualad kneels beside me, helping me slowly onto my feet.

"The vault door is pure lead," I informed.

"So?" Kid Flash asks.

"It's too thick for me to sense what's behind it and determine how much power to use. I just used up so much power in such a short span of time," I explained.

"I disabled the door," Robin paused, watching Aqualad help me to my feet, "We're safe."

"We are trapped," Aqualad corrected.

"Uh, guys?" Kid Flash called out; the three of us turned in the direction of the speedster's voice. "You'll want to see this," Kid Flash promised, pressing a button on a small panel by a large pod. The pod hissed as it repositioned itself from a 45-degree angle to a 90-degree angle.

"Woah," I breathed out, approaching the pod slowly. Behind the glass, a younger looking Superman slept peacefully; on the glass, in scripted in large, red letters read Kr.

"Big K, little R," Kid Flash gasped, "that's the atomic symbol for krypton."

"He's in a sleep-induced resting period. Somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness," I explained, glancing around the large room. It seemed as this entire room was designated for Project Kr.

"Clone?" Kid Flash pondered.

"Robin, hack," Aqualad demanded.

"Right, right," Robin muttered, typing rapidly on his wrist computer's keyboard. He stood beside the control panel Kid Flash had originally pressed the button from.

"Weapon designation: Superboy. A clone grown in… 16 weeks!" Robin revealed, unable to contain himself. "From DNA acquired from Superman."

"Stolen," I corrected, "I doubt the Big Blue Boy Scout is just giving away free DNA."

"No way the Big Guy even knows about this," Kid Flash agreed, pausing, "No way anyone in League knows about this."

Robin nodded before continuing to read Superboy's file, "Solar suit allows him to absorb yellow-sun radiation 24/7."

"And these creatures?" Aqualad questioned, pointing to the small genomorphs that rested in small pods above Superboy's pod.

"Genomorph gnomes," Robin read, "telepathically force feeding him an education."

"And we can guess what else," Kid Flash darkly noted.

"They are making a slave out of, well, Superman's son," I murmured.

"Now we contact the League," Aqualad instructed, pressing the gold A on his belt. Kid Flash pressed the small button on his ear piece as Robin typed his coordinates on his wrist computer.

I pressed the red bird on my chest, watching it glow white before fading back to red.

"No signal," Robin and I said simultaneously. I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest before remembering my last resource.

"Wait," I instructed, gripping my gold utility belt. I slid it around my waist, fingering for the small, almost undetectable button. I pressed the button, hearing a small beep of confirmation.

"It's a panic button that automatically sends my location to the Arrow Cave. I don't know if it'll work this deep underground but it's worth a try," I said.

"We're in too deep, literally," Kid Flash sighed, kicking at the dirt floor in defeat.

"What are going to do?" Robin questioned, glancing at each one of us.

"Well, we can't just leave him here," I protested.

"That would be wrong of us," Kid Flash agreed.

"Set him free," Aqualad decided. Robin hesitated, raising an eyebrow at Aqualad.

"Do it," Aqualad reassured. Robin clicked a few keys on his holographic keyboard before sliding down a holographic latch.

The pod hissed open; we watched anxiously as Superboy's left hand began to twitch.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Robin murmured. I stared at the genomorph gnomes in the pods above Superboy; their horns glowed red, just like all the other genomorphs we had encountered when they used their abilities.

"I think they're contacting the others," I pointed at the genomorph gnomes.

Superboy fluttered his eyes open, glancing at each one of us. He lunged at Aqualad, tackling him easily onto the dirt floor. Robin and Kid Flash scrambled to pull him away from Aqualad as I dragged Aqualad from under Superboy's weight.

"Woah, woah! Hang on, Supey!" Kid Flash grunted through gritted teeth.

"We're on your side!" Robin assured the clone. Superboy grunted, charging at Kid Flash. Superboy's fist connected with Kid Flash's stomach; Kid Flash grunted as he slammed into Superboy's glass pod, smashing it into pieces.

As Robin ran past Superboy, he managed to successfully plant a smoke pellet in Superboy's mouth. I flew rapidly towards Superboy, wrapping my legs around his neck and wrapping my arms around his head. The pellet explodes in his mouth, sending Superboy stumbling back in shock.

Superboy blindly reaches for me, throwing me off him. I grunted, landing in a crouch by Kid Flash.

"KF, you okay?" I questioned, carefully brushing shards of glass from around his face. Kid Flash groaned, motioning me with his hand to return to Robin.

Robin aims his taser gun at Superboy, pulling the trigger. Superboy grabs the wires, pulling Robin to him. Superboy slams Robin into the ground, placing his foot on his chest. I charge towards Superboy, igniting two orbs around my clenched fists.

My orbs connect with Superboy's chest; he jolts back from the impact. I skid to halt beside Robin, helping him as Superboy and Aqualad begin to fight.

Robin gripped his chest, moaning before collapsing into my side. I groaned, half-dragging him to the furthest wall to protect him from falling debris.

"I'll be right back," I murmured, running to where Kid Flash lay unconscious. I extended my hand, lifting him into the air and placing him beside Robin's limp figure.

"We are trying to help you!" Aqualad shouted. I turn, watching as Superboy slams Aqualad into the ceiling twice. I watched in shock as Aqualad lands on the ground, limp.

I extend my hand, ripping Superboy's pod from the ground. I levitate it over my head, charging at Superboy. I grunt, throwing it at him with all my might. He grunted, skidding back from the impact. I flew in the air, aiming a large orb at him.

"We're on your side! We're trying to liberate you!" I cried, attempting to reach through to him through his mind.

Superboy lunged at me, grabbing me by my foot. He spun in the air, twirling me like a doll before throwing me to the ground. I landed with a ragged gasp, struggling for air as black specks poisoned my vision.

I moaned, attempting to crawl as Superboy slowly approached. He kicks my side, forcing me onto my back. He pressed his foot against my chest, hard, watching as I fell into unconsciousness.