Oliver tracks down his tormentor Rick Flag, learns he exchanged him for Chloe, who died poisoned, and informs Clark, who helps him work out Chloe actually staged her fake death. On her Daily Planet assignment in Egypt, Lois meets archaeologist Carter Hall ans soon suspects his story about a reincarnated Pharaonic prince is autobiographic. Clark dislikes her staff replacement Cat Grant, but saves her from never identified, yet infallible assassin Deadshot and learns he was the actual target, actually hired by Flag, knowing Superman's weakness is his noble need to protect.

Clark, Oliver, Lois and Dinah are back home after long VRA captivity, with confused memories and robbed of all superhero-powers. They believe they have been tortured in an experimental lab by none other than Chloe, hence fear she switched sides. Then she, or rather her avatar, appears in dreams to each of them, claiming they only lost their powers in a virtual illusion, which can nevertheless kill them for real. She calls upon them to trust her, break the virtual spell by believing it fake and thus escape back into reality, with Rick Flag's team. Oliver does so quickly, and is reunited with his true love. Clark wants to, but finds it extremely hard, until Lois joins in.