The new Daily Planet editor pits Lois and Clark against each other for the right to keep their job, but the pair decide to write the ultimate story on ex-District Attorney Raymond Sacks, whose conviction was overturned. Their story ultimately collapses when the two of them become front page news for fighting at Sacks's "Welcome Back" party. As a result, the new editor fires both of them. Clark discovers that Lois has been talking to someone posing as the Blur, and when he tries to figure out who is really talking to Lois, the pressure of unmasking the Blur puts a strain on their relationship. Checkmate Agent Maxwell Lord kidnaps Lois and attempts to discover the identity of the Blur by combining the memories of people who have seen glimpses of the Blur into a single, cohesive identity. Clark prevents Lord from completing the image, and Lord's actions bring him face to face with the unidentified "Red Queen". As the Blur, Clark calls Lois and tells her they can never talk again, because of the danger their relationship poses to Lois.