"I almost forgot how cold Russia is," Lois said, pulling the zipper to her coat higher and stepping off the plane.
"Are you warm enough?" Oliver asked Chloe almost nervously. He was trying to overcome the programming, and she nodded appreciatively.
J'onn was rather quiet. Maybe he was trying to get past the block in his mind to his real memories.
Oliver had already hired a car to take them around from the plane. The timing couldn't have been better as by the time they drove over to the Russian White House, it was time for the appointment though she would have much preferred to fly here with Clark, so she would have been without the crick in her neck from sleeping on the plane.
It took three checkpoints to get inside. The hall was grand, the hallways less so, but the door to the prime minister's office was gilded in gold.
"We can't all go in there," Lois said. "I made the appointment, so I'll go. And Clark. I can get by with a plus one."
Only Oliver looked a little disgruntled, but not as irritated as before confirming that the story was true; it was more that he hated being left out than jealous.
The prime minister was an aging man who regarded them a little suspiciously though he shook their hands. "Lois Lane. I hope you are not here in Moscow to delve into-how would you Americans say it-hot topics? I'm not looking for bad press."
"Trust me. I have more important things to worry about at the moment than what's going on in Russia. I actually have a few questions that only you can answer."
"Who is this?" the prime minister said, squinting at him as if he were a spy.
"My partner, Clark Kent."
"Great. Another American reporter. I am so lucky, " he said, his heavy accent dripping with sarcasm.
"You'll like him. He's the nice one," Lois said with a wry smile as she took a seat.
He and the prime minister followed her example by taking their seats.
"Actually, Prime Minister, you can relax," she said. "I'm playing nice too. You're not the one on the hot seat. We're here for another reason."
"Oh?" he said, folding his hands on his desk. He played calm, but his tense posture said he wasn't."
"We wish to discuss your nephew," Clark said before she made the man squirm anymore.
"I have no nephew," he said, looking back and forth between them.
"Are you sure?" Lois asked, turning suspicious herself. "Or are you trying to cover up for him?"
"Of course I'm sure. One would have to have a sister or brother for that in law or blood. I have neither. And if I had, I certainly wouldn't forget it."
"That's not what our source revealed. It said that he and you were related."
"Then I'm afraid your source is misinformed, but I may be of service if I knew the name of this so-called nephew."
"His name was-is Mikhail Mxyzptlk," Clark said. "He was an exchange student in Smallville, Kansas back in the early 2000s."
"His first name is Russian, but I have never heard of the man. Certainly if he has committed any crime while in the States and is truly a citizen, we will punish him to full extent of the law."
"I'm not sure they make laws against what he has done, but we thank you for your time, Prime Minister," Clark said.
"They definitely should though," Lois mumbled as Clark helped her to her feet by holding her good hand.
"This is the easiest, shortest interview I've ever had with the Press," the prime minister said. "Please, enjoy Russia, and if there is anything else I can do, do not hesitate to call my office."
"Think he was lying?" Lois asked once they were out of the office.
"No, his breathing and heart rate were both very normal."
"Yeah, me neither." Her upward sigh made her bangs flutter adorably.
They made a phenomenal team, which he'd known. They'd teamed together a lot that first year in Smallville, everything from working together to solve Chloe's disappearance to finding Chloe a great birthday present. It was nice to see the years hadn't changed that and even sharpened it.
"What did you find out?" Chloe asked right away.
"That Mikhail is not a real person, or if he is, he was living under an assumed identity," Lois said. "I think he was our fifth dimension friend."
"He must have been a hologram or something like it," Chloe concluded.
"No, I would've known if he was a hologram," Clark argued.
"You forget fifth dimension technology is far above even Kryptonian technology. Even with powers from the yellow sun, he could fool your senses," J'onn said.
"Kryptonian what?" Oliver asked. "What's this about the sun?"
"There's no time for explanations," Lois said, brushing off his question. "We have to focus on finding Mxyzptlk."
"Or I can find you," said Mxyzptlk himself.
It was strange. He didn't look exactly like Mikhail. He was much shorter and floating in the air for one thing, but there was enough resemblance about him that it was obvious they were indeed one and the same.
"Clever little group, aren't you?" he asked , breaking their stunned silence.
They all cast their eyes around the busy hallway where workers and visitors were going about their day.
"Don't worry. No one can see me right now but you five." He looked very pleased with himself. Amused, in fact.
"So you finally deign to show yourself," Lois said.
"I'm bored with this reality," he said still grinning. "I've decided to let you play the next level."
It was like he'd suspected from the last visit: this was all one big game to him more than a chance to hurt them. It had no doubt been his idea of a lark in high school too, easily manipulating people like puppets, but he'd topped it this time. "You are sick. You should go back where you came from."
"Where would be the fun in that? I was in the neighborhood a few days ago, and I happened to hear your wife talking in her sleep, and I thought what would she do if her little prediction actually came true. I couldn't resist. I thought my enjoyment was spoiled when she got people to believe her, but I think it'll be even more comical to watch you all try to trick me. It won't be easy I assure you."
They finally had a face with the voice, but he was right. How in the world were they going to get him to say his name backward, especially since he knew that was their mission?