A/N: This one started out as Fog but quickly evolved into Trick so I'm submitting it as both Fog and Trick. There will actually be a single story for Trick but probably not for a while.

Smokescreen threw down his cards. "I'm out," he groused, avoiding the amused expressions on his competitors' faceplates. He leaned back in his chair and met their optics. "What? I don't always have a winning hand," he said innocently.

Snickers passed around the table and Smokescreen smiled. Now that he was out, he took a moment to glance around the Autobot rec room, optics falling on various mechs. He unconsciously studied them, noting their body language, expressions, what they were drinking.

His optics stopped on Air Raid. The Aerialbot was well into his third high-grade and enjoying himself tremendously, apparently sharing "war" stories with Streetwise and Blades. There was a lot of gesturing and laughing coming from that side of the room.

The hand ended and Smokescreen waved off the next hand, got up and wandered over to the three mechs. He sat down next to them and said, with all innocence, "I heard an interesting story today."

Streetwise glanced at Blades and then back at Smokescreen. He knew Smokescreen well enough to be suspicious of anything the blue and red Datsun thought was interesting. Unfortunately, Air Raid, too new and possibly too overcharged to have honed his suspicions, took the bait.

He leaned forward eagerly. "Really? What'd you hear?"

"Ever hear of Bigfoot?"

Streetwise's optics widened in surprise and he opened his mouth to say something but Blades kicked him in the foot. The coptermech was trying to keep a grin off his faceplate.

"No, I haven't. What's Bigfoot?"

"Some humans call it a missing link. You know, a step in the evolutionary chain of humanity. Other's think it's a hoax. But I hear it's out there just waiting to be caught. It walks on two legs, is big, much bigger than a human, all hairy."

Air Raid's optics brightened at the tale. "It's out there…in the woods?" He looked at Streetwise and Blades. Blades nodded in agreement. Streetwise kept still.

"Nobody's ever found it? Have they seen it?"

Smokescreen nodded. "Yep, there's a film of it, but nobody has seen it since, only hints and clues."

Air Raid nodded thoughtfully. "I bet I could find it."

Smokescreen shook his head. "Nah, too hard. You wouldn't stand a chance."

Air Raid seemed to puff up, the indignity obvious. He pushed himself to his feet. "I'll find him. Today, right now." He turned and stalked away; a flick of his fingers his only farewell.

When Air Raid had disappeared, Streetwise folded his arms across his chest and gave Smokescreen a disapproving stare.

"What?" Smokescreen said, acting innocent. "He'll be fine. And if he has problems, we can just drag him back."

Twelve hours later, Smokescreen and Streetwise were standing in the Ark entrance peering into a thick fog that could only be described as pea soup.

"Well?" Streetwise said.

"All right, we'll go look for him. I didn't make the fog, you know."

"Good," Streetwise said and transformed. He sped out of the Ark and disappeared into the fog.

Smokescreen followed him.

It quickly became obvious that the fog was going to be problem. Smokescreen could only see a small circle of road around him. He couldn't see Streetwise at all.

Suddenly, there was a crash and a shout of disgust and frustration. Smokescreen hit his brakes but found his body sliding slightly on the damp, slick asphalt. Cursing, he pumped his brakes. He felt them grip only to run out of road.

As his tires hit dirt, he transformed, but his feet sank into the mud on the road's edge and he tipped forward. He flung his hands out to catch himself and crashed into a tree that loomed out of the fog.

"I see you've met Mr. Tree," Streetwise said somewhere to his right and then pulled himself into view while clinging to another tree on the steep embankment.

"What in Primus' Name happened?" Smokescreen asked the police car mech.

"To me or to you? I drove off the road because it's so foggy I didn't see the curve. You just tripped in the mud."

"Ha, ha," Smokescreen said sarcastically and tried to stand. Once on his feet, he tried to walk back up to the road. His foot hit a pile of slippery leaves and he struggled to keep his balance. He failed and tipped over backwards and tumbled down the embankment. He hit the bottom with a splash of muddy water and a groan.

"Slaaag," he moaned and slapped his hands down hard in the water.

Streetwise held back a laugh. "You okay?" he called down before easing himself down to assist Smokescreen.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just dented, muddy and full of water."

Streetwise materialized out of the fog and offered him a hand up while bracing himself against a tree. Smokescreen took it and considered pulling Streetwise into the muddy water but just sighed and stood up.

"This is crazy," Smokescreen said. "Air Raid is a big boy. He can take care of himself. I'm going back to the Ark." He started crawling back up the side of the ditch.

Streetwise had to admit that Smokescreen had a point. If they couldn't even follow the road in the fog, there was no way they would be able to find Air Raid.

"Right, right." He followed Smokescreen and was soon standing on the road in the fog.

They transformed and crept back to the Ark at a snail's pace.

The Ark looked extremely inviting when it finally came into view. The front entrance glowed in the fog, seemingly welcoming them home.

Smokescreen transformed and stood in the entrance. "I'm getting a drink," he told Streetwise as soon the other mech had joined him. "Care to join me?"

Streetwise looked at his muddy frame and the puddle collecting at his feet. "Sure, why not."

Their arrival at the lounge was met by a few curious stares but nothing more. Muddy and dripping mechs were a common sight in this weather.

Smokescreen took a quick look around before heading to the energon dispenser and his optics landed on the one mech he didn't expect to see. He nudged Streetwise and pointed.

"Look."

Streetwise looked and then groaned. He grabbed Smokescreen's arm and dragged him over to Air Raid who was sitting warm and dry with Fireflight and Silverbolt.

"What are you doing here?" Smokescreen asked, feeling a little miffed.

"Huh?" Air Raid said looking at the two muddy mechs. "Oh, well, I was going to go look for Bigfoot, but when I took a look at that fog, I thought, no way am I going to find anything in that. So I figured I'd do a bit of research and maybe get a head's up on where Bigfoot…also known as Sasquatch…might be." He gave Smokescreen a long look. "Turns out he doesn't exist. Just a hoax." He glanced over at his team members. They looked back at him and then at Smokescreen.

Smokescreen took a step backwards and ran into Streetwise. Streetwise put a hand on Smokescreen's shoulder to keep him from fleeing.

Air Raid took a sip from his mug. "So," he said with a smirk. "What have you two been up to?"