Template:Featured Articles/28-2022

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MoA Maverick2.png
Moment of Awesome - David North/Maverick: During the Baltimore Crab Emergency North and Artie Maddicks steal a boat.


The dock had an abundance of boats. Sail boats, little motor boats, a few pontoon boats, even a few fishing boats that bragged of money and the time to go fishing. Better yet, it had a single fence, with one shoddy lock standing between the access road and the boats. Artie rattled it slightly and smiled slightly.

It only took seconds to tease it open and walk on in. He locked the gate behind them, helpfully. Wouldn't want anyone to break in after them. Artie looked at the various options surrounding them critically. The small ones were clearly off limits. They all looked like one wrong move would lead the whole thing turning over and everyone drowning. The fishing boats were probably going to be complicated. Which left some medium looking boats. He stared at one and frowned. "Do you know how to drive a boat?" The text shimmered in the air and vanished. Hire Boat and arrows pointed at a few with obvious logos from one of the hire places. "Those ones probably have manuals. How hard can driving a boat be?"

"Yes," North affirmed, one hand tucked into the pocket of his trench coat as he surveyed the area. "Like driving a car without brakes."

He pointed at one of the medium-sized boats Artie had shortlisted that could comfortably carry four people and a dead body. "Would you like to learn?"

"I can't say no to that," Artie replied, unhooking and folding the covers to stow them before untying the mooring ropes. "But you're getting us out of the damn marina." The boat rocked alarmingly as he jumped in.

"Aye, aye," North replied, crossing onto the deck after him, heading straight to the controls and power terminals for some good old hot-wiring.

Between the two of them, they got the boat ready in short order and the rumble of the engine soon ripped through the quiet night.

North was no longer fond of unnecessarily kick-starting his powers, but the glint of the dark waters beneath the vessel reminded him of the visions of drowning that had been haunting his recent dreams. So it was with cloudy eyes that he waved his younger companion over and made space for him in front of the controls once they were out in more open waters.

"Steer left to go left, right to go right," he said, taking a seat on a nearby ledge. "Gear stick to the right - forward to forward, neutral to drift and back to reverse or brake."

Artie had found life jackets under one of the seats and finished putting his on before sliding awkwardly across the seat to take the controls. "Put a life jacket on. Please." The floating text illuminated the deck, giving everything a sickly green. "I suppose this is where I tell you I can't swim?"

"You have a life jacket," North pointed out, not quite succeeding in his vague attempt at sounding reassuring. He obligingly picked up the neon garment Artie had left out, but did not put it on as he added: "My powers are active."

"Please. Put. That. On." The words dropped, one by one, over the life jacket. "The sea is angry. Don't tempt fate." He frowned, focussing on steering and driving the boat. "And then tell me where to go."

North cut him an unimpressed look, seemingly iris-less orbs eerie in the green glow of the text. "I will if I have to."