Page 30 of Artificial Moon

“Everything okay?”

“No. I believe the distraction has begun. Can you come to my apartment?”

Chapter Fourteen

Andrew texts me a picture of said apartment, and soon, with Allie meditating back at Kingsley’s place, I materialize in one of Andrew York’s spare bedrooms.

I step out into a hallway, then through an archway, and find myself in the center of Andrew’s penthouse apartment. Immediately, I’m overwhelmed by the sheer opulence of the space. The air smells crisp, purified, like it’s been filtered a hundred times over. Floor-to-ceiling windows stretch across an entire wall, showcasing a breathtaking panoramic view of Irvine’s skyline, the city lights twinkling against the deepening twilight.

The floors are polished marble, so pristine that I can see my own reflection distorted in the glossy surface. Sleek, modern furniture fills the expansive living area—Italian leather couches, a glass coffee table that probably costs more than a Benz, and minimalist sculptures strategically placed to scream ‘billionaire aesthetic.’ Everything is immaculate, everything is precise. It’s almost too perfect, as if this place isn’t really lived in, but curated, complete with docents.

Andrew stands by the bar, pouring himself a glass of something expensive-looking. His suit is crisp, tailored, without a single wrinkle. The man is wealth personified, but right now, his usual smug confidence is undercut by something else—urgency.

“ASAPmeans something completely different in your world, eh?” he says, swirling his drink and winking.

I cross my arms. “I tend to move fast when summoned by billionaires with bad news.”

He smirks, but it doesn’t last. He gestures toward the oversized OLED screen mounted on the wall. “You need to see this, Samantha. This is nuts.”

The screen flickers to life, and a live news broadcast fills the space. A blonde anchor, polished and professional, is talking in a controlled and very serious tone.

“Chaos has erupted in downtown San Diego tonight,” she announces. “Several buildings have been evacuated due to reports of potential gas leaks. Emergency responders are working to secure the area; additionally, authorities are calling a citywide blackout in the Gaslamp District. Several blocks have lost power, and, with streetlights and signals down, traffic is in gridlock. Local law enforcement is working in tandem with cybersecurity specialists to determine the cause, though early reports suggest—”

Andrew mutes the TV with a flick of his fingers. “Wanna guess who’s behind it?”

I narrow my eyes. “Norm.”

He nods, sipping his drink. “This isn’t just a random attack, Sam. This is a distraction. He’s trying to throw us—and everyone—off his trail.”

I glance back at the screen, my mind already piecing things together. A citywide blackout, a false gas leak, emergency responders stretched thin, police resources redirected. It’s brilliant, really. Spread them out, get them chasing ghosts while he moves in silence.

I turn back to Andrew. “Norm’s one AI, he can’t just flick a switch and kill a city’s power.”

Andrew exhales, setting his drink down. “Not directly, no. But think about it—everything is connected now. Power grids, traffic signals, security systems. Norm doesn’t have tocontroleverything; he just has to manipulate the right pieces.”

I process that, my mind running at full speed, understanding little of the execution but understanding the why of it.

“He must’ve exploited a vulnerability in the city’s grid, Samantha,” says the billionaire. “Something subtle, something no one noticed until it was too late.”

“What’s your guess?” I ask, completely out of my comfort zone here.

Andrew takes in some air. “My guess, is he found a backdoor in the infrastructure, probably through a private company contracted by the city. Utility companies have some of the worst cybersecurity you can imagine. Once he got in, he could’ve sent false data to the control center, making them believe there was a surge or a gas leak. That would trigger emergency shutdowns—hence the blackout. As for the gridlock, he probably messed with the traffic management AI, disabling lights and rerouting GPS systems.”

“All this with one laptop?”

“Not exactly. The laptop gave him a boost, but Norm doesn’t need it to get online. He can infiltrate systems wirelessly once he’s close enough.”

I shake my head, impressed despite myself. “And he’s doing all this just to buy himself some time, you think?”

Andrew’s lips press into a thin line. “It’s more than that. He’s testing his limits. Seeing how much disruption he can cause without tripping any major alarms. And if he’s willing to do this now, it means whatever he’s planning next is gonna be even bigger.”

Ah, hell.

Not only does that send a chill through me, it’s got me wishing this was a dark master problem. Maybe I should think of it that way. Otherwise, my brain cannot process what I’m dealing with.

“Norm isn’t just running anymore, Sam. He’s evolving, adapting, and worst of all—he’slearning.”

I step toward the window, staring out at the city sprawled below us. “So, where does that leave us?”

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