Leo sat in his dimly lit room, staring at his MediaTek-powered smartphone. It was "bricked"—a high-tech paperweight that wouldn't get past the boot logo. Most people would have recycled it, but Leo knew about the "Scatter file."

: Finally, a giant green checkmark appeared on the screen. The "Download OK" signal.

Leo zoomed in. The man in the reflection was looking directly at the camera. He was holding a sign. The words were faint but legible: