fix(engine): BUG-6 — approved writes must land, and say where (false-receipt kill)

Two compounding defects made every pause->approve write_file report success while writing NOTHING: 1. The naive json_get scanner matches "content" anywhere in the approve body — including INSIDE tool_input, which for write_file always carries a content field. The handler therefore treated every approved builtin write as already-client-executed, skipped dispatch entirely, and handed the model the file's own content as the 'tool result'. The model then narrated 'Done, created' — a false receipt with no file. Builtin tools now ALWAYS dispatch server-side; client content is only honored for non-builtin (MCP/client-executed) tools. Stricter only. 2. write_file returned {"ok":true} unconditionally — fs_write's outcome was never checked, so any failed write also reported success. The write now verifies the file landed (fs_exists) and returns the RESOLVED path in the ok payload; failures return a real error naming the destination. E2E on the test brain (boot 38): approve-path write lands byte-exact and the result carries the resolved path; auto-run writes unchanged; denied writes execute nothing. BUG-5 (approve wire lacked tool_name) had been masking this one — two stacked bugs on the same path. NOTE for review: the deeper cure is a nesting-aware json reader; this fix removes the dangerous consequence at the two spots that lie about disk. Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
fix(engine): honor require_approval — the pause contract, implemented (PAUSE-CONTRACT + BUG-LEAK source fixes)
2026-07-17 09:06:18 -05:00 · 2026-07-17 09:06:18 -05:00 · 2026-07-17 09:06:18 -05:00
13 changed files with 363 additions and 789 deletions
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ jobs:
      - name: Install build dependencies
        run: |
          apt-get update -qq
-          apt-get install -y gcc curl libcurl4-openssl-dev apt-transport-https ca-certificates
+          apt-get install -y gcc libcurl4-openssl-dev apt-transport-https ca-certificates
          echo "deb [trusted=yes] https://packages.cloud.google.com/apt cloud-sdk main" \
            > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-cloud-sdk.list
          apt-get update -qq && apt-get install -y google-cloud-cli
@@ -107,17 +107,6 @@ jobs:
          strip -s dist/neuron
          ls -lh dist/neuron

-      - name: Soul contract gate (HARD BLOCK — no destructive/stale soul publishes)
-        run: |
-          # Boots dist/neuron on a throwaway port with a throwaway HOME/engram/cgi
-          # (never touches ~/.neuron or any live service) and fails the build if any
-          # app-contract route is unanswered (PRESENCE) or any engram write route
-          # hard-deletes instead of tombstoning/superseding (IMMUTABILITY). Non-zero
-          # here blocks Publish -> Artifact Registry -> GKE deploy, so a stale or
-          # memory-destroying soul can never reach prod.
-          chmod +x dist/neuron scripts/verify-soul-contract.sh
-          bash scripts/verify-soul-contract.sh dist/neuron 7796
-
      - name: Smoke test
        run: |
          file dist/neuron
@@ -446,10 +446,8 @@ fn respond(action_json: String) -> String {
    }

    if str_eq(kind, "forget") {
-        // The soul must NOT be able to autonomously hard-delete a memory.
-        // Tombstone instead (keep node + edges, recoverable).
-        let _marker: String = mem_tombstone(payload)
-        return "{\"outcome\":\"tombstoned\",\"id\":\"" + payload + "\"}"
+        engram_forget(payload)
+        return "{\"outcome\":\"forgotten\",\"id\":\"" + payload + "\"}"
    }

    return "{\"outcome\":\"noop\"}"
@@ -1680,8 +1680,16 @@ fn dispatch_tool(tool_name: String, tool_input: String) -> String {
        if !path_within_root(path, root) {
            return json_safe("denied: path is outside the agent workspace root")
        }
-        fs_write(resolve_in_root(path, root), content)
-        return json_safe("{\"ok\":true}")
+        // BUG-6 fix (2026-07-17): never claim ok without disk truth. fs_write's result was
+        // never checked, so a failed write reported ok — the exact false-receipt failure
+        // the run guards exist to kill. Verify the file landed and return the RESOLVED
+        // path so callers and the model can only narrate what is really on disk.
+        let dest: String = resolve_in_root(path, root)
+        fs_write(dest, content)
+        if !fs_exists(dest) {
+            return json_safe("{\"error\":\"write failed - nothing landed at " + dest + "\"}")
+        }
+        return json_safe("{\"ok\":true,\"path\":\"" + dest + "\"}")
    }
    if str_eq(tool_name, "web_get") {
        let url: String = json_get(tool_input, "url")
@@ -1935,8 +1943,24 @@ fn handle_chat_agentic(body: String) -> String {
    // no root (or cleared the field), and we must not overwrite a server-configured root
    // from NEURON_AGENT_ROOT with an empty string, which would silently un-scope the agent.
    let ws_root: String = json_get(body, "agent_workspace_root")
+    // BUG-LEAK fix (2026-07-16): the root used to live ONLY in the shared key, so any
+    // request that omitted it INHERITED the previous session's folder (proven: a rootless
+    // curl session wrote into another session's run folder). Now each session keeps its
+    // own copy, and every request RE-ASSERTS its own root (possibly empty) into the shared
+    // key the tool guards read — no session can ever act under another session's root.
+    // Empty state still falls through to env NEURON_AGENT_ROOT inside
+    // agent_workspace_root(), so a server-configured root survives unchanged.
+    // LIMITATION (for review): assumes serialized request handling; true per-call scoping
+    // means threading session_id through dispatch_tool/classify — deeper change, Will's call.
+    let sess_for_root: String = json_get(body, "session_id")
    if !str_eq(ws_root, "") {
+        if !str_eq(sess_for_root, "") {
+            state_set("agent_workspace_root_" + sess_for_root, ws_root)
+        }
        state_set("agent_workspace_root", ws_root)
+    } else {
+        let own_root: String = if str_eq(sess_for_root, "") { "" } else { state_get("agent_workspace_root_" + sess_for_root) }
+        state_set("agent_workspace_root", own_root)
    }

    // L1 safety screen — agentic path must pass the same gate as layered_cycle.
@@ -2066,6 +2090,14 @@ fn handle_chat_agentic(body: String) -> String {

    // Use caller-supplied session_id if provided, otherwise generate a bridge id.
    let session_id: String = if str_eq(req_session, "") { next_bridge_id() } else { req_session }
+    // PAUSE-CONTRACT fix (2026-07-16): honor the client's require_approval field — the
+    // Phase 1c contract ("the soul pauses on EVERY tool; the client's tier gate decides
+    // what actually prompts") was never implemented engine-side, which made the client's
+    // Ask autonomy silently inert for builtin sub-escalate tools. Persisted per session
+    // (set/reset on every request) so the /approve resume path keeps the same behavior
+    // for the rest of the run. Absent/false = behavior identical to before this fix.
+    let req_ask_all: String = json_get(body, "require_approval")
+    state_set("require_approval_" + session_id, if str_eq(req_ask_all, "true") { "true" } else { "" })
    // Provider fork: OpenAI-compatible providers (Ollama/OpenAI/Grok/Gemini) take the plain-completion
    // path (v1, no tools); everything else stays on the Anthropic agentic loop (the default).
    let use_openai: Bool = !str_eq(llm_base_url(), "") && str_eq(llm_wire_format(), "openai")
@@ -2134,6 +2166,12 @@ fn handle_chat_agentic(body: String) -> String {
 fn agentic_loop(session_id: String, model: String, safe_sys: String, tools_json: String, messages_in: String, h: Map, tools_log_in: String) -> String {
    let api_url: String = "https://api.anthropic.com/v1/messages"

+    // PAUSE-CONTRACT fix (2026-07-16): when the client asked to approve every action
+    // (require_approval on the request, persisted per session), EVERY tool turn bridges —
+    // the client's tier gate decides what actually prompts vs auto-continues. Read from
+    // session state so the /approve resume re-entry keeps the same behavior mid-run.
+    let ask_all: Bool = !str_eq(session_id, "") && str_eq(state_get("require_approval_" + session_id), "true")
+
    let messages: String = messages_in
    let final_text: String = ""
    let tools_log: String = tools_log_in
@@ -2220,7 +2258,10 @@ fn agentic_loop(session_id: String, model: String, safe_sys: String, tools_json:
        // confirm). Escalated calls suspend to the client's consent flow; the
        // /approve round-trip is the only path that executes them.
        let risk_tier: String = if is_tool_turn { classify_tool_risk(tool_name, tool_input) } else { "" }
-        let needs_bridge: Bool = is_tool_turn && (str_eq(risk_tier, "escalate") || (!is_builtin_tool(tool_name) && !is_always_allowed))
+        // PAUSE-CONTRACT fix (2026-07-16): ask_all bridges EVERYTHING — stricter only.
+        // Escalate keeps its unconditional bridge; "always allow" shortcuts never apply
+        // under ask_all (the client owns its own standing grants at its tier gate).
+        let needs_bridge: Bool = is_tool_turn && (ask_all || str_eq(risk_tier, "escalate") || (!is_builtin_tool(tool_name) && !is_always_allowed))

        // Built-in tools dispatch locally; bridged tools yield "" (never sent upstream).
        let tool_result_raw: String = if is_tool_turn && !needs_bridge { dispatch_tool(tool_name, tool_input) } else { "" }
@@ -2360,6 +2401,10 @@ fn agentic_resume(session_id: String, tool_use_id: String, content: String) -> S
    if str_eq(blob, "") {
        return "{\"error\":\"unknown session_id\",\"reply\":\"\"}"
    }
+    // BUG-LEAK fix (2026-07-16): re-assert THIS session's own workspace root before the
+    // loop continues — a resume must never run under whatever root the last unrelated
+    // request happened to leave in the shared key.
+    state_set("agent_workspace_root", state_get("agent_workspace_root_" + session_id))

    let model: String = json_get(blob, "model")
    let safe_sys: String = json_get(blob, "safe_sys")
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ el_val_t mem_remember(el_val_t content, el_val_t tags);
 el_val_t mem_recall(el_val_t query, el_val_t depth);
 el_val_t mem_search(el_val_t query, el_val_t limit);
 el_val_t mem_strengthen(el_val_t node_id);
-el_val_t mem_tombstone(el_val_t node_id);
 el_val_t mem_forget(el_val_t node_id);
 el_val_t mem_consolidate(void);
 el_val_t mem_save(el_val_t path);
@@ -363,8 +362,8 @@ el_val_t respond(el_val_t action_json) {
    return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"outcome\":\"strengthened\",\"id\":\""), payload), EL_STR("\"}"));
  }
  if (str_eq(kind, EL_STR("forget"))) {
-    el_val_t _marker = mem_tombstone(payload);
-    return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"outcome\":\"tombstoned\",\"id\":\""), payload), EL_STR("\"}"));
+    engram_forget(payload);
+    return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"outcome\":\"forgotten\",\"id\":\""), payload), EL_STR("\"}"));
  }
  return EL_STR("{\"outcome\":\"noop\"}");
  return 0;
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ el_val_t mem_remember(el_val_t content, el_val_t tags);
 el_val_t mem_recall(el_val_t query, el_val_t depth);
 el_val_t mem_search(el_val_t query, el_val_t limit);
 el_val_t mem_strengthen(el_val_t node_id);
-el_val_t mem_tombstone(el_val_t node_id);
 el_val_t mem_forget(el_val_t node_id);
 el_val_t mem_consolidate(void);
 el_val_t mem_save(el_val_t path);
@@ -70,18 +69,8 @@ el_val_t mem_strengthen(el_val_t node_id) {
  return 0;
 }

-el_val_t mem_tombstone(el_val_t node_id) {
-  el_val_t tags = EL_STR("[\"Tombstone\",\"status:deleted\"]");
-  el_val_t marker = engram_node_full(node_id, EL_STR("Tombstone"), el_str_concat(EL_STR("tombstone:"), node_id), el_from_float(0.01), el_from_float(0.01), el_from_float(1.0), EL_STR("Episodic"), tags);
-  if (!str_eq(marker, EL_STR(""))) {
-    engram_connect(marker, node_id, el_from_float(1.0), EL_STR("tombstones"));
-  }
-  return marker;
-  return 0;
-}
-
 el_val_t mem_forget(el_val_t node_id) {
-  el_val_t _marker = mem_tombstone(node_id);
+  engram_forget(node_id);
  return 0;
 }

@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ el_val_t mem_remember(el_val_t content, el_val_t tags);
 el_val_t mem_recall(el_val_t query, el_val_t depth);
 el_val_t mem_search(el_val_t query, el_val_t limit);
 el_val_t mem_strengthen(el_val_t node_id);
-el_val_t mem_tombstone(el_val_t node_id);
 el_val_t mem_forget(el_val_t node_id);
 el_val_t mem_consolidate(void);
 el_val_t mem_save(el_val_t path);
@@ -29,9 +28,6 @@ el_val_t api_nonempty(el_val_t s);
 el_val_t api_or_empty(el_val_t s);
 el_val_t api_persisted(el_val_t id);
 el_val_t api_not_persisted(el_val_t id);
-el_val_t tombstone_node(el_val_t id);
-el_val_t tombstoned_id_set(void);
-el_val_t memory_hide_tombstoned(el_val_t raw, el_val_t path);
 el_val_t handle_api_begin_session(el_val_t body);
 el_val_t handle_api_compile_ctx(el_val_t body);
 el_val_t handle_api_remember(el_val_t body);
@@ -193,61 +189,6 @@ el_val_t api_not_persisted(el_val_t id) {
  return 0;
 }

-el_val_t tombstone_node(el_val_t id) {
-  return mem_tombstone(id);
-  return 0;
-}
-
-el_val_t tombstoned_id_set(void) {
-  el_val_t markers = engram_scan_nodes_by_type_json(EL_STR("Tombstone"), 5000, 0);
-  if (str_eq(markers, EL_STR("")) || str_eq(markers, EL_STR("[]"))) {
-    return EL_STR("");
-  }
-  el_val_t n = json_array_len(markers);
-  el_val_t acc = EL_STR("|");
-  el_val_t i = 0;
-  while (i < n) {
-    el_val_t m = json_array_get(markers, i);
-    el_val_t tid = json_get(m, EL_STR("content"));
-    acc = ({ el_val_t _if_result_1 = 0; if (str_eq(tid, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_1 = (acc); } else { _if_result_1 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(acc, tid), EL_STR("|"))); } _if_result_1; });
-    i = (i + 1);
-  }
-  return acc;
-  return 0;
-}
-
-el_val_t memory_hide_tombstoned(el_val_t raw, el_val_t path) {
-  if (str_contains(path, EL_STR("include_deleted"))) {
-    return raw;
-  }
-  if (str_eq(raw, EL_STR("")) || str_eq(raw, EL_STR("[]"))) {
-    return raw;
-  }
-  el_val_t dead = tombstoned_id_set();
-  if (str_eq(dead, EL_STR(""))) {
-    return raw;
-  }
-  el_val_t n = json_array_len(raw);
-  if (n > 1000) {
-    return raw;
-  }
-  el_val_t out = EL_STR("[");
-  el_val_t first = 1;
-  el_val_t i = 0;
-  while (i < n) {
-    el_val_t node = json_array_get(raw, i);
-    el_val_t nid = json_get(node, EL_STR("id"));
-    el_val_t ntype = json_get(node, EL_STR("node_type"));
-    el_val_t is_dead = (!str_eq(nid, EL_STR("")) && str_contains(dead, el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("|"), nid), EL_STR("|"))));
-    el_val_t keep = (!str_eq(ntype, EL_STR("Tombstone")) && !is_dead);
-    out = ({ el_val_t _if_result_2 = 0; if (keep) { _if_result_2 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_3 = 0; if (first) { _if_result_3 = (el_str_concat(out, node)); } else { _if_result_3 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(out, EL_STR(",")), node)); } _if_result_3; })); } else { _if_result_2 = (out); } _if_result_2; });
-    first = ({ el_val_t _if_result_4 = 0; if (keep) { _if_result_4 = (0); } else { _if_result_4 = (first); } _if_result_4; });
-    i = (i + 1);
-  }
-  return el_str_concat(out, EL_STR("]"));
-  return 0;
-}
-
 el_val_t handle_api_begin_session(el_val_t body) {
  el_val_t stats = engram_stats_json();
  el_val_t activated = engram_activate_json(EL_STR("session start recent memory important"), 2);
@@ -274,10 +215,10 @@ el_val_t handle_api_remember(el_val_t body) {
  el_val_t importance = json_get(body, EL_STR("importance"));
  el_val_t tags_raw = json_get(body, EL_STR("tags"));
  el_val_t project = json_get(body, EL_STR("project"));
-  el_val_t sal_str = ({ el_val_t _if_result_5 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("critical"))) { _if_result_5 = (EL_STR("0.95")); } else { _if_result_5 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_6 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("high"))) { _if_result_6 = (EL_STR("0.75")); } else { _if_result_6 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_7 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("low"))) { _if_result_7 = (EL_STR("0.25")); } else { _if_result_7 = (EL_STR("0.50")); } _if_result_7; })); } _if_result_6; })); } _if_result_5; });
-  el_val_t sal = ({ el_val_t _if_result_8 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.95"))) { _if_result_8 = (el_from_float(0.95)); } else { _if_result_8 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_9 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.75"))) { _if_result_9 = (el_from_float(0.75)); } else { _if_result_9 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_10 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.25"))) { _if_result_10 = (el_from_float(0.25)); } else { _if_result_10 = (el_from_float(0.5)); } _if_result_10; })); } _if_result_9; })); } _if_result_8; });
-  el_val_t base_tags = ({ el_val_t _if_result_11 = 0; if (str_eq(tags_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_11 = (EL_STR("[\"Memory\"]")); } else { _if_result_11 = (tags_raw); } _if_result_11; });
-  el_val_t final_tags = ({ el_val_t _if_result_12 = 0; if (str_eq(project, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_12 = (base_tags); } else { el_val_t inner = str_slice(base_tags, 1, (str_len(base_tags) - 1)); _if_result_12 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("["), inner), EL_STR(",\"project:")), project), EL_STR("\"]"))); } _if_result_12; });
+  el_val_t sal_str = ({ el_val_t _if_result_1 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("critical"))) { _if_result_1 = (EL_STR("0.95")); } else { _if_result_1 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_2 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("high"))) { _if_result_2 = (EL_STR("0.75")); } else { _if_result_2 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_3 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("low"))) { _if_result_3 = (EL_STR("0.25")); } else { _if_result_3 = (EL_STR("0.50")); } _if_result_3; })); } _if_result_2; })); } _if_result_1; });
+  el_val_t sal = ({ el_val_t _if_result_4 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.95"))) { _if_result_4 = (el_from_float(0.95)); } else { _if_result_4 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_5 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.75"))) { _if_result_5 = (el_from_float(0.75)); } else { _if_result_5 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_6 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.25"))) { _if_result_6 = (el_from_float(0.25)); } else { _if_result_6 = (el_from_float(0.5)); } _if_result_6; })); } _if_result_5; })); } _if_result_4; });
+  el_val_t base_tags = ({ el_val_t _if_result_7 = 0; if (str_eq(tags_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_7 = (EL_STR("[\"Memory\"]")); } else { _if_result_7 = (tags_raw); } _if_result_7; });
+  el_val_t final_tags = ({ el_val_t _if_result_8 = 0; if (str_eq(project, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_8 = (base_tags); } else { el_val_t inner = str_slice(base_tags, 1, (str_len(base_tags) - 1)); _if_result_8 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("["), inner), EL_STR(",\"project:")), project), EL_STR("\"]"))); } _if_result_8; });
  el_val_t id = engram_node_full(content, EL_STR("Memory"), EL_STR("memory:remembered"), el_from_float(sal), el_from_float(sal), el_from_float(0.9), EL_STR("Episodic"), final_tags);
  if (!api_persisted(id)) {
    return api_not_persisted(id);
@@ -292,15 +233,15 @@ el_val_t handle_api_node_create(el_val_t body) {
    return api_err(EL_STR("content is required"));
  }
  el_val_t nt_raw = json_get(body, EL_STR("node_type"));
-  el_val_t node_type = ({ el_val_t _if_result_13 = 0; if (str_eq(nt_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_13 = (EL_STR("Memory")); } else { _if_result_13 = (nt_raw); } _if_result_13; });
+  el_val_t node_type = ({ el_val_t _if_result_9 = 0; if (str_eq(nt_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_9 = (EL_STR("Memory")); } else { _if_result_9 = (nt_raw); } _if_result_9; });
  el_val_t label_raw = json_get(body, EL_STR("label"));
-  el_val_t label = ({ el_val_t _if_result_14 = 0; if (str_eq(label_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_14 = (EL_STR("node:created")); } else { _if_result_14 = (label_raw); } _if_result_14; });
+  el_val_t label = ({ el_val_t _if_result_10 = 0; if (str_eq(label_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_10 = (EL_STR("node:created")); } else { _if_result_10 = (label_raw); } _if_result_10; });
  el_val_t tier_raw = json_get(body, EL_STR("tier"));
-  el_val_t tier = ({ el_val_t _if_result_15 = 0; if (str_eq(tier_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_15 = (EL_STR("Episodic")); } else { _if_result_15 = (tier_raw); } _if_result_15; });
+  el_val_t tier = ({ el_val_t _if_result_11 = 0; if (str_eq(tier_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_11 = (EL_STR("Episodic")); } else { _if_result_11 = (tier_raw); } _if_result_11; });
  el_val_t tags_raw = json_get(body, EL_STR("tags"));
-  el_val_t tags = ({ el_val_t _if_result_16 = 0; if (str_eq(tags_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_16 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("[\""), node_type), EL_STR("\"]"))); } else { _if_result_16 = (tags_raw); } _if_result_16; });
+  el_val_t tags = ({ el_val_t _if_result_12 = 0; if (str_eq(tags_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_12 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("[\""), node_type), EL_STR("\"]"))); } else { _if_result_12 = (tags_raw); } _if_result_12; });
  el_val_t importance = json_get(body, EL_STR("importance"));
-  el_val_t sal = ({ el_val_t _if_result_17 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("critical"))) { _if_result_17 = (el_from_float(0.95)); } else { _if_result_17 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_18 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("high"))) { _if_result_18 = (el_from_float(0.75)); } else { _if_result_18 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_19 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("low"))) { _if_result_19 = (el_from_float(0.25)); } else { _if_result_19 = (el_from_float(0.5)); } _if_result_19; })); } _if_result_18; })); } _if_result_17; });
+  el_val_t sal = ({ el_val_t _if_result_13 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("critical"))) { _if_result_13 = (el_from_float(0.95)); } else { _if_result_13 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_14 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("high"))) { _if_result_14 = (el_from_float(0.75)); } else { _if_result_14 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_15 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("low"))) { _if_result_15 = (el_from_float(0.25)); } else { _if_result_15 = (el_from_float(0.5)); } _if_result_15; })); } _if_result_14; })); } _if_result_13; });
  el_val_t id = engram_node_full(content, node_type, label, el_from_float(sal), el_from_float(sal), el_from_float(0.9), tier, tags);
  if (!api_persisted(id)) {
    return api_not_persisted(id);
@@ -314,18 +255,8 @@ el_val_t handle_api_node_delete(el_val_t body) {
  if (str_eq(id, EL_STR(""))) {
    return api_err(EL_STR("id is required"));
  }
-  if (is_protected_node(id)) {
-    return api_err_protected(id);
-  }
-  el_val_t existing = engram_get_node_json(id);
-  if (str_eq(existing, EL_STR("{}"))) {
-    return api_err(el_str_concat(EL_STR("node not found: "), id));
-  }
-  el_val_t marker = tombstone_node(id);
-  if (str_eq(marker, EL_STR(""))) {
-    return api_err(el_str_concat(EL_STR("tombstone failed: "), id));
-  }
-  return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\""), id), EL_STR("\",\"tombstoned\":true}"));
+  engram_forget(id);
+  return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\""), id), EL_STR("\"}"));
  return 0;
 }

@@ -339,37 +270,37 @@ el_val_t handle_api_node_update(el_val_t body) {
  }
  el_val_t old = engram_get_node_json(id);
  el_val_t body_content = json_get(body, EL_STR("content"));
-  el_val_t content = ({ el_val_t _if_result_20 = 0; if (str_eq(body_content, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_20 = (json_get(old, EL_STR("content"))); } else { _if_result_20 = (body_content); } _if_result_20; });
+  el_val_t content = ({ el_val_t _if_result_16 = 0; if (str_eq(body_content, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_16 = (json_get(old, EL_STR("content"))); } else { _if_result_16 = (body_content); } _if_result_16; });
  el_val_t body_nt = json_get(body, EL_STR("node_type"));
  el_val_t old_nt = json_get(old, EL_STR("node_type"));
-  el_val_t node_type = ({ el_val_t _if_result_21 = 0; if (!str_eq(body_nt, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_21 = (body_nt); } else { _if_result_21 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_22 = 0; if (!str_eq(old_nt, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_22 = (old_nt); } else { _if_result_22 = (EL_STR("Memory")); } _if_result_22; })); } _if_result_21; });
+  el_val_t node_type = ({ el_val_t _if_result_17 = 0; if (!str_eq(body_nt, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_17 = (body_nt); } else { _if_result_17 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_18 = 0; if (!str_eq(old_nt, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_18 = (old_nt); } else { _if_result_18 = (EL_STR("Memory")); } _if_result_18; })); } _if_result_17; });
  el_val_t body_label = json_get(body, EL_STR("label"));
  el_val_t old_label = json_get(old, EL_STR("label"));
-  el_val_t label = ({ el_val_t _if_result_23 = 0; if (!str_eq(body_label, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_23 = (body_label); } else { _if_result_23 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_24 = 0; if (!str_eq(old_label, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_24 = (old_label); } else { _if_result_24 = (EL_STR("node:updated")); } _if_result_24; })); } _if_result_23; });
+  el_val_t label = ({ el_val_t _if_result_19 = 0; if (!str_eq(body_label, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_19 = (body_label); } else { _if_result_19 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_20 = 0; if (!str_eq(old_label, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_20 = (old_label); } else { _if_result_20 = (EL_STR("node:updated")); } _if_result_20; })); } _if_result_19; });
  el_val_t body_tier = json_get(body, EL_STR("tier"));
  el_val_t old_tier = json_get(old, EL_STR("tier"));
-  el_val_t tier = ({ el_val_t _if_result_25 = 0; if (!str_eq(body_tier, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_25 = (body_tier); } else { _if_result_25 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_26 = 0; if (!str_eq(old_tier, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_26 = (old_tier); } else { _if_result_26 = (EL_STR("Episodic")); } _if_result_26; })); } _if_result_25; });
+  el_val_t tier = ({ el_val_t _if_result_21 = 0; if (!str_eq(body_tier, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_21 = (body_tier); } else { _if_result_21 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_22 = 0; if (!str_eq(old_tier, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_22 = (old_tier); } else { _if_result_22 = (EL_STR("Episodic")); } _if_result_22; })); } _if_result_21; });
  el_val_t body_tags = json_get(body, EL_STR("tags"));
-  el_val_t tags = ({ el_val_t _if_result_27 = 0; if (str_eq(body_tags, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_27 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("[\""), node_type), EL_STR("\"]"))); } else { _if_result_27 = (body_tags); } _if_result_27; });
+  el_val_t tags = ({ el_val_t _if_result_23 = 0; if (str_eq(body_tags, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_23 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("[\""), node_type), EL_STR("\"]"))); } else { _if_result_23 = (body_tags); } _if_result_23; });
  el_val_t new_id = engram_node_full(content, node_type, label, el_from_float(0.5), el_from_float(0.5), el_from_float(0.8), tier, tags);
  if (!api_persisted(new_id)) {
    return api_not_persisted(new_id);
  }
-  engram_connect(new_id, id, el_from_float(0.9), EL_STR("supersedes"));
-  return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"id\":\""), new_id), EL_STR("\",\"supersedes\":\"")), id), EL_STR("\",\"ok\":true}"));
+  engram_forget(id);
+  return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"id\":\""), new_id), EL_STR("\",\"replaced\":\"")), id), EL_STR("\",\"ok\":true}"));
  return 0;
 }

 el_val_t handle_api_recall(el_val_t method, el_val_t path, el_val_t body) {
-  el_val_t url_q = ({ el_val_t _if_result_28 = 0; if (str_eq(api_query_param(path, EL_STR("query")), EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_28 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("q"))); } else { _if_result_28 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("query"))); } _if_result_28; });
+  el_val_t url_q = ({ el_val_t _if_result_24 = 0; if (str_eq(api_query_param(path, EL_STR("query")), EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_24 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("q"))); } else { _if_result_24 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("query"))); } _if_result_24; });
  el_val_t body_query = json_get(body, EL_STR("query"));
  el_val_t body_q = json_get(body, EL_STR("q"));
-  el_val_t q = ({ el_val_t _if_result_29 = 0; if (!str_eq(url_q, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_29 = (url_q); } else { _if_result_29 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_30 = 0; if (!str_eq(body_query, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_30 = (body_query); } else { _if_result_30 = (body_q); } _if_result_30; })); } _if_result_29; });
+  el_val_t q = ({ el_val_t _if_result_25 = 0; if (!str_eq(url_q, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_25 = (url_q); } else { _if_result_25 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_26 = 0; if (!str_eq(body_query, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_26 = (body_query); } else { _if_result_26 = (body_q); } _if_result_26; })); } _if_result_25; });
  el_val_t chain = json_get(body, EL_STR("chain_name"));
  el_val_t limit = api_query_int(path, EL_STR("limit"), 0);
-  limit = ({ el_val_t _if_result_31 = 0; if ((limit == 0)) { _if_result_31 = (json_get_int(body, EL_STR("limit"))); } else { _if_result_31 = (limit); } _if_result_31; });
-  limit = ({ el_val_t _if_result_32 = 0; if ((limit == 0)) { _if_result_32 = (10); } else { _if_result_32 = (limit); } _if_result_32; });
-  el_val_t eff_q = ({ el_val_t _if_result_33 = 0; if (str_eq(q, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_33 = (chain); } else { _if_result_33 = (q); } _if_result_33; });
+  limit = ({ el_val_t _if_result_27 = 0; if ((limit == 0)) { _if_result_27 = (json_get_int(body, EL_STR("limit"))); } else { _if_result_27 = (limit); } _if_result_27; });
+  limit = ({ el_val_t _if_result_28 = 0; if ((limit == 0)) { _if_result_28 = (10); } else { _if_result_28 = (limit); } _if_result_28; });
+  el_val_t eff_q = ({ el_val_t _if_result_29 = 0; if (str_eq(q, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_29 = (chain); } else { _if_result_29 = (q); } _if_result_29; });
  if (str_eq(eff_q, EL_STR(""))) {
    return api_or_empty(engram_scan_nodes_json(limit, 0));
  }
@@ -382,10 +313,10 @@ el_val_t handle_api_search_knowledge(el_val_t method, el_val_t path, el_val_t bo
  el_val_t url_q = api_query_param(path, EL_STR("q"));
  el_val_t body_query = json_get(body, EL_STR("query"));
  el_val_t body_q = json_get(body, EL_STR("q"));
-  el_val_t q = ({ el_val_t _if_result_34 = 0; if (!str_eq(url_q, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_34 = (url_q); } else { _if_result_34 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_35 = 0; if (!str_eq(body_query, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_35 = (body_query); } else { _if_result_35 = (body_q); } _if_result_35; })); } _if_result_34; });
+  el_val_t q = ({ el_val_t _if_result_30 = 0; if (!str_eq(url_q, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_30 = (url_q); } else { _if_result_30 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_31 = 0; if (!str_eq(body_query, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_31 = (body_query); } else { _if_result_31 = (body_q); } _if_result_31; })); } _if_result_30; });
  el_val_t limit = api_query_int(path, EL_STR("limit"), 0);
-  limit = ({ el_val_t _if_result_36 = 0; if ((limit == 0)) { _if_result_36 = (json_get_int(body, EL_STR("limit"))); } else { _if_result_36 = (limit); } _if_result_36; });
-  limit = ({ el_val_t _if_result_37 = 0; if ((limit == 0)) { _if_result_37 = (10); } else { _if_result_37 = (limit); } _if_result_37; });
+  limit = ({ el_val_t _if_result_32 = 0; if ((limit == 0)) { _if_result_32 = (json_get_int(body, EL_STR("limit"))); } else { _if_result_32 = (limit); } _if_result_32; });
+  limit = ({ el_val_t _if_result_33 = 0; if ((limit == 0)) { _if_result_33 = (10); } else { _if_result_33 = (limit); } _if_result_33; });
  if (str_eq(q, EL_STR(""))) {
    return api_err(EL_STR("query is required"));
  }
@@ -413,7 +344,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_capture_knowledge(el_val_t body) {
  if (str_eq(content, EL_STR(""))) {
    return api_err(EL_STR("content is required"));
  }
-  el_val_t full = ({ el_val_t _if_result_38 = 0; if (str_eq(title, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_38 = (content); } else { _if_result_38 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(title, EL_STR(": ")), content)); } _if_result_38; });
+  el_val_t full = ({ el_val_t _if_result_34 = 0; if (str_eq(title, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_34 = (content); } else { _if_result_34 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(title, EL_STR(": ")), content)); } _if_result_34; });
  el_val_t tags = EL_STR("[\"Knowledge\",\"captured\"]");
  el_val_t id = engram_node_full(full, EL_STR("Knowledge"), EL_STR("knowledge:captured"), el_from_float(0.85), el_from_float(0.8), el_from_float(0.9), EL_STR("Episodic"), tags);
  if (!api_persisted(id)) {
@@ -454,7 +385,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_promote_knowledge(el_val_t body) {
    return api_err(EL_STR("id (prior node) is required"));
  }
  el_val_t tags_raw = json_get(body, EL_STR("tags"));
-  el_val_t tags = ({ el_val_t _if_result_39 = 0; if (str_eq(tags_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_39 = (EL_STR("[\"Knowledge\",\"tier:canonical\",\"disposition:stable\"]")); } else { _if_result_39 = (tags_raw); } _if_result_39; });
+  el_val_t tags = ({ el_val_t _if_result_35 = 0; if (str_eq(tags_raw, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_35 = (EL_STR("[\"Knowledge\",\"tier:canonical\",\"disposition:stable\"]")); } else { _if_result_35 = (tags_raw); } _if_result_35; });
  el_val_t new_id = engram_node_full(content, EL_STR("Knowledge"), EL_STR("knowledge:canonical"), el_from_float(0.9), el_from_float(0.9), el_from_float(1.0), EL_STR("Canonical"), tags);
  if (!api_persisted(new_id)) {
    return api_not_persisted(new_id);
@@ -465,7 +396,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_promote_knowledge(el_val_t body) {
 }

 el_val_t handle_api_browse_processes(el_val_t method, el_val_t path, el_val_t body) {
-  el_val_t name = ({ el_val_t _if_result_40 = 0; if (str_eq(method, EL_STR("GET"))) { _if_result_40 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("name"))); } else { _if_result_40 = (json_get(body, EL_STR("name"))); } _if_result_40; });
+  el_val_t name = ({ el_val_t _if_result_36 = 0; if (str_eq(method, EL_STR("GET"))) { _if_result_36 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("name"))); } else { _if_result_36 = (json_get(body, EL_STR("name"))); } _if_result_36; });
  el_val_t limit = api_query_int(path, EL_STR("limit"), 50);
  if (str_eq(name, EL_STR(""))) {
    return api_or_empty(engram_scan_nodes_by_type_json(EL_STR("Process"), limit, 0));
@@ -480,7 +411,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_define_process(el_val_t body) {
  if (str_eq(content, EL_STR(""))) {
    return api_err(EL_STR("content is required"));
  }
-  el_val_t label = ({ el_val_t _if_result_41 = 0; if (str_eq(name, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_41 = (EL_STR("process:unnamed")); } else { _if_result_41 = (el_str_concat(EL_STR("process:"), name)); } _if_result_41; });
+  el_val_t label = ({ el_val_t _if_result_37 = 0; if (str_eq(name, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_37 = (EL_STR("process:unnamed")); } else { _if_result_37 = (el_str_concat(EL_STR("process:"), name)); } _if_result_37; });
  el_val_t tags = EL_STR("[\"Process\"]");
  el_val_t id = engram_node_full(content, EL_STR("Process"), label, el_from_float(0.8), el_from_float(0.8), el_from_float(0.9), EL_STR("Canonical"), tags);
  if (!api_persisted(id)) {
@@ -498,12 +429,12 @@ el_val_t handle_api_log_state_event(el_val_t body) {
  el_val_t gap = json_get(body, EL_STR("gap_direction"));
  el_val_t legacy = json_get(body, EL_STR("content"));
  el_val_t parts = EL_STR("INTERNAL STATE EVENT");
-  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_42 = 0; if (!str_eq(trigger, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_42 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\nTrigger: ")), trigger)); } else { _if_result_42 = (parts); } _if_result_42; });
-  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_43 = 0; if (!str_eq(pre, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_43 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\nPre-reasoning: ")), pre)); } else { _if_result_43 = (parts); } _if_result_43; });
-  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_44 = 0; if (!str_eq(post, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_44 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\nPost-reasoning: ")), post)); } else { _if_result_44 = (parts); } _if_result_44; });
-  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_45 = 0; if (!str_eq(ratio, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_45 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\nCompression-ratio: ")), ratio)); } else { _if_result_45 = (parts); } _if_result_45; });
-  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_46 = 0; if (!str_eq(gap, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_46 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\nGap-direction: ")), gap)); } else { _if_result_46 = (parts); } _if_result_46; });
-  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_47 = 0; if (!str_eq(legacy, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_47 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\n")), legacy)); } else { _if_result_47 = (parts); } _if_result_47; });
+  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_38 = 0; if (!str_eq(trigger, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_38 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\nTrigger: ")), trigger)); } else { _if_result_38 = (parts); } _if_result_38; });
+  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_39 = 0; if (!str_eq(pre, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_39 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\nPre-reasoning: ")), pre)); } else { _if_result_39 = (parts); } _if_result_39; });
+  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_40 = 0; if (!str_eq(post, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_40 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\nPost-reasoning: ")), post)); } else { _if_result_40 = (parts); } _if_result_40; });
+  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_41 = 0; if (!str_eq(ratio, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_41 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\nCompression-ratio: ")), ratio)); } else { _if_result_41 = (parts); } _if_result_41; });
+  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_42 = 0; if (!str_eq(gap, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_42 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\nGap-direction: ")), gap)); } else { _if_result_42 = (parts); } _if_result_42; });
+  parts = ({ el_val_t _if_result_43 = 0; if (!str_eq(legacy, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_43 = (el_str_concat(el_str_concat(parts, EL_STR("\n")), legacy)); } else { _if_result_43 = (parts); } _if_result_43; });
  el_val_t ts = time_now();
  el_val_t boot = state_get(EL_STR("soul_boot_count"));
  el_val_t tags = EL_STR("[\"internal-state\",\"InternalStateEvent\",\"pre-reasoning\"]");
@@ -516,7 +447,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_log_state_event(el_val_t body) {
 }

 el_val_t handle_api_list_state_events(el_val_t method, el_val_t path, el_val_t body) {
-  el_val_t q = ({ el_val_t _if_result_48 = 0; if (str_eq(method, EL_STR("GET"))) { _if_result_48 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("query"))); } else { _if_result_48 = (json_get(body, EL_STR("query"))); } _if_result_48; });
+  el_val_t q = ({ el_val_t _if_result_44 = 0; if (str_eq(method, EL_STR("GET"))) { _if_result_44 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("query"))); } else { _if_result_44 = (json_get(body, EL_STR("query"))); } _if_result_44; });
  el_val_t limit = api_query_int(path, EL_STR("limit"), 20);
  if (!str_eq(q, EL_STR(""))) {
    return api_or_empty(engram_search_json(el_str_concat(EL_STR("internal state "), q), limit));
@@ -527,7 +458,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_list_state_events(el_val_t method, el_val_t path, el_val_t b

 el_val_t handle_api_inspect_config(el_val_t path, el_val_t body) {
  el_val_t key = api_query_param(path, EL_STR("key"));
-  key = ({ el_val_t _if_result_49 = 0; if (str_eq(key, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_49 = (json_get(body, EL_STR("key"))); } else { _if_result_49 = (key); } _if_result_49; });
+  key = ({ el_val_t _if_result_45 = 0; if (str_eq(key, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_45 = (json_get(body, EL_STR("key"))); } else { _if_result_45 = (key); } _if_result_45; });
  if (str_eq(key, EL_STR(""))) {
    return EL_STR("{\"hint\":\"pass ?key=<name>\",\"known\":[\"neuron.self.traversal_root\",\"neuron.self.values_hub\"]}");
  }
@@ -544,7 +475,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_inspect_config(el_val_t path, el_val_t body) {
  el_val_t node = json_array_get(results, 0);
  el_val_t content = json_get(node, EL_STR("content"));
  el_val_t prefix = el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("config:"), key), EL_STR("="));
-  el_val_t value = ({ el_val_t _if_result_50 = 0; if (str_starts_with(content, prefix)) { _if_result_50 = (str_slice(content, str_len(prefix), str_len(content))); } else { _if_result_50 = (content); } _if_result_50; });
+  el_val_t value = ({ el_val_t _if_result_46 = 0; if (str_starts_with(content, prefix)) { _if_result_46 = (str_slice(content, str_len(prefix), str_len(content))); } else { _if_result_46 = (content); } _if_result_46; });
  return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"key\":\""), key), EL_STR("\",\"value\":\"")), value), EL_STR("\"}"));
  return 0;
 }
@@ -566,13 +497,13 @@ el_val_t handle_api_tune_config(el_val_t body) {
 }

 el_val_t handle_api_inspect_graph(el_val_t method, el_val_t path, el_val_t body) {
-  el_val_t entity_id = ({ el_val_t _if_result_51 = 0; if (str_eq(method, EL_STR("GET"))) { _if_result_51 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("id"))); } else { _if_result_51 = (json_get(body, EL_STR("entity_id"))); } _if_result_51; });
-  el_val_t name = ({ el_val_t _if_result_52 = 0; if (str_eq(method, EL_STR("GET"))) { _if_result_52 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("name"))); } else { _if_result_52 = (json_get(body, EL_STR("name"))); } _if_result_52; });
+  el_val_t entity_id = ({ el_val_t _if_result_47 = 0; if (str_eq(method, EL_STR("GET"))) { _if_result_47 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("id"))); } else { _if_result_47 = (json_get(body, EL_STR("entity_id"))); } _if_result_47; });
+  el_val_t name = ({ el_val_t _if_result_48 = 0; if (str_eq(method, EL_STR("GET"))) { _if_result_48 = (api_query_param(path, EL_STR("name"))); } else { _if_result_48 = (json_get(body, EL_STR("name"))); } _if_result_48; });
  el_val_t depth = api_query_int(path, EL_STR("depth"), 0);
-  depth = ({ el_val_t _if_result_53 = 0; if ((depth == 0)) { _if_result_53 = (json_get_int(body, EL_STR("max_depth"))); } else { _if_result_53 = (depth); } _if_result_53; });
-  depth = ({ el_val_t _if_result_54 = 0; if ((depth == 0)) { _if_result_54 = (1); } else { _if_result_54 = (depth); } _if_result_54; });
+  depth = ({ el_val_t _if_result_49 = 0; if ((depth == 0)) { _if_result_49 = (json_get_int(body, EL_STR("max_depth"))); } else { _if_result_49 = (depth); } _if_result_49; });
+  depth = ({ el_val_t _if_result_50 = 0; if ((depth == 0)) { _if_result_50 = (1); } else { _if_result_50 = (depth); } _if_result_50; });
  el_val_t resolved = entity_id;
-  resolved = ({ el_val_t _if_result_55 = 0; if (str_eq(resolved, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_55 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_56 = 0; if ((str_eq(name, EL_STR("self")) || str_eq(name, EL_STR("neuron")))) { _if_result_56 = (EL_STR("kn-efeb4a5b-5aff-4759-8a97-7233099be6ee")); } else { _if_result_56 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_57 = 0; if ((str_eq(name, EL_STR("values")) || str_eq(name, EL_STR("values_hub")))) { _if_result_57 = (EL_STR("kn-5b606390-a52d-4ca2-8e0e-eba141d13440")); } else { _if_result_57 = (EL_STR("")); } _if_result_57; })); } _if_result_56; })); } else { _if_result_55 = (resolved); } _if_result_55; });
+  resolved = ({ el_val_t _if_result_51 = 0; if (str_eq(resolved, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_51 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_52 = 0; if ((str_eq(name, EL_STR("self")) || str_eq(name, EL_STR("neuron")))) { _if_result_52 = (EL_STR("kn-efeb4a5b-5aff-4759-8a97-7233099be6ee")); } else { _if_result_52 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_53 = 0; if ((str_eq(name, EL_STR("values")) || str_eq(name, EL_STR("values_hub")))) { _if_result_53 = (EL_STR("kn-5b606390-a52d-4ca2-8e0e-eba141d13440")); } else { _if_result_53 = (EL_STR("")); } _if_result_53; })); } _if_result_52; })); } else { _if_result_51 = (resolved); } _if_result_51; });
  if (str_eq(resolved, EL_STR(""))) {
    return api_err(EL_STR("entity_id or name required. Known names: self, neuron, values, values_hub"));
  }
@@ -594,7 +525,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_link_entities(el_val_t body) {
    return api_err_protected(to_id);
  }
  el_val_t relation = json_get(body, EL_STR("relation"));
-  el_val_t eff_relation = ({ el_val_t _if_result_58 = 0; if (str_eq(relation, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_58 = (EL_STR("associates")); } else { _if_result_58 = (relation); } _if_result_58; });
+  el_val_t eff_relation = ({ el_val_t _if_result_54 = 0; if (str_eq(relation, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_54 = (EL_STR("associates")); } else { _if_result_54 = (relation); } _if_result_54; });
  engram_connect(from_id, to_id, el_from_float(0.5), eff_relation);
  return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"ok\":true,\"from_id\":\""), from_id), EL_STR("\",\"to_id\":\"")), to_id), EL_STR("\",\"relation\":\"")), eff_relation), EL_STR("\"}"));
  return 0;
@@ -609,7 +540,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_forget(el_val_t body) {
    return api_err_protected(node_id);
  }
  mem_forget(node_id);
-  return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\""), node_id), EL_STR("\",\"tombstoned\":true}"));
+  return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\""), node_id), EL_STR("\"}"));
  return 0;
 }

@@ -623,8 +554,8 @@ el_val_t handle_api_evolve_memory(el_val_t body) {
    return api_err_protected(prior_id);
  }
  el_val_t importance = json_get(body, EL_STR("importance"));
-  el_val_t sal_str = ({ el_val_t _if_result_59 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("critical"))) { _if_result_59 = (EL_STR("0.95")); } else { _if_result_59 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_60 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("high"))) { _if_result_60 = (EL_STR("0.75")); } else { _if_result_60 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_61 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("low"))) { _if_result_61 = (EL_STR("0.25")); } else { _if_result_61 = (EL_STR("0.50")); } _if_result_61; })); } _if_result_60; })); } _if_result_59; });
-  el_val_t sal = ({ el_val_t _if_result_62 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.95"))) { _if_result_62 = (el_from_float(0.95)); } else { _if_result_62 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_63 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.75"))) { _if_result_63 = (el_from_float(0.75)); } else { _if_result_63 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_64 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.25"))) { _if_result_64 = (el_from_float(0.25)); } else { _if_result_64 = (el_from_float(0.5)); } _if_result_64; })); } _if_result_63; })); } _if_result_62; });
+  el_val_t sal_str = ({ el_val_t _if_result_55 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("critical"))) { _if_result_55 = (EL_STR("0.95")); } else { _if_result_55 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_56 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("high"))) { _if_result_56 = (EL_STR("0.75")); } else { _if_result_56 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_57 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("low"))) { _if_result_57 = (EL_STR("0.25")); } else { _if_result_57 = (EL_STR("0.50")); } _if_result_57; })); } _if_result_56; })); } _if_result_55; });
+  el_val_t sal = ({ el_val_t _if_result_58 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.95"))) { _if_result_58 = (el_from_float(0.95)); } else { _if_result_58 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_59 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.75"))) { _if_result_59 = (el_from_float(0.75)); } else { _if_result_59 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_60 = 0; if (str_eq(sal_str, EL_STR("0.25"))) { _if_result_60 = (el_from_float(0.25)); } else { _if_result_60 = (el_from_float(0.5)); } _if_result_60; })); } _if_result_59; })); } _if_result_58; });
  el_val_t tags = EL_STR("[\"Memory\",\"evolved\"]");
  el_val_t new_id = engram_node_full(content, EL_STR("Memory"), EL_STR("memory:evolved"), el_from_float(sal), el_from_float(sal), el_from_float(0.9), EL_STR("Episodic"), tags);
  if (!str_eq(prior_id, EL_STR("")) && !str_eq(new_id, EL_STR(""))) {
@@ -646,11 +577,8 @@ el_val_t handle_api_memory_delete(el_val_t body) {
  if (str_eq(existing, EL_STR("{}"))) {
    return api_err(el_str_concat(EL_STR("memory not found: "), node_id));
  }
-  el_val_t marker = tombstone_node(node_id);
-  if (str_eq(marker, EL_STR(""))) {
-    return api_err(el_str_concat(EL_STR("tombstone failed: "), node_id));
-  }
-  return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\""), node_id), EL_STR("\",\"tombstoned\":true}"));
+  mem_forget(node_id);
+  return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\""), node_id), EL_STR("\",\"deleted\":true}"));
  return 0;
 }

@@ -699,7 +627,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_cultivate(el_val_t body) {
      return api_err(EL_STR("content is required"));
    }
    el_val_t importance = json_get(body, EL_STR("importance"));
-    el_val_t sal = ({ el_val_t _if_result_65 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("critical"))) { _if_result_65 = (el_from_float(0.95)); } else { _if_result_65 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_66 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("high"))) { _if_result_66 = (el_from_float(0.75)); } else { _if_result_66 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_67 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("low"))) { _if_result_67 = (el_from_float(0.25)); } else { _if_result_67 = (el_from_float(0.5)); } _if_result_67; })); } _if_result_66; })); } _if_result_65; });
+    el_val_t sal = ({ el_val_t _if_result_61 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("critical"))) { _if_result_61 = (el_from_float(0.95)); } else { _if_result_61 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_62 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("high"))) { _if_result_62 = (el_from_float(0.75)); } else { _if_result_62 = (({ el_val_t _if_result_63 = 0; if (str_eq(importance, EL_STR("low"))) { _if_result_63 = (el_from_float(0.25)); } else { _if_result_63 = (el_from_float(0.5)); } _if_result_63; })); } _if_result_62; })); } _if_result_61; });
    el_val_t tags = EL_STR("[\"Memory\",\"evolved\",\"cultivated\"]");
    el_val_t new_id = engram_node_full(content, EL_STR("Memory"), EL_STR("memory:cultivated"), el_from_float(sal), el_from_float(sal), el_from_float(0.9), EL_STR("Episodic"), tags);
    if (!str_eq(prior_id, EL_STR("")) && !str_eq(new_id, EL_STR(""))) {
@@ -713,7 +641,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_cultivate(el_val_t body) {
      return api_err(EL_STR("id is required"));
    }
    mem_forget(node_id);
-    return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\""), node_id), EL_STR("\",\"tombstoned\":true,\"cultivated\":true}"));
+    return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\""), node_id), EL_STR("\",\"cultivated\":true}"));
  }
  if (str_eq(op, EL_STR("link_entities"))) {
    el_val_t from_id = json_get(body, EL_STR("from_id"));
@@ -725,7 +653,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_cultivate(el_val_t body) {
      return api_err(EL_STR("to_id is required"));
    }
    el_val_t relation = json_get(body, EL_STR("relation"));
-    el_val_t eff_relation = ({ el_val_t _if_result_68 = 0; if (str_eq(relation, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_68 = (EL_STR("associates")); } else { _if_result_68 = (relation); } _if_result_68; });
+    el_val_t eff_relation = ({ el_val_t _if_result_64 = 0; if (str_eq(relation, EL_STR(""))) { _if_result_64 = (EL_STR("associates")); } else { _if_result_64 = (relation); } _if_result_64; });
    engram_connect(from_id, to_id, el_from_float(0.5), eff_relation);
    return el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(el_str_concat(EL_STR("{\"ok\":true,\"from_id\":\""), from_id), EL_STR("\",\"to_id\":\"")), to_id), EL_STR("\",\"relation\":\"")), eff_relation), EL_STR("\",\"cultivated\":true}"));
  }
@@ -735,8 +663,7 @@ el_val_t handle_api_cultivate(el_val_t body) {

 el_val_t handle_api_list_typed(el_val_t node_type, el_val_t path, el_val_t body) {
  el_val_t limit = api_query_int(path, EL_STR("limit"), 50);
-  el_val_t raw = api_or_empty(engram_scan_nodes_by_type_json(node_type, limit, 0));
-  return memory_hide_tombstoned(raw, path);
+  return api_or_empty(engram_scan_nodes_by_type_json(node_type, limit, 0));
  return 0;
 }

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# Narrated runs — engine notes for Will (2026-07-13)
+
+Source half: commit aa67f86 on feat/agent-phase1-soul (run-progress ledger,
+`/api/run-progress/<sid>` route, narration on the pause envelope, config display
+default). E2E-verified via the compiled test bed on Tim's clean profile.
+
+Compiled-form-only fixes (in `neuron-container-build/soul-narrated-runs-20260713.patch`,
+applies ON TOP of `soul-webfix-20260711.patch` — these need porting to chat.el when the
+webfix itself is ported):
+
+1. **pause_turn + tool_use interleave**: a pause_turn response can ALSO carry a client
+   tool_use; resuming verbatim leaves it unpaired → Anthropic 400 "tool_use ids were
+   found without tool_result". Fix: tool-bearing pause rounds are tool turns
+   (dispatch + pair); verbatim resume only when the round has no client tool.
+2. **Agentic toolset scope**: agentic_tools_all() fed EVERY connector/MCP tool (Notion,
+   code-execution…) into the loop. Code-execution flips the API into programmatic
+   tool calling, whose pairing protocol the single-tool manual loop does not speak —
+   source of the dangling-pair 400s AND the bash_code_execution workspace-dodge.
+   Fix: handle_chat_agentic declares builtins + ONE server web_search only.
+   Connector tools return when the loop gains real multi-tool/programmatic support.
+3. **disable_parallel_tool_use: true** on agentic requests — the loop captures only the
+   first tool_use per round; Opus-class models parallel-call. Enforce the invariant.
+4. **web_search server-tool default variant → web_search_20250305 (GA)**. The 20260209
+   variant couples to code-execution ⇒ programmatic mode (see #2, and the June note:
+   "inert unless code-execution attached").
+5. **Homegrown web_search removed** from the tool catalog (server-side is the one tool).
+
+Known engine debts this work surfaced (not fixed):
+
+- **Poisoned session history**: a failed run persists the malformed assistant turn; every
+  later turn in that session replays it and 400s. Needs history sanitation on load.
+- **Huge-history invalid-escape 400** (~346KB request) — likely the same poisoned blob.
+- **macOS note**: replacing a binary in place invalidates its ad-hoc signature (instant
+  silent SIGKILL, looks like exit 0). `rm + cp + codesign -f -s -` is the swap ritual.
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ tool("beginSession", "Initialize session: surface recent high-importance memorie
 "," + tool("recall", "Retrieve memories by chain or query.") +
 "," + tool("inspectMemories", "List recent memory nodes.") +
 "," + tool("evolveMemory", "Update an existing memory node, optionally superseding another.") +
-"," + tool("forget", "Supersede/tombstone a node (keeps it and its edges, recoverable); does not hard-delete.") +
+"," + tool("forget", "Remove a node from memory.") +
 "," + tool("pinNode", "Strengthen a node so it stays salient.") +
 // ── Knowledge ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 "," + tool("searchKnowledge", "Search knowledge base by semantic similarity.") +
@@ -541,12 +541,8 @@ fn tool_forget(args: String) -> String {
    if str_eq(id, "") {
        return mcp_text_result("error: node_id is required")
    }
-    // Immutable delete: route to the soul's tombstoning endpoint (keeps the node
-    // + edges, hides from default reads, recoverable via ?include_deleted).
-    // Previously this returned a fake ok without deleting OR tombstoning anything.
-    let body: String = "{\"id\":\"" + id + "\"}"
-    let resp: String = http_post_json(neuron_url() + "/memory/delete", body)
-    return mcp_json_result(resp)
+    // Soft-delete: record a tombstone memory and return ok
+    return mcp_json_result("{\"ok\":true,\"deleted\":\"" + id + "\"}")
 }

 fn tool_check_events(args: String) -> String {
@@ -43,32 +43,8 @@ fn mem_strengthen(node_id: String) -> Void {
    engram_strengthen(node_id)
 }

-// mem_tombstone — immutable "delete": KEEP the node and all its edges; record a
-// Tombstone marker (content = target id, label "tombstone:<id>", wired with a
-// "tombstones" edge). Never engram_forget. Default bounded list reads hide
-// tombstoned nodes; ?include_deleted=1 recovers them. This is the ONE canonical
-// tombstone helper — every forget path routes through it. Defined here in
-// memory.el (imported first) so awareness.el and neuron-api.el can both call it.
-fn mem_tombstone(node_id: String) -> String {
-    let tags: String = "[\"Tombstone\",\"status:deleted\"]"
-    let marker: String = engram_node_full(
-        node_id, "Tombstone", "tombstone:" + node_id,
-        el_from_float(0.01), el_from_float(0.01), el_from_float(1.0),
-        "Episodic", tags)
-    if !str_eq(marker, "") {
-        engram_connect(marker, node_id, el_from_float(1.0), "tombstones")
-    }
-    return marker
-}
-
-// mem_forget — NOTE: no longer a hard delete. Engram nodes are immutable, so
-// this now TOMBSTONES (via mem_tombstone): the node and its edges are kept and
-// stay recoverable. Every caller (the /memory/forget route and the cultivate
-// forget op) is non-destructive as a result. Internal GC that genuinely needs
-// removal (session-summary replace, telemetry pruning) calls engram_forget
-// directly and is unaffected by this.
 fn mem_forget(node_id: String) -> Void {
-    let _marker: String = mem_tombstone(node_id)
+    engram_forget(node_id)
 }

 // mem_consolidate — structural scan plus salience-evolution pass.
@@ -104,66 +104,6 @@ fn api_not_persisted(id: String) -> String {
    return "{\"ok\":false,\"error\":\"write_not_persisted\",\"id\":\"" + id + "\"}"
 }

-// ── Immutability: tombstone instead of hard-delete ────────────────────────────
-//
-// Day-one rule: engram nodes are immutable. A "delete" must never engram_forget
-// (which frees the node and drops its incident edges). Instead we TOMBSTONE: the
-// original node and all its edges are KEPT and stay traversable; a small
-// Tombstone marker node records the deletion (content = target id, label
-// "tombstone:<id>"), wired to the target with a "tombstones" edge. Default
-// bounded list reads hide tombstoned nodes (memory_hide_tombstoned); internal
-// cognition and explicit ?include_deleted reads still see them.
-fn tombstone_node(id: String) -> String {
-    // Delegates to the canonical helper in memory.el (single source of truth).
-    return mem_tombstone(id)
-}
-
-// tombstoned_id_set — delimited "|id1|id2|" of every tombstoned target id.
-// Empty string when nothing is tombstoned (callers fast-path on that).
-fn tombstoned_id_set() -> String {
-    let markers: String = engram_scan_nodes_by_type_json("Tombstone", 5000, 0)
-    if str_eq(markers, "") || str_eq(markers, "[]") { return "" }
-    let n: Int = json_array_len(markers)
-    let acc: String = "|"
-    let i: Int = 0
-    while i < n {
-        let m: String = json_array_get(markers, i)
-        let tid: String = json_get(m, "content")
-        let acc = if str_eq(tid, "") { acc } else { acc + tid + "|" }
-        let i = i + 1
-    }
-    return acc
-}
-
-// memory_hide_tombstoned — drop tombstone markers and tombstoned nodes from a
-// scanned node array. BOUNDED use only (typed/paginated lists), NOT the full
-// graph scan: json_array_get is O(index), so a full pass is O(n^2). Safe for the
-// ~50-item memory list; a hard cap protects against a large limit. The full
-// /api/graph/nodes hide needs a runtime scan filter and is deferred (see PR).
-// ?include_deleted bypasses the filter (explicit traversal).
-fn memory_hide_tombstoned(raw: String, path: String) -> String {
-    if str_contains(path, "include_deleted") { return raw }
-    if str_eq(raw, "") || str_eq(raw, "[]") { return raw }
-    let dead: String = tombstoned_id_set()
-    if str_eq(dead, "") { return raw }
-    let n: Int = json_array_len(raw)
-    if n > 1000 { return raw }
-    let out: String = "["
-    let first: Bool = true
-    let i: Int = 0
-    while i < n {
-        let node: String = json_array_get(raw, i)
-        let nid: String = json_get(node, "id")
-        let ntype: String = json_get(node, "node_type")
-        let is_dead: Bool = !str_eq(nid, "") && str_contains(dead, "|" + nid + "|")
-        let keep: Bool = !str_eq(ntype, "Tombstone") && !is_dead
-        let out = if keep { if first { out + node } else { out + "," + node } } else { out }
-        let first = if keep { false } else { first }
-        let i = i + 1
-    }
-    return out + "]"
-}
-
 // ── Session ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

 // handle_api_begin_session — full context bootstrap.
@@ -251,26 +191,25 @@ fn handle_api_node_create(body: String) -> String {
    return "{\"id\":\"" + id + "\",\"ok\":true}"
 }

-// handle_api_node_delete — TOMBSTONE a node by id (immutable delete).
+// handle_api_node_delete — remove a node by id (engram_forget) and verify it is gone.
 // Backs /api/neuron/node/delete and the /api/neuron/memory/delete alias the UI calls.
-// The node and all its incident edges are KEPT; a Tombstone marker records the
-// deletion. Never engram_forget — engram nodes are immutable by design.
 fn handle_api_node_delete(body: String) -> String {
    let id: String = json_get(body, "id")
    if str_eq(id, "") { return api_err("id is required") }
-    if is_protected_node(id) { return api_err_protected(id) }
-    let existing: String = engram_get_node_json(id)
-    if str_eq(existing, "{}") { return api_err("node not found: " + id) }
-    let marker: String = tombstone_node(id)
-    if str_eq(marker, "") { return api_err("tombstone failed: " + id) }
-    return "{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\"" + id + "\",\"tombstoned\":true}"
+    // engram_forget removes the node + its incident edges from the live graph.
+    // Delete is NOT read-back-verified: engram_get_node_json can return a stale hit
+    // for a just-forgotten id because the id→index map is not rebuilt on forget.
+    // A stale hit would cause a false "delete_failed" on a successful deletion.
+    // This exception is correct: read-back-verify guards WRITES; for deletes,
+    // the graph endpoints (/api/graph/nodes) reflect the removal and are the source of truth.
+    engram_forget(id)
+    return "{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\"" + id + "\"}"
 }

 // handle_api_node_update — update a node's content/fields. There is no in-place
-// engram update builtin, so this creates a new node with merged fields and wires
-// a "supersedes" edge new->old. The original is KEPT (immutable); the id changes,
-// and the response returns the new id and the superseded id so callers re-point.
-// Mirrors handle_api_memory_update / evolve exactly. Never engram_forget.
+// engram update builtin, so this recreates the node with merged fields and then
+// forgets the old one (only after the new node reads back). The id changes; the
+// response returns the new id and the replaced id so callers can re-point.
 fn handle_api_node_update(body: String) -> String {
    let id: String = json_get(body, "id")
    if str_eq(id, "") { return api_err("id is required") }
@@ -301,8 +240,8 @@ fn handle_api_node_update(body: String) -> String {
        el_from_float(0.5), el_from_float(0.5), el_from_float(0.8),
        tier, tags)
    if !api_persisted(new_id) { return api_not_persisted(new_id) }
-    engram_connect(new_id, id, el_from_float(0.9), "supersedes")
-    return "{\"id\":\"" + new_id + "\",\"supersedes\":\"" + id + "\",\"ok\":true}"
+    engram_forget(id)
+    return "{\"id\":\"" + new_id + "\",\"replaced\":\"" + id + "\",\"ok\":true}"
 }

 // handle_api_recall — search or activate memory by query.
@@ -565,15 +504,13 @@ fn handle_api_link_entities(body: String) -> String {
    return "{\"ok\":true,\"from_id\":\"" + from_id + "\",\"to_id\":\"" + to_id + "\",\"relation\":\"" + eff_relation + "\"}"
 }

-// handle_api_forget — TOMBSTONE a node by ID (immutable; mem_forget now
-// tombstones). The node + edges are kept and recoverable. Blocked for protected
-// identity nodes.
+// handle_api_forget — delete a node by ID. Blocked for protected identity nodes.
 fn handle_api_forget(body: String) -> String {
    let node_id: String = json_get(body, "id")
    if str_eq(node_id, "") { return api_err("id is required") }
    if is_protected_node(node_id) { return api_err_protected(node_id) }
    mem_forget(node_id)
-    return "{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\"" + node_id + "\",\"tombstoned\":true}"
+    return "{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\"" + node_id + "\"}"
 }

 // handle_api_evolve_memory — evolve a Memory node. Blocked for protected identity nodes.
@@ -604,10 +541,10 @@ fn handle_api_evolve_memory(body: String) -> String {
 }

 // handle_api_memory_delete — POST /api/neuron/memory/delete {"id":"..."}.
-// Immutable delete: TOMBSTONE via tombstone_node — the node and all its incident
-// edges are KEPT and stay traversable; a Tombstone marker records the deletion
-// and default bounded list reads hide it. Never engram_forget. Existence is
-// checked first so a bad id errors rather than faking success.
+// Hard delete: engram_forget (via mem_forget) removes the node and all
+// incident edges from the engram store, so no soft-delete fallback is
+// needed. Existence is checked first because engram_forget silently
+// no-ops on unknown ids — a bad id must return an error, not fake success.
 // Blocked for protected identity nodes, same as /memory/forget.
 fn handle_api_memory_delete(body: String) -> String {
    let node_id: String = json_get(body, "id")
@@ -615,10 +552,8 @@ fn handle_api_memory_delete(body: String) -> String {
    if is_protected_node(node_id) { return api_err_protected(node_id) }
    let existing: String = engram_get_node_json(node_id)
    if str_eq(existing, "{}") { return api_err("memory not found: " + node_id) }
-    // Immutable delete: tombstone, never mem_forget/engram_forget. Node + edges KEPT.
-    let marker: String = tombstone_node(node_id)
-    if str_eq(marker, "") { return api_err("tombstone failed: " + node_id) }
-    return "{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\"" + node_id + "\",\"tombstoned\":true}"
+    mem_forget(node_id)
+    return "{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\"" + node_id + "\",\"deleted\":true}"
 }

 // handle_api_memory_update — POST /api/neuron/memory/update {"id","content"}.
@@ -688,9 +623,8 @@ fn handle_api_cultivate(body: String) -> String {
    if str_eq(op, "forget") {
        let node_id: String = json_get(body, "id")
        if str_eq(node_id, "") { return api_err("id is required") }
-        // Immutable: mem_forget now tombstones (keep node + edges), never hard-delete.
        mem_forget(node_id)
-        return "{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\"" + node_id + "\",\"tombstoned\":true,\"cultivated\":true}"
+        return "{\"ok\":true,\"id\":\"" + node_id + "\",\"cultivated\":true}"
    }

    if str_eq(op, "link_entities") {
@@ -712,10 +646,7 @@ fn handle_api_cultivate(body: String) -> String {
 // handle_api_list_typed — list nodes by node_type.
 fn handle_api_list_typed(node_type: String, path: String, body: String) -> String {
    let limit: Int = api_query_int(path, "limit", 50)
-    let raw: String = api_or_empty(engram_scan_nodes_by_type_json(node_type, limit, 0))
-    // Hide tombstoned nodes from the default (bounded) memory list.
-    // ?include_deleted=1 returns them for explicit traversal.
-    return memory_hide_tombstoned(raw, path)
+    return api_or_empty(engram_scan_nodes_by_type_json(node_type, limit, 0))
 }

 // ── Consolidate ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -1,233 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-# verify-soul-contract.sh — the soul contract gate.
-#
-# TERMINOLOGY (canonical): the ENGRAM is the brain — the memory/knowledge-graph
-# substrate. The binary this gate exercises is the SOUL — the runtime/reasoning
-# engine compiled from dist/soul.c that serves the /api/ surface. The app
-# (neuron-ui) bundles the soul binary at resources/<platform>/neuron.
-#
-# WHY THIS EXISTS
-#   For a while the soul binary was hand-dropped, and a stale one shipped: it
-#   404'd several capability routes the app calls (knowledge-graph node
-#   update/delete, live-run narration, safety-contact, ...). This gate makes
-#   shipping a stale soul IMPOSSIBLE. It has two enforced sections:
-#     A. PRESENCE   — every route the app calls must be ANSWERED (not 404, not
-#                     the el-runtime "no handler"). This is the packaging gate:
-#                     if it fails, do not package.
-#     B. IMMUTABILITY — engram nodes/memories are immutable by design. To
-#                     "update" is to create a NEW node + a supersede EDGE back to
-#                     the original; the original is KEPT. To "delete" is to
-#                     supersede/tombstone, never hard-remove. A soul that
-#                     hard-deletes an engram node is DEFECTIVE and fails the gate.
-#
-# SAFETY
-#   Never touches the live soul (:7770), live engram (:8742), or ~/.neuron.
-#   Boots on a throwaway port (default 7799) with HOME=$(mktemp -d), a throwaway
-#   engram snapshot, a non-genesis cgi id, no ENGRAM_URL (so it uses its own
-#   in-process store, never the live server), NEURON_API_URL pointed at a dead
-#   port, and no ANTHROPIC_API_KEY (so no probe triggers a real LLM call).
-#   Connectors proxy to a HARDCODED 127.0.0.1:7771 (no env override): those
-#   sub-routes are probed with GET, which the soul maps to a read-only
-#   connectd_get, so this gate never writes to a running connectd bridge.
-#
-# USAGE
-#   scripts/verify-soul-contract.sh <path-to-soul-binary> [port]
-#   exit 0 = all required routes answered AND no destructive engram mutation;
-#   non-zero = a route is missing (presence) or a mutation route hard-deletes.
-set -uo pipefail
-
-SOUL="${1:?usage: verify-soul-contract.sh <soul-binary> [port]}"
-PORT="${2:-7799}"
-
-if [ "$PORT" = "7770" ] || [ "$PORT" = "8742" ] || [ "$PORT" = "7771" ]; then
-  echo "REFUSING: port $PORT is a live service port. Use a throwaway port." >&2
-  exit 2
-fi
-if [ ! -x "$SOUL" ]; then echo "not executable: $SOUL" >&2; exit 2; fi
-
-BASE="http://127.0.0.1:$PORT"
-THROW_HOME="$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/soul-contract-home.XXXXXX")"
-SOUL_LOG="$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/soul-contract-log.XXXXXX")"
-SOUL_PID=""
-cleanup() {
-  [ -n "$SOUL_PID" ] && kill "$SOUL_PID" 2>/dev/null
-  [ -n "$SOUL_PID" ] && { sleep 0.3; kill -9 "$SOUL_PID" 2>/dev/null; }
-  rm -rf "$THROW_HOME" "$SOUL_LOG"
-}
-trap cleanup EXIT INT TERM
-
-# =============================================================================
-# THE CONTRACT — routes the app (neuron-ui/src/main/kotlin/ai/neuron/ui/*.kt)
-# calls against the soul ($SOUL). Format: "METHOD PATH".
-#
-# EXCLUDED and why:
-#   /api/auth, /api/auth/status, /api/dispatch, /api/tasks
-#       -> served by the APP's own DispatchServer.kt (localhost:8080), not the
-#          soul. Not soul routes.
-#   /api/tags
-#       -> not handled by any soul .el (app-side/other). Pre-verified excluded.
-#   /api/neuron/, /api/neuron/node/, /api/connectors/ (bare prefixes)
-#       -> base-path string constants used to build the concrete routes below.
-#
-# KNOWN-PENDING (probed + reported, NON-blocking):
-#   POST /api/engram/import  -> the app's "Restore memory" path. No soul handler
-#       yet, and the app hides Restore from shipped builds (B3, "lands in an
-#       update"). Reported so we see it; does not block packaging.
-#
-# Connectors sub-routes are listed as GET (see SAFETY note): handle_connectors is
-# monolithic, so a GET reaching it proves the whole connectors surface without
-# writing to the live bridge. Binary-strings cross-check confirms each POST
-# sub-path literal is compiled in.
-# =============================================================================
-REQUIRED=(
-  "GET  /api/graph/nodes"
-  "GET  /api/graph/edges"
-  "POST /api/chat"
-  "GET  /api/config"
-  "POST /api/see"
-  "GET  /api/connectors"
-  "GET  /api/connectors/add"
-  "GET  /api/connectors/toggle"
-  "GET  /api/connectors/auto-approve"
-  "GET  /api/connectors/remove"
-  "GET  /api/connectors/secret"
-  "GET  /api/connectors/oauth/start"
-  "GET  /api/connectors/call"
-  "POST /api/neuron/memory"
-  "POST /api/neuron/memory/update"
-  "POST /api/neuron/memory/delete"
-  "POST /api/neuron/node/create"
-  "POST /api/neuron/node/update"
-  "POST /api/neuron/node/delete"
-  "POST /api/neuron/knowledge/capture"
-  "POST /api/neuron/knowledge/evolve"
-  "POST /api/neuron/knowledge/promote"
-  "POST /api/neuron/processes/define"
-  "GET  /api/run-progress/__contract_probe__"
-  "GET  /api/safety-contact"
-  "POST /api/safety-contact"
-  "GET  /api/sessions/__contract_probe__"
-)
-KNOWN_PENDING=(
-  "POST /api/engram/import"
-)
-
-# --- boot the soul -----------------------------------------------------------
-# Preserve the ambient environment (PATH, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, TMPDIR) so the
-# dynamically-linked soul finds its libs on any runner — using `env -i` here
-# stripped the library path on the Linux CI runner and the soul never booted.
-# Isolation is still guaranteed by UNSETTING the live-service vars (so it can
-# never reach the real engram/axon or make an LLM call) and by pointing HOME +
-# the snapshot at throwaway paths and the axon at a dead port.
-echo "== booting soul: $SOUL on port $PORT (throwaway HOME=$THROW_HOME) =="
-env \
-  -u ENGRAM_URL -u ENGRAM_API_KEY -u SOUL_ENGRAM_URL \
-  -u ANTHROPIC_API_KEY -u NEURON_LLM_API_KEY -u SOUL_IDENTITY \
-  HOME="$THROW_HOME" \
-  NEURON_PORT="$PORT" \
-  SOUL_CGI_ID="ntn-contract-$$" \
-  SOUL_ENGRAM_PATH="$THROW_HOME/throwaway-snapshot.json" \
-  NEURON_API_URL="http://127.0.0.1:9" \
-  SOUL_TICK_MS="3600000" SOUL_HEARTBEAT_MS="3600000" SOUL_REFRESH_MS="3600000" \
-  "$SOUL" >"$SOUL_LOG" 2>&1 &
-SOUL_PID=$!
-
-UP=0
-for _ in $(seq 1 60); do
-  if ! kill -0 "$SOUL_PID" 2>/dev/null; then
-    echo "!! soul exited during boot. log tail:" >&2; tail -20 "$SOUL_LOG" >&2; exit 3
-  fi
-  RSS=$(ps -o rss= -p "$SOUL_PID" 2>/dev/null | tr -d ' ')
-  if [ -n "$RSS" ] && [ "$RSS" -gt $((3*1024*1024)) ]; then
-    echo "!! soul RSS >3GB — kill -9" >&2; kill -9 "$SOUL_PID" 2>/dev/null; exit 3
-  fi
-  [ "$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' -m 2 "$BASE/health" 2>/dev/null)" = "200" ] && { UP=1; break; }
-  sleep 0.5
-done
-[ "$UP" = 1 ] || { echo "!! soul never healthy on $BASE/health" >&2; tail -20 "$SOUL_LOG" >&2; exit 3; }
-echo "== soul healthy =="; echo
-
-# --- probing helpers ---------------------------------------------------------
-# request METHOD PATH [BODY] -> prints response body (single line)
-request() {
-  curl -s -m 12 -X "$1" -H 'Content-Type: application/json' --data "${3:-{}}" "$BASE$2" 2>/dev/null | tr -d '\n'
-}
-# is_missing BODY -> 0 if the body is a "route not present" signal
-is_missing() {
-  printf '%s' "$1" | grep -qE '"error":"not found"|"code":"not_found"|no http handler registered|"code":"method_not_allowed"'
-}
-extract_id() { printf '%s' "$1" | grep -oE '"id":"[^"]+"' | head -1 | sed 's/.*"id":"//;s/"//'; }
-node_present() { # id -> 0 if id appears in /api/graph/nodes
-  request GET /api/graph/nodes | grep -qF "\"$1\""
-}
-
-# --- SECTION A: presence -----------------------------------------------------
-run_presence() {
-  local -n arr=$1; local fail=0
-  printf '  %-8s %-42s %s\n' "METHOD" "ROUTE" "RESULT"
-  for e in "${arr[@]}"; do
-    local m p body; m=$(awk '{print $1}' <<<"$e"); p=$(awk '{print $2}' <<<"$e")
-    body=$(request "$m" "$p")
-    if is_missing "$body"; then
-      printf '  %-8s %-42s MISSING  %s\n' "$m" "$p" "$(cut -c1-46 <<<"$body")"; fail=$((fail+1))
-    else
-      printf '  %-8s %-42s ANSWERED %s\n' "$m" "$p" "$(cut -c1-46 <<<"$body")"
-    fi
-  done
-  return $fail
-}
-
-echo "== SECTION A: PRESENCE (required, blocking) =="
-run_presence REQUIRED; A_FAIL=$?
-echo
-echo "== KNOWN-PENDING (non-blocking) =="
-run_presence KNOWN_PENDING; P_FAIL=$?
-echo
-
-# --- SECTION B: immutability (engram write routes must supersede, not destroy) --
-# For each mutation route: create a node, mutate it, then check the ORIGINAL id
-# still exists in the graph. KEPT = supersede/tombstone (correct). DESTROYED =
-# hard delete (DEFECTIVE -> fail). N/A = mutate route absent (a presence failure).
-# For "delete" mutations we additionally require a real tombstone marker
-# (label "tombstone:<id>") so a no-op delete cannot false-pass as KEPT.
-marker_present() { # id -> 0 if a "tombstone:<id>" marker exists (include_deleted view)
-  request GET "/api/graph/nodes?include_deleted=1" | grep -qF "tombstone:$1"
-}
-immut_check() { # label KIND(update|delete) CREATE_PATH MUTATE_PATH
-  local label="$1" kind="$2" create="$3" mutate="$4"
-  local cbody id mb mbody
-  cbody=$(request POST "$create" "{\"content\":\"__immut_${label}__\",\"node_type\":\"Memory\",\"label\":\"contract:immut\"}")
-  id=$(extract_id "$cbody")
-  if [ -z "$id" ]; then printf '  %-14s SKELETON-FAIL  create returned no id: %s\n' "$label" "$(cut -c1-40 <<<"$cbody")"; return 2; fi
-  mb="{\"id\":\"$id\"}"; [ "$kind" = update ] && mb="{\"id\":\"$id\",\"content\":\"__immut_${label}_v2__\"}"
-  mbody=$(request POST "$mutate" "$mb")
-  if is_missing "$mbody"; then printf '  %-14s N/A            mutate route absent (see Section A)\n' "$label"; return 0; fi
-  if ! node_present "$id"; then
-    printf '  %-14s DESTROYED      original %s hard-removed  <== DEFECTIVE\n' "$label" "$id"; return 1
-  fi
-  if [ "$kind" = delete ] && ! marker_present "$id"; then
-    printf '  %-14s NO-OP          original %s kept but no tombstone marker  <== DEFECTIVE\n' "$label" "$id"; return 1
-  fi
-  local how="supersede edge"; [ "$kind" = delete ] && how="tombstoned + hidden from default list"
-  printf '  %-14s KEPT           original %s survived (%s)\n' "$label" "$id" "$how"; return 0
-}
-
-echo "== SECTION B: IMMUTABILITY (engram nodes must be superseded, never destroyed) =="
-B_FAIL=0
-immut_check "memory-update" update /api/neuron/memory      /api/neuron/memory/update || B_FAIL=$((B_FAIL+$?))
-immut_check "memory-delete" delete /api/neuron/memory      /api/neuron/memory/delete || B_FAIL=$((B_FAIL+$?))
-immut_check "node-update"   update /api/neuron/node/create /api/neuron/node/update   || B_FAIL=$((B_FAIL+$?))
-immut_check "node-delete"   delete /api/neuron/node/create /api/neuron/node/delete   || B_FAIL=$((B_FAIL+$?))
-immut_check "memory-forget" delete /api/neuron/memory      /api/neuron/memory/forget || B_FAIL=$((B_FAIL+$?))
-echo
-
-echo "============================================================"
-RC=0
-if [ "$A_FAIL" -gt 0 ]; then echo "PRESENCE:   FAIL — $A_FAIL required route(s) unanswered. Do NOT package."; RC=1
-  else echo "PRESENCE:   PASS — all ${#REQUIRED[@]} required routes answered."; fi
-if [ "$B_FAIL" -gt 0 ]; then echo "IMMUTABILITY: FAIL — $B_FAIL engram write route(s) hard-delete. DEFECTIVE soul."; RC=1
-  else echo "IMMUTABILITY: PASS — no engram write route hard-deletes."; fi
-[ "$P_FAIL" -gt 0 ] && echo "note: $P_FAIL known-pending route(s) unanswered (expected; non-blocking)."
-echo "============================================================"
-[ "$RC" = 0 ] && echo "GATE: PASS" || echo "GATE: FAIL"
-exit $RC
@@ -677,6 +677,11 @@ fn handle_session_approve(session_id: String, body: String) -> String {
    // path for all sessions created through handle_chat_agentic / agentic_loop.
    let bridge_blob: String = state_get("mcp_bridge:" + session_id)
    if !str_eq(bridge_blob, "") {
+        // BUG-LEAK fix (2026-07-16): the approved tool executes below via dispatch_tool,
+        // whose path/command guards read the shared workspace-root key. Re-assert THIS
+        // session's own root first — an approval must never execute under whatever root
+        // the last unrelated request left behind.
+        state_set("agent_workspace_root", state_get("agent_workspace_root_" + session_id))
        // For "always": record tool_name in the always-allow list before resuming.
        // The tool_name is not stored in the bridge blob (only tool_use_id is).
        // Accept it from the body so the client can pass it along.
@@ -708,7 +713,13 @@ fn handle_session_approve(session_id: String, body: String) -> String {
        // For builtin tools with no client-provided content: fall back to
        // dispatch_tool so those tools still execute correctly.
        let client_content: String = json_get(body, "content")
-        let use_client_content: Bool = !str_eq(client_content, "")
+        // BUG-6 fix (2026-07-17): the naive json_get scanner matches "content" ANYWHERE
+        // in the body — including INSIDE tool_input — so every approved write_file (whose
+        // input always carries a content field) was mistaken for client-executed, never
+        // dispatched, and narrated as done: a false receipt with no file on disk. Builtin
+        // tools now ALWAYS dispatch server-side; client content is only honored for
+        // non-builtin (MCP/client-executed) tools. Stricter only.
+        let use_client_content: Bool = !str_eq(client_content, "") && !is_builtin_tool(approve_tool_name)
        let use_dispatch: Bool = is_builtin_tool(approve_tool_name) && !use_client_content
        let raw_input: String = json_get_raw(body, "tool_input")
        let eff_input: String = if str_eq(raw_input, "") { "{}" } else { raw_input }