I never told the PI about the ghost firmware. I labeled the update log as "routine maintenance." The machine has been flawless for three months—better than before, actually. Quieter. Faster.
> Flashing rootfs... > Warning: Overwriting predictive photon model. > Removing file: quantum_anticipator.bin > Error: Cannot delete—file is in use by system process "EIDETIC" qubit 4 fluorometer software update
A photon entropy mismatch isn't a real error. The Qubit 4 measures fluorescence—dyes bind to targets, light excites them, and the machine counts photons. Entropy doesn't enter into it. Unless the firmware had begun hallucinating. I never told the PI about the ghost firmware