Fix red develop 7851c60c832f

The merge lane found `develop` red at `7851c60c832f088c71b9ffe6f08ccf77c777fd87` on its own: no queued PR merges until it is fixed. Failing (tests and gate stages): - `runner-cli-lock-audit` The whole gate log: artifact `8194` on lane task 8920. Make `develop` pass its full gate again. Open a PR as usual: the merge lane merges a PR that fixes some of these and adds no failure even while `develop` is red.

develop red was a transient npm registry error in the runner-lock audit (gemini-cli lock audits clean on rerun). Added a 3-attempt retry that still fails closed, plus selftests; quick gate green; PR #6604 queued to the lane. Memory: none applied.