Part 35: Morphogenetic Sorrow
Update 35: Morphogenetic Sorrow
So our first trip happens at the beginning of the game. When we try and leave Ethan's room the first time, a new set of dialogue appears:

: Sox? Where are you going?
Obviously, prompt 1 leads to the rest of the main game. So instead...
*I should see what he's up to.*
Still the prologue, so we get the opening, prologue screen, and the shot of Sox noticing Irving.
It's time to head this problem off at the pass.

: Mrowrowr!

: !! Why, you...!
*Answer: Not at all*

: ...G-good evening.

: ...Indeed...
And he walks off.

: (...There he goes.)

: Mrowwrr...

: C'mon, Sox--let's get home. Dinner's waiting.

: Mrowr...
And we get kicked back to the story as before. Obviously that wasn't the right answer, so...

: Jack! I mean, Irving!

: What's this...? Why do you know my name?

: I have a...a "memory", of sorts.

: Mrowr.

: ...

: I know what you're up to...!

: What ARE you talking about?

: Before I inherit the Hollow Pen tonight...

: Aha, so you must be Ethan Kairos.

: ...Irving... I know what you're about to do.

: Oh, really? And what would that be?
Any wrong answer gives:

: (...Yeah, I don't think so.)
*Answer: "Erase" Mom and Dad*

: You're planning on making it so my mom and dad never existed!

: Mrowr.

: !!!

: (I knew it...!)

: ...

: ...Heh heh heh...

: ...?

: Heh heh...heh heh heh...

: What are you going to do about it? You don't even have the Pen yet!

: (...! He's right--I don't have the Hollow Pen yet... Rats...isn't there anything I can do?)
*Answer: Take Sox and go home*

: Heh heh heh... Then I guess I'll be on my way.
And then it's the failure dialogue from earlier. And Ethan forgets to even inform his parents that this is going to happen.
*Answer: Talk Irving out of it*

: Wait just one day! That's all--just one day!

: What?

: Wait until tomorrow--that's all I ask. Even without the Pen, I know all about it.

: All about the real reason your mother died...

: ...Excuse me?

: Irving...I know how to save her.

: ......

: And you want me to believe you?

: That's right. All I ask is for one day... Just trust me.

: ......
{Soundtrack: Silence}

: ...Bah.

: Irving...

: ...... ...... One day.

: Huh?

: I said, I'll give you one day. Or didn't you hear me?

: Irving...!

: There's a lot riding on these next 24 hours, Ethan. You're going to owe me big time.

: Of course--I understand.

: ...Sheesh. I must be an idiot.
And he walks off.

: Mrowrrr...

: C'mon, Sox--let's hurry home.

: Mrowr.
Having skipped dinner, we arrive to Derek and Timothy's argument.

: Nice timing--could ya talk some sense into your old man for me?

: Uncle Derek?

: Wh-whaddya want?

: And...Dad?

: Hmm?

: I have something to tell you. Both of you. Can we talk?

: Mrowwrr...
Ethan: ...talked until morning. About Irving, about Uncle Derek...and about Kori. At first, Uncle Derek didn't really believe me. But when I mentioned the necklace Kori was wearing...he finally started listening--with tears welling in his eyes. The next morning...

: Uh-huh. No more regrets, bro.

: All right.

: ......

: Ethan, I'm going to open a Hole just at 6:04--the moment you were born. According to my flashback, on that evening 19 years ago...

: Yeah?

: My father could still see this Pen at the moment I inherited it. Which means both of us should still have some time to use it. We've got to use that time, and use it wisely...it's our only chance.

: Quit yakking and let's get down to business!

: Uncle Derek...

: There's nothing but air on the other side. Be careful, Derek.

: Don't worry about me.

: Well...it's about that time...
==
*Item: Derek*

: ...Ethan, can you move?

: Uh-huh. I'm fine.
Timothy: Like this, I guess?
Timothy: I'm passing the Pen down to you. It's yours now.
Ethan: ...Okay, Dad.
Ethan: ...Dad? (Everyone's frozen in place...)
And we close the Hole.
===
{Soundtrack: Silence}
Ethan: (I guess this is really goodbye, Kori...)
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And credits again.
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{Video: Post-Credits}
===
That was a lot faster this time.
For the next few updates, we'll look at what would have happened had different choices been made during our playthrough.