Last Trace

Last Trace by CrossTheLine
Prelude Chapter 1 Interlude 1 Chapter 2 Interlude 2 Chapter 3 Interlude 3 Chapter 4
Discussion

After a young delinquent soldier in a forgotten cloning facility is injected with a swarm of nanomachines, supposedly intent on keeping her bound to the place, she discovers it was actually a ploy to enable her escape. Now, she fights through her superiors in a desperate bid to seize her own freedom.

This article contains spoilers! You were warned.

Characters

Argine

The protagonist, a young soldier in the facility. Seems to be disliked by many of her superiors.

Diagram

Blue-coloured engineer who's one of Argine's few friends. Lanky and unassuming, a little meek. Comes into her own when it comes to technology.

Judicium

Argine's handler and instructor. Cold-hearted and stern, was responsible for injecting Argine with the SAI.

Nanoweaver

The facility's medic and supporter of Argine's. Her face is always hidden behind a mask.

SAI

The Splintered Artificial Intelligence that currently resides in Argine's body. A digital ball of multiple personalities that provides the young soldier with advice and reprimands, supposedly intended to keep track of her wherever she goes. AKA - You, the suggestors! Currently named 'Sykes'.

Glossary

• Parasginia: A unique type of ability possessed by capable individuals, developed following an event of significant emotional turmoil.
• Gadget: Engineered technology used to support a soldier's performance and abilities.

Parasignias

• Argine - Ignition Complex: Allows her to combine multiple gadgets together into unique effects.
• Diagram - ???: A small floating robot companion.
• Nanoweaver - ???: The ability to deconstruct objects into 'threads'.
• Judicium - Crystallospina: Ice manipulation and projectile creation. Also lets her slow down projectiles around her to the point of nullification.
• Nickel - On Blade's Edge: A manifested knife that can grant the user invisibility when thrust into one's own heart.
• Astrolysis - Split the Skies: Cuts made with bladed implements explode.
• Ozone - ???
• Mnemosyne - ???: Wind Control through portals leading to a dimension full of high speed winds. Described as something more than a Parasignia.
• Amica - ???
• Jin-R - ???

Equipment

Weapons

• The Sound and The Fury: Twin Revolvers that Argine made. Coloured like the battle armour of two of her idolized heroes.
• Creirwy D-3: Shotgun provided by Diagram. Supposedly named after a princess from one of Diagram's storybooks.
• Silkweave Gauntlets: Provided by Nanoweaver. Can create a kinetic barrier in a short radius, allowing the user to block bullets with their arms. Has a limited battery life, and only protect against bullets.

Gadgets

• Beam Unit: Shoulder-mounted Laser armament.
• Explosive Discs (3): Standard-issue explosive. Can be stuck to surfaces and detonated akin to plastic explosives, or thrown similar to grenades.
• Barrier Generator: Protective gadget that forms a rigid barrier upon being deployed. Can be placed for portable cover, or held like a proper shield.
• Pitch Prefect: Wrist-mounted tar bomb launcher. Has been modified so that its projectiles can be detonated mid-air.
• Blink Capacitor: Short-ranged intangibility and teleportation on a cooldown. Can't teleport through walls or to places Argine does not have Line of Sight to.
• Blade Printer: On-demand creation of aerodynamic throwing knives.
• Amp Rings: Short-term Physical Strength enhancement.

Tags for Combination:

• Beam Unit - Focusing, Energizing, Pinpointing
• Explosive Disc - Explosive, Volatile, Destructive
• Barrier Generator - Reflective, Protective, Repelling
• Pitch Prefect - Slowing, Sticky, Congealing
• Blink Capacitor - Displacing, Replacing, Intangible
• Blade Printer: Replicating, Cutting, Aerodynamic
• Amp Rings: Empowering, Amplifying, Intensifying

Deck of the Storyteller

The effects are as follows -

Solburst - Upon use, a heatwave will emerge centered on Argine, staggering enemies and vaporizing ballistic projectiles coming towards you, as well as disrupting other types of projectiles.

Frozeneye - Upon use, this card slows Argine's perception down, allowing for you to better exploit weakpoints or avoiding specific kinds of attacks. Useful for precision, whether offensive or defensive.

Breezecycle - Upon use, card is consumed and allows Argine to change out her entire loadout, while refreshing both cooldowns and ammunition for her limited-ammo gear.

Briarspirit - Upon use, can either serve as a temporary barrier or a health recovery effect.

Voidsplit - Upon use, lets Argine take three actions in one turn.

Echoscribe - Upon use, creates a single-use copy of any gadget Argine has seen, even unobtained gadgets. Copied gadgets cannot have any sub-effects slotted into it.

Card Count

• Solburst - 2
• Frozeneye - 3
• Breezecycle - 3
• Briarspirit - 1
• Voidsplit - 1
• Echoscribe - 3

Additional Skills

Hard Cover: Cover is more effective for Argine and she can manipulate certain environmental props as protection.

Dead Silence: Improved stealth allows Argine to move without being detected, as well as ensuring that Argine's quieter gadgets and actions will not alert opponents.

Break: Dirty tricks and good posture allow Argine to escape from pins and grapples and to make distance during a fight. Usable while holding ranged weapons.

Blood Circle: Allows Argine to keep good evasive distance during extended hand-to-hand, reducing number of hits taken and increasing survivability.

Gallery

Official

Fanart

By Poltergeist Ethanoic Acid

By Salf

By Salf

By Buckwheat

By Buckwheat

By Buckwheat

By Sarcopholacooda

By tippler

By Silly Zealot

By Buckwheat

Quests by CrossTheLine

Questden: Last Trace Collaborations: Grown Alone