They’re called Recoms. It stands for Recombined DNA .

Condemmed by any passing gathering of an group with an ethical bone to pick, they were outlawed by most any recognized treaty in the last half of the 22nd Century. Nonetheless, they were made.

Built in test tubes by geeky scientists, never really meaning to play God, or even claiming to. These creatures were based on Terran animals with human DNA introduce to guide their evolution. During the process, they were never allowed to be passible as human. They weren’t even 2nd Class Citizens, they were property. Nothing more than slaves.

They didn’t really know otherwise. The Recoms were highly controlled, taught what to think, to do, focused, kept on task. If one showed any sign of creative thought, it was either re-educated, or re-cycled. Neither was pleasant.

J-Zero-Three-L would lay awake at night, staring up in the darkness of the barracks. His mind wandered. He knew what would happen if they knew. Joel said nothing to let them know. “Why?”