Halfworlder

Halfworlders are cybernetically and genetically modified animals created on Halfworld to be the caretakers of the Loonies.

Biology
Halfworlders were genetically and cybernetically modified into their current forms from a variety of animal species, including raccoons, pigs, otters, walruses, rabbits, deer, skunks, moles, turtles, and more, thus giving them incredibly varied appearances. Overall, Halfworlders are sapient anthropomorphic versions of whatever animal they were made from, normally standing at a short stature relative to Humans.

Culture and society
Halfworlders are primarily the caretakers of the Halfworld Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Tasked by the Halfworld robots with the care of the Loonies, Halfworlders served as security guards and therapists, with their "cute" appearances meant to calm the patients. The process of being converted to sapient humanoids left many thoroughly traumatized, and some would later leave Halfworld to wander the galaxy or become mercenaries.

History
Centuries ago, an alien Human-like species exiled their insane population off-world. The doctors of the insane, known as Shrinks, brought the insane, known as Loonies, to the largest planet in the Keystone Quadrant, turning it into a Matrioshka brain and renaming it the Halfworld Asylum for the Criminally Insane, known simply as Halfworld. While the Shrinks tried to cure the Loonies, their funding was eventually cut, so they left the Loonies in the care of robot stewards on Halfworld. After a few centuries, a nearby supernova's radiation caused the robots to become sapient. Quickly becoming disgusted by the illogical behavior of the Loonies, they gathered animals from Earth to be service animals to the Loonies. While this was able to pacify some Loonies, it did not give the results the robots wanted. The robots resolved to leave Halfworld, and thus took the animals away from the Loonies, and used extensive genetic and cybernetic modifications to turn the animals into sapient humanoids, through a very traumatic process using dozens of razor blades. The animals, now known as Halfworlders, kept their "cute" appearances to calm the Loonies and keep a "fun" atmosphere throughout the asylum, and were assigned as the caretakers of the Loonies.