People have petitioned for it, and now NCsoft has granted it. What are we talking about? Why, the new Hybrid in Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa, of course. It's called the Skitterin Hybrid, and NCsoft has given us a glimpse into this strange creature's origins.

Apparently, AFS Clone Technician Jimmy Dunlap is the "father" of this new Hybrid. Dunlap was searching for the a gene that would allow him to create a super clone with superb agility and recovery in battle. He found this in, of course, a Skitterin.

Not wanting to go through bureaucratic red tape, Dunlap decided to enter the cloning chamber and perform the cloning process.  Once it was over, a peculiar sight greeted the technician. He had created the first Skitterin Hybrid - Buster!

Unfortunately, Buster hadn't turned out exactly as the AFS had hoped he would. The Hybrid lacked a human's higher brain functions such as memory and language. Furthermore, he acted more Skitterin than human, preferring to sun bathe all day, lick himself clean and mark his territory in the mess halls during meals.

Currently, Dr. Morton and his research staff are working on refining the cloning process in the hopes of setting things right.  Buster, in turn, has been confined to the research facility  where he was born for additional testing. What will happen to Buster and the AFS? Stay tuned for more updates on Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa from NCsoft!