Riley was a guard at an asylum for ten years without receiving a promotion. He was the most competent man there, which scared his boss, who was always worried about his own job security. So, he never promoted him. Riley didn't mind too much. He was doing okay, happy in life.

Eventually, a new guard was hired named Bolt, who was working to pay for school, trying to earn a phD. in violent psychology. He recognized Riley's competence, and respected it, as he considered very few people in the world to be particularly competent. They became friends, and a few years later, when Bolt earned his degree, he was hired as head of the Violent Psychosis Division of another asylum. He became close to Karag, the head doctor at his new asylum, another man whose competency he respected, and managed to get his old friend Riley a job as head of security there.

Riley makes sure all his men are well trained, highly competent, completely loyal- and treats them well, rewarding them for their achievements.

As for the patients, Riley refuses to fraternize with them. If any of them try to talk with him in anything other than his official capacity, he basically ignores them. He generally treats them fairly, when possible. But he understands that sometimes things go on in the asylum (such as the occasional mistreatment of patients by the doctors) concerning which he must look the other way. He is, however, rarely directly involved in such matters.