Ryan glances at Karen, giving a short chuckle. Undermine her authority? Ha! That's about as funny as Karen's strange attempt to tell me what to do. I hope that wasn't some strange attempted manifestation of precognition, because that failed miserably.
"Chill, it's not like I'm going to start a fistfight just because I don't like her," he says with a quick glance in Anika's direction. "Besides, I assert my right to meet with said UN representative who has authority over a mission that was partly my idea, and puts my own life at risk. Hardly unfair," Ryan says with a self-satisfied smirk. Plus, James is my friend...no doubt the Blonde Patrol here would assert their friendship as well, despite never sharing more than two words if not necessary. Just like how Yoshi became everyone's best friend once he get killed.
I just hope that I leave enough of a legacy that my eventual eulogy is an honest one. Ryan Praloski...a vexing ally, a deadly enemy. However, I don't see that coming for a long, long time. I'm not going to die to stop Overseer or Cardinal or whoever else is public enemy number one...I'm going to stop them by making them die, just like my buddy Patton said, Ryan thinks with a smile.
Although this place is taxing me. If the UNJE is seriously headed towards the warm and fuzzy instead of the grim and gritty, I don't think it's for me. I don't play politics. I defeat my enemies, lethally if necessary. I don't have the patience for Karen's incessant patronizing moralizing speeches nor Anika's pagan beliefs, ego trips, brawls, misplaced idealism, and whatever other dysfunctions she's managed to cook up in the last hour.
I could see about getting a transfer...but I'd be in the same boat with Charlie, except I wouldn't be as cool. Beta is straight out, and Alpha or whatever the hell they call it is kind of out of reach. Screw that though. If Anika was telling the truth about whatever new direction we're headed in, I don't want a part of it.