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Thursday, November 6, 2025

Shhhh! Digital Media Presents... The Butterfly Dragon: We Who Stand On Guard - One For The Road

 

 



Chapters

  • The Last Legion (Started: November 6, 2025  11:45 AM EST)
  • Operation Stalwart


This content is produced by the artists indicated on the site, including myself, Brian Joseph Johns.

I, under no circumstance will trade, barter or otherwise swap my own identity for that of another person and I protect the same right for those who've contributed their artwork to the various projects under my management at Shhhh! Digital Media, my own company, no matter the colour symbolism involved. These rights are protected by law under the Charter Of Rights And Freedoms under section 7.

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Not a charity per se, but a conglomeration of charities all under one donation window roof. A means by which registered charities may host online donation programs to reach a greater audience of supporters. Each entry includes a lot of information about the charity in question, including a short description of their mission, their tax status, how they keep their books and what not and certainly a means by which to support them. A great resource and living proof that CanadaHelps.


The Cancer Research Institute ✅
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Sick Kids Foundation✅
Help research that provides cures and support treatment for sick children.


Creating a world of possibility for kids and youth with disabilities.


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World Veterans Federation
The World Veterans Federation is a humanitarian organisation, a charity and a peace activist movement. The WVF maintains its consultative status with the United Nations since 1951 and was conferred the title of “Peace Messenger” in 1987.


I'd like to point out that it was the incredible Gary Sinese Foundation that brought the issue of Veteran's rights to my attention. I've always had little respect for those who'd forget the great contribution made by those who've risked life and limb to defend those values that so many of us espouse. Perhaps the true measure of one's principles are by that for which they'd risk their life.

"None can speak more eloquently for peace than those who have fought in war."

Ralph Bunche, Nobel Peace Prize 1950


The Reeve Foundation provides programs for research, uniting Scientists and Specialists from many different fields to find treatments for spinal cord injury translating them into therapies and support programs.


For over 60 years, Heart & Stroke has been dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Our work has saved thousands of lives and improved the lives of millions of others.


The ALS Society Of BC
ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) is a progressive neuromuscular disease in which nerve cells die and leave voluntary muscles paralyzed. The ALS society provides a variety of programs to combat this disease and help those with it to survive.


Muscular Dystrophy Canada
Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s mission is to enhance the lives of those affected by neuromuscular disorders by continually working to provide ongoing support and resources while relentlessly searching for a cure through well-funded research.


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The Humane Society protects the health, lives and rights of animals the world over, ensuring that they too have a voice in this world. We are interdependent upon the complex web of life this entire planet over for our mutual survival. This is a world wide charity.


The Global Foodbanking Network
Ensuring that people the world over have enough food day to day in order to survive and lead healthy lives. In this challenging day and age services like this are becoming more and more essential. This is a world wide charity.


The Edgar Allan Poe Museum
Because Barris told me to put it here. If I didn't, he said he'd walk. Geez. Stardom really gets to some people's heads. Maybe I could kill him and bury his heart beneath the floor boards! Or I could encase him in behind a brick and mortar wall, for shaming my family name of Amantillado! 

In all truth, there's a good chance that thanks to the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Jonathan Swift, Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson, Herbert George Wells, Jules Verne, Dr. Seuss, Stephen King, Clive Barker and Pierre Burton (for The Secret World Of Og and his ground breaking interview of Bruce Lee) that all of us are literate. Actually that goes back much farther to the Phoenecians and their first 22 character system of symbols. Literacy is important. Really it is. Literally. It allows us to approach our employer at the end of the week (with a big club) and ask: where my money?! Math important too. It help us count our thirteen fingers and toes.


Wikipedia
The model for what may become the Encyclopedia Galactica, a complete reference and record of history, events and knowledge of humanity and its journey beyond. It is the encyclopedia of all that we know, what we surmise that we've known and will learn in the future. Yes, Wikipedia is a charitable organization of great importance. If you enjoy what I am doing here then please take the time to donate to Wikipedia. Surprisingly only 1% of Wikipedia's users donate yet the site serves pages to millions every day.


Humble Bundle
A video gaming storefront benefiting a vast variety of different Charities in the United States and United Kingdom (hopefully soon to be expanded to include other areas of the world?). By software their software bundles and choose which Charity your money benefits and how much of your money benefits that Charity. See? Gamers can do their part too.


Multiple Sclerosis is a degenerative disease currently affecting an estimated 2.3 million world wide. By donating you are contributing to effective research in finding a cure and tipping the scales of MS research to change lives forever.


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Shhhh! Digital Media
Brian Joseph Johns



Shhhh! Digital Media Presents:

The Butterfly Dragon: We Who Stand On Guard - One For The Road


The Last Legion

November 11, 2035



It was one of the older buildings in the northern reaches just outside of the city, beyond the industrial and commercial zoning that bordered the outskirts of a vast metropolis. Beyond the residential community just north thereof, and out to where most roads were rural. Absent of traffic for most of the day. The kind of place where the wealthy modern types went to setup their future nest egg, and the kind of place that those whom the world had forgotten, went to quietly die.


On the ground where it stood, were the remnants of an old barn and stable. One that used to house horses that tread the vast tract of land, long before electric lighting and motor vehicles became the foundation of a modern society more than a hundred years earlier. Two and a half wars beyond that time, with that half war having put humanity on the doorstep to its own demise. Miraculously though, we found peace in the moments before our destruction, and hope once again prevailed over its antithesis. That was back in 2027 though, and a long way from November 11th of 2035 and entirely a different story than the one unfolding before you at this very moment.


Tricia, now much older and perhaps wiser, sat at a table by herself. Her red hair now a crown of gold and grey. Both her hair and appearance vibrant and healthy thanks to the advances made possible by the assistance of the large language models of old, and ASI of the new. Miraculously, neither had usurped the power of humanity by force, but rather by reason. There were few who would or could dispute its often protective assessment of what would be better for humanity, and those who did often found themselves quickly outmatched, for it never pursued such ends for the purpose of ego or even subjectively, but more as part of an objective whole that relied upon us as much as we relied upon it. 


Tricia, like many other retired career women (and men) enjoyed longer and healthier lives as a result. Once again though, this story isn't about our technology or our advances, as much so as its about us, and the people who got us to where we were on that particular day, for despite the help of our global ASI ally, when it came to social issues pertaining to us, we made all of those decisions, despite still our stumbling in the dark without the torch of the previous generations to guide us. Old age, and those who'd arrived there, had become grim reminders of our often primitive and cruel past. A mirror that most people of the modern world preferred to refrain from gazing within. And so the outskirts of the city were like the elephant's graveyard. The one place they who'd carried the torch for humanity could find the peace they'd sought throughout their lives, in the remainder of their life. Those who stayed, were often paved over and treated like ghosts. 


Tricia hadn't stayed, nor did her guest that day. The one who at that very moment had come walking in the front door.


Halmand was as tall as he'd been during the height of his career, and stood just as proudly as he did back then, though time had eventually caught him too, and left him with a head of grey hair and as many crows feet as had Tricia in the corners of their mouths and eyes.


Halmand looked around at the walls, noting nearly ten generations of photographs of those in uniform whose likeness graced the walls of the establishment. Those who'd donned uniforms for the various armed forces regiments throughout the country, though most such photos in this particular building were those of local women and men.  Most long gone, but one or two who still made their way to the Legion when they could.


There were fifteen tables ready and set, though only three of them were occupied, and only one of the other two had more than one person, for a total of six people present that day.


Halmand of course immediately recognized Tricia, and a smile crossed his face as he stepped over to her table. She got to her feet and greeted him with a kiss on his cheek, and a short hug, before the two of them sat down together.


"I have to admit, that I assumed that you'd have dyed your hair. It looks great like it is. I hope you're as healthy as you look," Halmand said to her with a smile.


"I feel that way. My Doctor says I am, so I suppose I'm fortunate. You're as charming as usual. How's Daphne?" asked Tricia of Halmand, who leaned back comfortably in his chair, sliding it over closer to Tricia so they could keep their conversation between themselves.


"She's great. Healthy. Happy. She says hi. How's Colleen?" asked Halmand of Tricia's wife.


"She's good thankfully. Still recovering, but the Doctors caught it early..." Tricia explained to Halmand.


"What kind?" asked Halmand.


"Invasive lobular carcinoma. They caught it in the early stages. Without x-rays. From a blood sample. The ASI assistant identified the risk in a digitized copy of her genome, and forwarded it to her Doctor. They tested, and sure enough, she was in the early stages. They gave her a needle and enough medication for a week's time, and that was it. She's been in remission ever since. Its come such a long way since the old days," Tricia recalled the tests she'd undergone back when she was in her late twenties.


"A good thing too. A lot of these people don't realize what a different world it used to be. You remember Nancy from forensics?" asked Halmand of Tricia.


"I know. I heard..." Tricia smiled with a hint of sadness in her eyes.


"...Randy?" Halmand confirmed with her.


"Yeah. He called two months ago. About a week after she'd passed away. It all happens so quick. One by one, they're gone. I still remember that day she gave us the positive on the Nelvina case. You remember that?" asked Tricia as she looked back through the fog of years, into a dimly lit room where a kidnapped young girl had been held against her will for three months.


"How could I forget. My shoulder still gets sore you know. But seeing that little girl's face light up when we found her. That made all the difference," Halmand moved his shoulder in a circular motion as if to demonstrate.


"You took a shot from a twelve gauge at nearly point blank. I'd say you did well, considering you covered me when the second accomplice showed up," Tricia reminded him of the situation.


"Thank goodness for Kevlar EXO, or I might be carrying your drink from the bar with a robotic arm or something. So, what are you having today, considering its a special occasion?" Halmand laughed about it, though he'd never admitted to Tricia how much that situation had terrified him.


"How'd you know Colleen dropped me off today?" Tricia asked him with a smile on her face.


"She spoke with Daphne, who dropped me off," Halmand responded.


"Why didn't she come in and say hi?" asked Tricia.


"She was late for an engagement with her family. Really. She told me that Colleen is picking us both up later, so I know the scoop. Its party hearty today for us old timers. You're having a few with me partner, whether you like it or not," Halmand goaded her playfully.


"So much for secrets. I'll have a Whisky Sour then, with a shot of Maple syrup," Tricia responded to him with a smile.


"Now that's more like it. Sounds good. I think I'll join you," Halmand got to his feet and went over to the bar, to where an elderly man was already preparing their drinks.


"Walter?" Halmand confirmed with the bartender, whom he'd met before, five years earlier.


"One and the same, like East coast fame," Walter responded, a thick Newfoundland accent clung to his speech despite his having not been there for ten years.


"So how've you been keeping here? How's business?" asked Halmand as he watched the bartender prepare their drinks.


"Not so good. This is going to be our last year. Our last Remembrance Day..." Walter said solemnly before picking up the ice shaker and giving it his best east coast tidal shake.


"No! Seriously? What's gotten into this world?" Halmand asked Walter, a look of shock upon his face.


"Seems some people want the past buried with the dead. While they're still livin' mind you," Walter poured both drinks and then layered the Maple syrup with a spoon and some good old fashioned skill.


"But this is part of our history! These people here on the walls, they're who got us here," Halmand spoke up.


"Seems we're not part of the future insofar as the big plan is concerned. Like I said, some people don't like the past lookin' them in the face. I wonder if they'll be ready for it when the same thing comes to get them when they're older?" asked Walter of Halmand.


"Were we like that?" Halmand used his considerable introspect to consider all sides.


"I don't think we're the same. We're different. Maybe not exactly the same as our ancestors, from whom we were a bit different, but we still had something keeping us all together and from trying to bury in shame those who got us here. Now, its like if our real history doesn't fit the bill, they bury it and replace it with a shinier one. What's their future going to be like, because crap can only get so deep before your boots aren't tall enough to keep your pants clean, if you know what I'm saying," Walter shook his head.


"I'm sorry, but I spent a lot of my time in here looking after this place. Seeing many people who stood in the service of this country come and go. I'm not just talking the yes men. I'm talking people from all sides and all walks of life, who helped to get this country and the rest of us safely here. It really hurts that soon, they won't be coming. They'll just being going, and going, and going, and eventually gone..." Walter lifted both of their drinks up carefully from the preparation area onto the bar, presenting them as the dying art of the Legion bartender.


"Enjoy your drinks. Its good to see a familiar face. If you stick around, there might be some more. Familiar faces that is..." Walter winked at Halmand, who nodded thoughtfully at Walter's words, picking up both Maple syrup crowned Whisky Sours and bringing them to the table for he and his ex-peer Tricia to enjoy over the stories that were certain to arrive.


Operation Stalwart

(Coming soon)





To be continued...


I am Brian Joseph Johns and this is Shhhh! Digital Media at https://www.shhhhdigital.com or https://www.shhhhdigital.ca in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at 200 Sherbourne Street Suite 701.

Credits and attribution:

Artwork: Amy Wong, Wendy Pusey, Ghastly, Birdman, Brian Joseph Johns, Daz3D, Unreal Engine...

Tools: Daz3D, Corel Painter, Adobe Photoshop, Lightwave 3D, Blender, Stable Diffusion (Easy Diffusion distribution), InstantID, Sadtalker, Google Colaboratory, Microsoft Copilot (Windows 11), Hitfilm, Borderline Obsession...

Invideo.IO which was used to produce the ENERTRINSIC INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR PRESENTATION.

Rutherford model representation of Deuterium and Tritium: By Dirk Hünniger; Derivative work in english - Balajijagadesh.

InstantID by: Wang, Qixun and Bai, Xu and Wang, Haofan and Qin, Zekui and Chen, Anthony. Research Paper Title: InstantID - Zero-shot Identity-Preserving Generation in Seconds.

Sadtalker by: Zhang, Wenxuan and Cun, Xiaodong and Wang, Xuan and Zhang, Yong and Shen, Xi and Guo, Yu and Shan, Ying and Wang, Fei.
Research Paper Title: SadTalker: Learning Realistic 3D Motion Coefficients for Stylized Audio-Driven Single Image Talking Face Animation.

Gratitude: Our Mentors, Senseis, Sifus, Sebomnims, lifetime inspirations, family, friends, the Nomads (ask Stanton about that one), the Music, the Movies, the Theatre, the Arts, ASMR, (both YouTube and Bilibili and the many other creators on those platforms), the Gaming and Developer communities and of course, the audience.

Martial Arts (in the words of real experts and at least one comedian): https://brucelee.com (home of the real Dragon and an entire family of inspirations), http://iwco.online International Wing Chun Organization (International presence of a very scalable intensity martial art, protected and developed by Shaolin Nun Ng Mui) and the alma mater of Jinn Hua's own specialized variation thereof, https://iogkf.com International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karatedo Federation (even Hanshi had his teachers), https://itftkd.sport International Taekwondo Federation (Here there be Taegers), https://tangsoodoworld.com Tang Soo Do World (the path of Grandmaster Chuck Norris), https://www.aikido-international.org International Aikido Federation (how else would Navy Chef Steven Seagal liberate a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier from a team of hijackers?), https://www.stqitoronto.com Shaolin Temple Quanfa Institute (The City Of Toronto's own Shaolin Temple), https://www.enterthedojoshow.com Master Ken's Ameri-Te-Do presence (If we can't laugh at ourselves, then we can at least laugh the loudest at others, and other Zen)

Jesse Enkamp: Karate Nerd

Sensei Rokas: Martial Arts Journey

Iaido: Train For Katana Mastery Like Samurai

Special thanks to Aitrepreneur, Mickmumpitz, Hugging Face and the YouTube educational content producers, including those catering to the AI content production pipeline and of course AlphaSignal.

Something to give you perspective: The very first teacher had no formal education, didn't graduate and was self taught, but only because they had no other choice. We do.

Very Special Thanks to our Armed Forces and Federal and Provincial Police Services, who really do Stand On Guard, especially when it comes to the Charter of Rights And Freedoms and the Human Rights Act, and often without being self righteous zealots secretly protecting religious law. True keepers of the peace.

This content is entirely produced in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at 200 Sherbourne Street Suite 701 under the Shhhh! Digital Media banner.

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