[ALIEN AVATAR] Spirit of the 42

[Pagliacci]

The black and white film begins with the image of a sphinx above the following words:

Sphinx Productions Presents: The Spirit of ’42!


Then, the newsreel-style, black-and-white film shows five members of Situation Six (but not Doctor Mondial), waving and shaking hands with distinguished men and woman in opposing rows with severe suits and dour, archaic robes. The film has a jerky, antique quality.

A voiceover begins:
Enigma takes us where dogma cannot, as Unionists and Traditionalists band together against the Axis threat! No cabal since the First Cabal has inspired such excitement among the Awakened as Situation Six, shown here greeting Enlightened dignitaries from around the world. Founded in 1942….

The voiceover is abruptly cut off and replaced with a shaky hand-held shot of a computer screen. On the screen is the following email:

From: “Alan Cordwainer — Analysis”
<cordwainer@domaincloaked>
To: “Management” <M@domaincloaked>
Re: “Situation Six” retirement

Sir,

“Situation Six” related assets have been retired with the exception of Operative Ninemen (and, of course, the Deviant “Mondial,” who has been missing since 1946). Ninemen’s whereabouts are unknown at this time. Other retirees experienced plausible decomissioning (dementia, heart failure, cancer, schizoid episodes from previous drug use). I recommend that these retirements be kept under strictest confidence. The war years are a delicate period of history, especially when wartime assets are concerned. Some historical de/reconstruction may be unavoidable, as old propaganda paints assets as “heroes” or “allies.” Operations suggests a high possibility Ninemen may release Operation Sparkmaker data to terrorists. Attached is a disbursement request for necessary resources to reacquire/retire this asset.

[Pagliacci]

The scene cuts to a worn out looking but boyish man in a dated black suit: This is Jason Ninemen, circa 1944. Off camera, an interviewer questions him:

Interviewer: You’re called Situation Six, but only five of you are here! Where’s Doctor Mondial?

Ninemen: The Doctor’s getting ready for the big push into Bastogne. The proletariat Allies have done their job, so the Doctor wants to make sure we can match it — and give the Hun another black eye to match the one pounded in by Yank tanks!

There’s a second of blackness, then an officiallooking seal that includes the Prime symbol appears over the following words:

WEWELSBERG TRIBUNAL PROCEEDINGS: DACHAU 13/6/46

Over a dozen men and women sit at a long table. Many of them are the same figures Situation Six greeted earlier in the film. One distinguished elder stands and looks past the camera, saying:

Alois Richter, and the Folterbrunnen Cabal, you are guilty of crimes “in imago infernalis.” That is, you have performed acts like unto those committed by servants of Oblivion regardless of whether you have entered into any pact or association with them. You shall be held until such time as sentences of Gilgul and death are carried out. May your gods have mercy on your soul.

There’s one final cut to what appears to be an examination table. A corpse lies on it covered in striated burns and cuts. The marks on the body suggest some sort of panicked writing, though the language is incomprehensible, but also resemble a common Paradox backlash manifestation.

A dispassionate voice speaks in German while masked doctors turn the body over and gesture to particularly severe points of trauma. Leaning against a wall, a man in an SS uniform cleans his nails with a knife. The voiceover says:

When directed into the Fountain, energy from the camp interacts with subjects who cross over into supernormal realms by their own power or through the intercession of others. Before death, this prisoner described it as “a curtain of bright razors.” If properly harnessed, this could serve as a potent defense against the Reich’s occult enemies.

Then credits roll. The listing for every credit but one is gibberish. That last credit, under the cast listings is: A. Benedict: Conflicted Secret Agent — Jason Ninemen

Then, at the conclusion of the credits, it says:
Filmed in London — where enigma takes you where dogma cannot!