Absolute Ben 10.
Episode 2: Hero Of No One - Part 2: The Mirage.
On December 24, 2010, ten-year-old Ben Tennyson and his grandfather, Max, travel to the outskirts of Bellwood to cut down a Christmas tree after local vendors sell out. During the drive, they discuss Ben's living arrangements following his father's fatal car accident and his mother's resulting emotional detachment. Max, an active military serviceman, warns Ben that living with him would require frequent relocation. Ben declines, expressing hope that a traditional Christmas tree will cheer his mother up. Their conversation is interrupted by a massive explosion originating from Bellwood. Rushing back in Max's RV, they discover the town center completely decimated, resembling the aftermath of a controlled nuclear detonation, while the surrounding outskirts remain mysteriously untouched.
In the present day, Ben stares at the roadside welcome sign, which now reads "Blackwater, Iowa." Confused, he rationalizes that his previous vision of a Bellwood sign was a hallucination. A local police cruiser pulls up, and the officer asks if Ben requires assistance. When Ben turns around, the officer abruptly attempts to place him under arrest, charging him with the murders of nine people. Ben protests the impossibility of the charges and attempts to resist arrest. In response, the officer repeatedly pistol-whips Ben until he loses consciousness. High above the altercation, a small drone records the event.
Five months earlier, Ben drives the Rust Bucket into Blackwater and is immediately pulled over by the same officer, who is revealed to be the town sheriff. The sheriff aggressively questions Ben's motives for visiting. Using the alias "Kirby," Ben claims he is a transient planning to stay for only a few weeks. The sheriff issues a stern warning that he will be monitoring Ben closely before driving away.
Within the town, Ben unsuccessfully searches for day labor. Running out of funds, he spots a lucrative advertisement for a job paying $1,000 a day. He is directed to an address that features a dilapidated exterior but a pristine, modern interior. Inside, he meets a woman named Tracy, who serves him coffee and begins asking probing questions regarding his familial ties and emergency contacts. Maintaining his alias, Ben asserts his independence and lack of local connections. He soon experiences dizziness and deduces that an airborne sedative is being pumped through the ventilation system, as he has not consumed the coffee. Relying on his military instincts, Ben attacks Tracy, smashing the coffee cup over her head to neutralize the immediate threat before attempting to flee.
As Ben dashes toward the exit, he is incapacitated by a sudden, severe electrical shock. Tracy recovers and kicks the paralyzed Ben in the head. As he slips into unconsciousness, the pristine office interior flickers and vanishes, revealed to be a sophisticated holographic projection masking a rundown, empty room. Tracy casually orders an unseen accomplice to dispose of Ben's vehicle.