Noera appears as a young blond Californian radiating a beach bum demeanor, consistently depicted drinking alcohol. He initiates the narrative reuniting with his old high school friend, Leroy, at a San Diego bar, reflecting on their lives a decade after graduation. During this meeting, an intoxicated Noera reveals his plan to drive his red convertible car (later specified as a Chrysler 300) to Los Angeles for a new job.

His past includes membership in San Diego's top street basketball team alongside Jack Varo ten years prior. His present circumstances suggest aimlessness and financial instability, evidenced by driving a car with unpaid loans and carrying minimal cash. After a chaotic encounter involving military vehicles and Kremlin agents, he reluctantly partners with Marcia, a biker who retrieves a mysterious orb from a crashed trailer. When the orb projects a Death Valley vision upon their touch, Marcia insists they travel there, invoking the "American Dream." Noera initially resists, advocating police involvement, but relentless pursuit by armed forces compels him to continue the journey.

Noera exhibits a blend of reluctant pragmatism and impulsive adaptability. After Marcia’s motorcycle is destroyed, he allows her to accompany him but later attempts to abandon her in Orange County; this effort is brief before he retrieves both her and her cat. His car sustains extensive damage during multiple chases, eventually breaking down completely, forcing him to proceed on foot. Despite losing his vehicle and job due to the escalating conflict, he persists toward Death Valley, often drinking beer during the trek. His actions reflect a resigned acceptance of the chaos, driven more by survival instincts and circumstantial momentum than belief in the mission.

The story concludes during a climactic helicopter chase in Death Valley where the orb breaks and becomes inert.