When Landon joined the US Border Patrol, he knew to expect excitement and adventure, but never expected to be taken hostage by two Iranian terrorists with a fellow rookie agent, Rick;, their mentor, Bingo Sohappy; and a Mexican woman, Celina. Ahmed and Raheem are novice terrorists and it's evident to the group as their plan simply consists of a briefcase bomb set for detonation in Phoenix. Ahmed believes that it's his duty to set off the bomb and, if he does so successfully, he will find the Holy Land. The journey through the desert holds many lessons not only for Landon but also for the two men holding him captive. While Raheem eventually loses his life, Ahmed re-evaluates the martyr mission he believes he was put on this Earth to carry out. On their quest for what Celina calls "Tierra Santa," the group experiences a strange life-changing mixture of revelations, epiphanies and self-discovery.