Laric Sullivan must decide if the Spanish-speaking humanoids who have just arrived on Earth in a flying saucer are really angels from God, as they claim, or are clever aliens on the verge of consummating a plan to enslave the human race under the pretense of Christianity.

When Laric's best friend inexplicably disappears from the outskirts of Los Angeles, he has no one to turn to except a mysterious television personality named Randii the Indian Magician, whose son was recently kidnapped by a rather awkward biker gang called the Black Angels. However, Laric soon discovers that Randii is involved in something much more complex than merely a search for her son. Indeed, she not only anticipates the arrival of an apparent spacecraft, but after making contact with it, she discontinues the search for her son in favor of fulfilling some vague religious program. Remembering the uncanny way in which his friend disappeared, Laric immediately suspects the occupants of the saucer of being responsible, but they maintain that they are angels from God on a harmless mission to recapture some escaped prisoners, the Black Angels. Though wary of Randii's alliance with the visitors, Laric now believes she is his best hope for finding his lost friend.

Unfortunately for Laric, his association with Randii becomes dangerous when her ex-husband, Aven, reveals to the world that the angels of God are really aliens, who devised Christianity as a means to harvest a willing human work force. Aven, furthermore, has captured what he believes is alien technology, and he demonstrates that its power can be used against the invaders successfully. Thus, Laric is ultimately forced to either profess allegiance to Aven and the rest of the human race or be condemned as a traitor, surrendering his life but, if Randii is to be believed, finally finding his friend.