It was Mahdi Ahmadi himself who interrogated Sapphire before the Social Media tribunal. It was also Mahdi Ahmadi who executed her. This was no secret, in fact, a national display was made of it.

A short show trial transmitted over Twister, Facely, Gaggle and FederalYoutube was followed by what Ahmadi announced would be a display of a new law enforcement device.

A device called TROP.

"Some citizens have been slow to come for their inoculations," the Mahdi spoke to the press. "Stepped up enforcement will cure this."

In a sandy ring built in front of the Capitol, Sapphire was chained by her foot to a stake, given enough freedom to move about but no chance of escape. In her hand they placed a samurai sword, of dubious quality, but nevertheless sharp.

To the roars of a delusional and enraged populace, into the ring strode Mahdi Ahmadi, in a suit of light that made this almost a fashion pageant. A billion viewers on the Internet and in homes had never seen anything so spectacular. Had only the Roman gladiators put on such a show, their union contracts would still have been in existence.

Little did the audience realize that the deck was now so heavily stacked against Sapphire that she was already dead. But little did they care. The man of light held them entranced.

"As your new director of the Center of Disease Control, my responsibility is the health and safety of all Americans," Ahmadi pronounced majestically as he entered the ring. "I take that responsibility seriously."

"You bastard," Sapphire was heard to mutter before the directional mikes were turned away.

"In the past, certain Americans have gotten away with imposing health risks on the rest of us with impunity," Ahmadi continued, punctuated with a lavish swish of his sword. "Guns, cigarettes, seat belts, alcohol, fatty hamburgers, air pollution, all were issues in the past." Another swish. Sapphire watched apprehensively, she knew the Mahdi's abilities all too well.

"Now however, we are confronted with a very serious lack of responsibility on the part of some citizens who wish to avoid our vaccination program. They are being very selfish." Ahmadi began to pace around Sapphire, measuring her moves. "This young woman is an example of this disregard for the health of others, the needs of the many being greater than the needs of the few." Swoosh, the blade came near Sapphire's head. "What are we civilized humans to do?" Clang as Mahdi Ahmadi's blade skated off Sapphire's sword. "We cannot ignore the risks!" Clang! Clang! Two blows successfully defended in quick succession. "But we must all be strong in order to resist the chaos," Clang, zip, zip. Sapphire fell to her knees, her patellar tendons both cut. "We must do this for the children1" Mahdi intoned magisterially.

In agony, Sapphire took her sword like a javelin and made a last desperate attempt to kill the evil being that opposed her. Hate for her father, blood of her blood, burned like coals in her eyes. She threw the sword at Mahdi Ahmadi's heart with all her strength, a considerable force given her athleticism. Against a normal adversary, even a well trained male, this toss would have done damage, but Mahdi Ahmadi was no longer normal. He caught the missile in mid flight with one hand, viewed it nonchalantly, then flipped it to grasp the hilt. Then screaming like an ungodly banshee he spun in the air and both his blade and Sapphire's whistled in his hands like a helicopter.

For a moment, it was as if nothing had happened, as if it were all a show. Then Sapphire's head sickeningly collapsed and rolled off her torso. Then her body fell in two.

Even the President and Laura, watching from a viewing pillbox above, seemed taken aback by the ferocity of what had just occurred.

The President rose palely from his seat. "Desperate times require desperate measures," he gagged even as the cameras returned to regular programming.

The Mahdi approached the President's viewing stand, carrying the head of his daughter, Sapphire James. The President made a motion to wave him away, but the Mahdi spoke anyway.

"The lightbeing will be coming for you, Mr. President," Ahmadi spoke to an obviously discomfited President.

"Who are you talking about, what do you mean," the President pretended ignorance.