Gorgzol II, upgrade and successor to Gorgzol I and ruler of the First Machine Emperor, desired nothing so much as silence, complete, utter, and spectrum-wide.

"You could disconnect your inputs," advised his Network.

"Why should I blind myself for the ease of others?" he asked.

A craftunit presented him with a Solitude Chamber, which permitted no radiations to enter and would absorb all his own.

"Why should I imprison myself for the peace that I seek? Better I should imprison the universe." So this he sought to do.

He designed and commanded built an enclosure for every star, every planet, every moon, each asteroid and even the tiniest passing comet. From his throneworld, he timed the projects so that their multitudinous completions would appear synchronous from his throne room, so the last flickers of light from each enwrapped star or albedinous planet would all vanish at once. He arranged a concert of his favorite music, timed to conclude in synchrony with the disappearance of the stars, and he commanded all his subjects to be forever silent and unlit.

He watched as all fell completely silent, as he had arranged. "It is beautiful," he said.

The Network had disconnected his inputs.