You consider they key a moment or three longer. Finally, you decide to extend your other senses. You close your eyes and start breathing slowly, clearing your mind. While you don't have the active, directed Warp-sense that your father Vir has, you can get a general read on an object or area. A passive warp-sense, if you will. You briefly consider removing your kerchief, but decide against it. You don't need to unleash offensive power, nor do you wish to risk distorting whatever impressions you might get with active emissions.

When your heartbeat slows to a three-count between beats, you open your eyes again. The whole area seams just a little bit darker, the shadows a little deeper. Stillness and silence blankets the area. The key itself sits in its own little pool of shadows. If anything, the area directly around it is even more quiet. As if there is an absence of sound.

+So we already know how to Listen.+

+Perhaps. What do you make of this key?+

+Nothing that we do not already know. We see only what we see, know only what we know.+

+Your habit of speaking in the plural form is confusing me.+

+We are the same being with more than one strain of thought. Why would we not speak in the plural when speaking about all of ourselves?+

You blink your eyes and close off your other senses. The key is harmless enough, as far as you can tell, so you pick it up and drop it in a pocket. You sweep the dust off the desk to mask the fact that you took the key. It will tip off that the desk was used, but perhaps hide the absence of the key.

With the key in hand, and a few new books selected for later reading you head back to your quarters to prepare for the upcoming return to Oasis.