#I've been thinking a lot about how Helmut was the last member to join

[o-lanterns]

What Vision Saw.

ID: A comic of a conversation between Helmut and Ford, soon after Helmut‘s arrival at the Gulch. Full transcript under readmore.

Helmut sits with his back against a tree, strumming a bass guitar and looking melancholy. He is startled by Ford teleporting behind him and saying “Beautiful sunset tonight, huh?”

Ford: “Heh, sorry. I forgot you aren’t as used to that as the others.”

Helmut: (looking amused) “Dude. You can just admit you like to scare people for fun.”

Ford: “Alright, I’ll give you that. It’s a little fun.” He sits down next to Helmut. “So, how ya been settling in?”

Helmut: “Well y’know, living in the Feel Mobile makes it easy. I’m home wherever she’s parked. Then again, it’s a little weird being parked in one place for... Man, a week now?”

Ford: “Almost two!”

Helmut: “Wow.” (gasp) “Wait- I can’t remember the last time I had friends this long! That came out more depressing than I thought. I mean I’m not used to being around the same people every day. Especially not other psychics.”

Ford: “What a bunch we must be to adjust to, huh? Oh!” He points in the air. “You dodn’t hear this from me, but Zanotto was asking me about ya. Maybe you should visit the greenhouse sometime.”

Helmut: “Bob? I was almost starting to think he was scared of me! Whenever I go near him he just sweats and looks like he’s gonna be sick, and then-” cut to Bob running and shouting “The plants are calling me! gotta go!”

Ford: “Heheh, that’s Bob for you. Sweet guy, just a little skittish. He’ll warm up to you soon enough, I’m sure. I know he loved your show. We all did!”

Helmut: (close-up of his hand on the strings of the bass, hesitating.) “Yeah. And I loved playing. But, uh...”

Ford: “Alright, out with it now. What’s troubling you, friend?”

Helmut: “Nothing, it’s just... Ford? What am I doing here?”

Ford: (surprised) “Hm? How do you mean?”

Helmut: “I mean, why did you invite me to say? Like, what it is you see in me I guess. I feel like I don’t have much to offer you. You’re all doing amazing things here. Like, unbelievable things!” He projects figments of the rest of the Psychic Seven, each using their signature psychic ability. “Then there’s me, and well. My thing is this. I’m not a scientist or a best-selling author, I just make art. I’m not like the rest of you.”

Ford: “Exactly!”

Helmut: “Huh?”

Ford: “Tell me, how would a band sound if everyone played the same note, on the same instrument?”

Helmut: “It would suck?”

Ford: “Darn tootin’!” He looks toward the sky with shining in his eyes. “Sure, science is part of what we do here, but there’s a reason we call ourselves Psychonauts. We’re explorers.“ He gestures out at the sunset’s vivid colors. “And while we may be on this journey together, we all have our own perspectives. That’s what I see in you, Helmut. In all psychics. Each of us is just one wavelength, a single hue on the spectrum. And I want to see the whole rainbow.”

Helmut looks up in awe and is painted washed in rainbow lighting, surrounded by stars.

Ford: “Almost forgot: Supper’s just about ready. I’d better go tell the others.”

Helmut: “Sweet! I’ll catch up in a minute.”

Ford: “Seeya!” He teleports away in a woosh of green.

Helmut relaxes against the tree trunk and smiles at the sunset, plucking more notes on his bass and projecting brightly colored figments of a starry eye, clouds, and sunshine.

[End transcript.]