Interesting ideas...
I actually like the P2 reads the clues of to P1..
I've always loved two player rpg's on sc, or anything else that is based around one character, and the mapper adds one or more slots..
But,
A Side kick?
You could make it like,
A pet, a Zling, or something.. Not with shitty stats, but balanced enough that having it helps, or something... Anyways, the pet should be able to be ressurected, but each time it is ressurected, it devolves, Like, persay you start of with a .... Ultra? then you goto Lurk, lisk, ling, drone, then you well erm.. die? forever?

anyways, I think you should add that extra player
