Zeto Helzer (Jedi Renaissance)

Zeto Helzer was a male Zelosian Jedi Master who served both the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. A member of the Jedi High Council during the Jedi Renaissance, Helzer's sister Yara Helzer eventually served as the Head of State of the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Early career
A Force-sensitive male from Zellos II, Zeto Helzer was the second of three children to be born into his family home during the decades preceding the Clone Wars. Reluctant to give their second son to the Jedi Order, his parents finally relented and Helzer was transported to Coruscant to begin his education in the ways of the Force. Passing through the Coruscant Jedi Temple's academy with difficulty, Helzer's connection of the Force did not fully manifest until his twelfth name day, leaving him highly disadvantaged at the annual Apprentice Tournament. Doubting he would be selected by a Master for further training, Helzer resigned himself to prepare for a life of hard labor in the Agricultural Corps. Despite his outlook, Master T'ra Saa took note of Helzer's dedication to the Jedi Code and his well-intended attempts at catching up with his peers that she decided to take on a Padawan; a true rarity for the ancient Jedi Master.

Under the guidance of Master Saa, Helzer quickly learned to access the Force and tap into its ever-present wellspring of energy. Residing on the planet Kiffu, of which Master Saa served as Watchman, Helzer was eager to learn how to see through the Force, as his species was naturally blind in the dark. Learning to reach out to the Living Force for guidance, Helzer eventually mastered the technique and could move around with ease in both the light of day or the cover of night blindfolded. Traveling to the frozen temple on Ilum to construct a yellow-bladed lightsaber like his master's Helzer preferred diplomacy to battle, though he was able to wield a lightsaber satisfactorily. When time came to take his Trials of Knighthood in 35 BBY, Helzer returned to Coruscant and faced down his fear of failure and disappointing his master in the Trials Chamber and emerged a Jedi Knight.

When the Separatist Crisis quickly threatened to engulf the Republic, Helzer took the young Melik Galerha as his Padawan. Together, Helzer and Galerha studied the arts of diplomacy at the Academy of Chandrilia, becoming wise in the ways of the politics of the Core Worlds. Traveling the Core, the pair learned of the histories of the prestigious homeworlds of the Founders of the Republic and both spent hours in Senate debates analyzing the motives of Core World senators. When the Clone Wars erupted on Geonosis, Helzer and Galerha reported back to Coruscant for assignments in the Grand Army of the Republic. Desperate for more Knights the High Council promoted Galerha to the rank of Knight and General and dispatched him to fronts across the Republic. Because of Helzer's familiarity with the Core and some of their most prominent families, the Zelosian was assigned to Alderaan as an adjunct to White Cuirass Command and Moff Praji. Taking assignments with the 4th Sector Army, Helzer did not see extended fighting as the Confederacy of Independent Systems stayed away from the Core.

To the shock of Helzer and some of his peers, a relative of the Knight appeared on the side of the Confederacy. Appealing to her brother to rally to the side of the Confederacy, Confederate Senator Yara Helzer invited the Jedi Knight to her private retreat on Zellos II for a meeting. Accepting, Helzer met his sister for the first time when she asked him to raise his lightsaber on behalf of their homeworld and their people. Wishing her the best, Helzer refused the offer and publicly denounced any affiliation with her and her cause and proclaiming his loyalty to the Order and the Republic's core principles. Elevating Helzer to the rank of Master for his ability to separate duty and family, the Zelosian returned to Alderaan where he would remain for the last month of the war.

Jedi Renaissance
During the middle of the night, Helzer was woke by the chirping of his emergency beacon. Opening the incoming message, Helzer was confused when the recording of Master Mace Windu ordered him to be wary of betrayal from any Republic officers not directly affiliated with the Order. Departing without a word to anyone, Helzer made for Coruscant and answers. As his fellow Jedi gathered in the Temple's Great Hall, he was horrified to hear that Palpatine had been a Sith Lord and behind the war the entire time. With the announcement from the new Grand Master, Tomac Moorcé, that the Order would be relocating to Ossus, Helzer realized that his place would be on Coruscant to help aid with the transition of power. As many of his peers departed for the old Jedi fortress world over the ensuing months, Helzer dedicated himself to aiding Master Windu survive as a member of the Republic's temporary triumvirate.

As an aide to the highest office of the Republic government, Helzer assisted in establishing and renewing treaties with the Core World's systems. Windu commended Helzer's work and recommended him for a position in the Temple's newly formed political academy. As the triumvirate was dissolved, Helzer accepted the position of Deputy Headmaster of the Coruscant Academy and reported directly to the Council of First Knowledge. In 6 BBY, Warden of the Order Coleman Kcaj stepped down from the High Council and Helzer was called upon to fill his seat. As a member of the High Council, Helzer strove to increase recruitment from the Core Worlds and populate the Order with members from each of the Republic's founding worlds. A close friend with Master and fellow Councilor Kessar Jedd, the pair worked to increase the Order's popularity throughout the Corellian sector and then use that plan as a template for other planets.

Returning to Coruscant during the Battle of Yavin IV to ensure that the membership of the High Council was not decimated should the battle go sourly for the Order. Three years after the new era of the Republic began, Helzer stepped down from the High Council in order to return to the Core to document how the change in the era effected Core World politics. Doing extensive work on recording the momentous changes, Helzer authored 200 extensive reports over the next four decades along with a personal holocron which he turned over to the Great Library of Ossus in the weeks before his death. As he wound down his work as he felt death slowly coming for him, Helzer traveled to Anzat to meet with his master one last time. Master Saa, who had taken root over the pyre of her dear friend Master Tholme, welcomed the visit and praised Helzer on his work and contributions to the Order over the years. Leaving his master for the final time, Helzer returned to Alderaan and was received by his former Padawan Melik Galerha into the Aldera Royal Palace where he would become one with the Force during the night. Helzer's funeral was attended by several key Core World's senators, including many whom had retired years past before his ashes were spread over the rolling hills outside the city.