Her origins are very curious. Curious indeed. She was born with her powers, she came straight out the womb with an exoskeleton. Unfortunately, she didn't have subtlety on her side as she was one of the many victims of the Changeling Unit. When she was a mere baby, she was snatched up by the villainous organization and put on auction - with the Hands of Science winning. At a young age, the organization experimented on her remorselessly. They pumped her with experimental drugs that they believed would alter the outcome of the development of powers. When those failed, they tried different drugs. It was a vicious cycle, one that seemingly would never end for the infant. It continued for years, into her toddler days. However, change came when NEST raided the lab and liberated the test subjects. Along with having a kickass battle.

The insectoid child fell into NEST's hands. They had a program for orphaned Metahumans, and she was placed in a NEST-approved foster home. Though, the Hands of Science never gave her a name, merely a number. Two Agents figured that they would call her Fiona. From there, young Fiona was shifted from home to home - never staying in one place for too long, and never getting too close to one family. From New York, to Verthaven. to Stadium City... she never got too attached to one particular location. In school, Fiona was, naturally, an outcast. Being a bug-hybrid does that. When they did pay attention to her, they merely picked on her. This caused Fiona to become a very lonely youth. She didn't have anyone to truly latch onto, and call a friend. While Fiona simply felt like a freak.

However, her life changed once she reached Black Fall (When she was ten). While she was exploring the woods... she encountered an abomination of a Metahuman. While it was scary (It had tons of screaming [from both ends!]), both of them calmed down, and had a discussion. The man said that he was from the Ivory Deer Community, a mansion full of Metahumans freaks. The prospect of this place intrigued Fiona... she agreed to go to the place with the man, just to see for herself. Once she stepped through the gates, she felt more at home here than anywhere else. She spent the rest of the day exploring the estate, or playing with the other children. Never wanting to go home again. However, her absence caused a bit of a scare (NEST feared she was captured by the Pure or the Hands of Science). NEST tracked her down to the estate, and Fiona refused to leave. They simply left her in the hands of the Ivory Deer Community - she was clearly more at home there than any other foster family. From there, Fiona realized what a paradise the community was for someone like her. No longer should she live in shame here. The child spent her time here learning, playing, and exploring the world. More importantly, she explored her powers.

An important piece of her past was placed once she discovered her biological parents, Hopper and Tracer. Both Insect Metahumans - one had the powers of a Bee, and another had the powers of an Ant. You see, Fiona was one of their many children they had. When The Changeling Unit struck the Ivory Deer Community, Fiona was one of the children they napped - while killing a few other people in the process. Fiona happily welcomed her parents, and they became a family. They affectionately gave her their intended name: Cricket Barrett. Though, Fiona still liked the name NEST gave her - she still took on their last name, however. Then they introduced her to her many brothers and sisters - each embodying a singular insect. Fiona practiced her powers with them, with it quickly becoming clear that she was more advanced than them. She could take the form of different insects, while they were stuck with one. It was something curious indeed.

The next seven years progressed naturally, and very uneventfully. However, there was another shift. While Fiona was exploring the woods with her friends, they were attacked by a group of the Pure. Who thought that they could easily kill some Metahuman children. Everyone scattered, and the Pure was right behind them. Fiona was capable of getting the greatest distance due to her power. She managed to retreat back to the Estate and warn someone - who then got in contact with NEST and the police. The Pure were arrested... not before they could injure Fiona's friends, however. It became local news, however. The Pure attacking children was used as an angle to attack and shed light on the Anti-Meta extremism.

More importantly, Fiona being the sole survivor caught the attention of the Academy. A certain Power Instructor extended his hand and managed to invite Fiona to the Academy. Which she gladly accepted, and in a few days, she was on her way there.