Fairchild is the daughter, along with fellow Gen-active Roxanne Spaulding, of Alex Fairchild of Team 7. Unlike Roxy, however, the identity of Caitlin's mother is unknown and Caitlin has never mentioned her.

Caitlin grew into a brilliant but mousy young woman. Her academic skill led to her acceptance at Princeton University, where she double-majored in computer science and electrical engineering.

Caitlin was recruited into Project: Genesis which she believed to be some sort of government internship. One night, Caitlin began to feel ill (due to secretly being fed drugs designed to activate latent Gen-Active abilities)and try and find a bathroom. She inadvertently stumbled into a computer room where her future teammates Grunge and Roxy were hanging out.

When Caitlin is looking on the computer screen the guard was about to turn on Grunge and Roxy, but was interrupted by Caitlin’s anger activating her gen-active abilities. Within seconds she was transformed from a mousy computer geek to a powerful gen-active girl

Borrowing Grunge's shirt, Caitlin, Roxy and Grunge decided to escape Project: Genesis. Along the way, they were joined by Bobby Lane and Sarah Rainmaker. Despite their best efforts the team’s escape from Project: Genesis would have failed if not for the intervention of International Operations director John Lynch.

Deciding that I/O had to be opposed, Lynch turned on the organization and helped the teens flee to San Diego, California where he set up a luxurious safe house in the La Jolla area. Lynch promised to teach the fledgling superheroes how to make a difference in the world and to help them uncover the mysteries of who their parents were.

During most of the career of the Gen 13 team, Caitlin is the acknowledged team leader, not counting overseer and former Team 7 member John Lynch.

Later, John Lynch disappeared promoting Alex Fairchild, who Caitlin reunited with during the Fire From Heaven crossover, took up the mentor role. The team also relocated to the Florida Keys and Roxy and Caitlin discovered they were half-sisters.

Sadly the family reunion was short as Alex was killed protecting his daughters and the rest of the team from the villain Tindalos. Caitlin took full leadership after her fathers death and since Lynch was still missing.

Also, an accident resulted in a case of amnesia that made her believe she was Supergirl for a time, an issue that was quickly resolved.

Powers and Abilities

Physical Growth Augmentation: Caitlin was affected by her gen-factor causing her mass to increase and her muscle density to grow exponentially. The gen-factor also had the effect of turning a plain looking girl into what many consider an anatomically disproportionate yet beautiful woman, a fact which continues to evade her somehow.

Superhuman Strength. She has confronted and been able to hold her own against some of the strongest heroes and villains in the Wildstorm universe. Caitlin's limit for super strength is the same as Supergirl's

Superhuman Durability Caitlin's limit for super durability is the same as Supergirl's

Enhanced Stamina Caitlin's limit for stamina is the same as Supergirl's

Enhanced Agility

Superhuman Reflexes' Her gen-factor also eventually expressed superhuman reflexes—above the human maximum, but not extremely so.

Caitlin absorbed the shapeshifting powers of another "genie" (that reality's nickname for those with gen-factor powers). She gained the ability to melt into a purple liquid and reform in various shapes. After expressing these powers, Caitlin's hair and lips turned purple. It is unknown whether she retained these new powers.

She also has a high Intellect majoring in both computer science & electrical engineering and capable leadership skills