I don't own any of the characters you recognize, this story is based off a series named Megaman NT warrior or Rockman EXE in Japan

well Rachel was in trouble and she knew it, she was completely surrounded by the enemy and no backup to help her either. Suddenly one of her enemies talks to her and not her netnavi

"you're in for it now Hidden Shadow, after all we've cut off all means of support so you can no longer just call for help from your friends"

"what did you do to my friends and their navis?"

"oh nothing much just put them in a container slowly filling up with water and made sure to...distract the navi's as well with tons of viruses protecting the controls of that container"

"you creep"

"well now you've exhausted yourself trying to get here and your navi is also exhausted as far as we know so die Hiddenman!"

Hiddenman would've been hit too if not for one little surprise that none of them knew about

"not so fast"

"Colonel?"

"that's right Hiddenman"

in the real world they all turned and faced the voice that had spoken up

"Barrel what are you doing here?"

"the netpolice have been a bit suspicious about the going's on lately and asked Netopia for some unofficial help, though I was allowed to use whatever force I needed here, and I found out about these guys"

"but how did you find our secret location?"

(scoffs) "like I have to tell you guys? I'll give you a hint it involves my profession but that's all I'm telling you"

Rachel quickly figures out he used his military training to his advantage but doesn't reveal that instead she just goes straight back into action repaying the quick save with one of her own

"good save Hidden Shadow"

"thanks Barrel, now what do you say to ending this plan?"

"good idea"

and so they finish off the group and manage to save their friends just in the nick of time too it appeared

"that was too close"

"commander are you and the others alright?"

"we're fine Hidden Shadow, we all covered each others backs and made sure none of us drowned though it was close with Mysteriyu"

"not" (coughs) "you're fault commander, it was my choice"

"Mysteriyu are we going to have to have that talk again?"

"no Hidden Shadow we won't"

"then tell the truth, and don't do something like that again or regret it"

"understood"

a few weeks later things were calmer, not much but they were calmer and everyone was just talking about the enemy and how they were going to fight them when suddenly Rachel was pushed aside by Barrel and they saw him go down and go down hard, when they searched for the culprit they found them but it was only a shadow and then the person up and disappeared but they didn't give chase, not when Barrel was in need of immediate medical attention. Several hours later in the hospital