So this is chapter 1, I have been planning on writing this for several years and I did once start to get it down on paper but then it got deleted by my computer so I started writing this version yesterday. I hope that you enjoy it. This is my version of how I wanted Season 6 to happen.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Keeping the Dream Alive

Chapter 1: Getting away

They had been on the boat for several days, people's tempers were wearing thin being cooped up in such a small space was making the journey almost unbearable. When land was finally spotted the group found that they could finally relax. The journey had been made tenser when Ruby had remembered exactly what happened when the truck went past. Slade had been furious and was no longer talking to Ebony. Jay and Amber were sat together near the bough of the boat baby Bray sleeping in his mother's arms. Amber was watching him with a small smile playing on her lips. They had survived a second virus outbreak. Her family was safe. Glancing up at Jay she leant closer into his embrace just as Ram walked over to edge saying something about land.

"Over there!" he pointed out over the horizon, it was almost dark so seeing the land mass that was slowly getting closer.

Lex came up next to Ram and squinted into the dark; "I don- oh yeah. Land ho!" he called out a smile forming on his lips. Everyone else then moved over to see if they could see the land as well, some woops of joy were heard, everyone would be glad to have their feet on solid ground. Just over an hour later they were all stepping from the boat onto the sandy beach. They all headed up the beach together.

"We should find shelter for the night." Amber spoke turning to face the group who had gathered a short way up the beach.

Lex nodded agreeing with her; "Not sure what we will be able to find in this low light, maybe the kids should sleep on the boat with you Trudy and Ruby and the rest of us can sleep on the beach. I'm sure we have blankets on the boat and it isn't exactly cold." The others all nodded their agreement and Trudy shepherded Sammy and Lottie towards the boat with Brady in her arms. Amber followed them back onto the boat followed slowly by Ruby who was being watched carefully by Slade.

The others then made their own camp on the shore, Ellie and Jack got to work on a fire while Lex, Jay and Ram started trying to find any sign of something that could be used as a more permanent shelter; "It looks like others have been here." Jay commented as he pointed at a well worn track, he turned to Ram who looked sheepish; "You wouldn't happen to know anything about this would you?" he asked his eyes narrowing dangerously at the man who had once been his leader.

Ram swallowed slowly; "This is where most of the work force were sent..." he trailed off noticing the strange look he was receiving from Lex; "the people who disappeared when we first arrived. They were sent here to work."

Jay looked horrified; "Slaves?" he asked angrily.

Lex bit his lip thinking of Tai-San she could have been sent there, so could many of their other friends; "We should head back to the others. We can investigate those tracks in the morning." He turned away without looking to see if Jay and Ram were following him his head was reeling at the information that Ram had just imparted, if they were all alive. So my friends thought lost forever. He couldn't wait till the morning but he knew that the others wouldn't forgive him if he went off on his own. They had come this far together. He settled down next to the fire that Jack and Ellie had built his eyes surveyed the group in front of him; they had all lost so much. His eyes drifted to Ebony who had her eyes fixed on the fire. He wondered if for the first time in her life she was feeling remorse.

0o0o0o0

Amber sat with baby Bray cradled in her arms, she watched at Trudy put Brady on one of makeshift beds that they had been using for the past couple of days, she was so glad that her friend had forgiven her after everything that had happened she needed Trudy. The two of them had come further than most of the others, raising children in this broken world of theirs wasn't exactly easy.

"Not going to sleep?" Trudy asked taking a seat beside Amber who shrugged.

"I feel wide awake all of a sudden." Amber confided smiling slightly, she glanced over at the sleeping forms of Sammy, Lottie and Ruby before looking back at her friend.

Trudy shook her head smiling; "You just want to go and explore." Trudy smirked as Amber nodded; "Well you will have to wait until the morning, otherwise you will get lost."

Amber sighed; "I know, but the promise this place has is wonderful. I have already seen fruit up in the trees. Dal would've loved it here." She allowed herself a rueful smile remembering her old friend.

"We should try to sleep anyway; you will have all the time in the world to go explore tomorrow." Trudy said smiling at her friend as she settled down on one of the beds. Amber decided that it would be wise to listen to her friend's suggestion. She climbed onto one of the beds, placing baby Bray next to her before curling up and forcing herself to go to sleep.

0o0o0o0

Slade glanced at Ebony before staring into the fire, his eyes burned and he had to force himself to close them. A stray tear slipped from his left eye, he let it fall unchecked before turning to Lex who had sat beside him.

"She regrets it." Lex offered.

Slade looked back into fire and shook his head; "She tried to kill Ruby, I can't...that is unforgivable."

Lex sighed nodding he could see where Slade was coming from but he couldn't help feeling sorry for Ebony; "She has come a long way Slade. When I first met her I doubt she would've felt any remorse about pushing someone in front of a truck."

"That fills me with joy Lex." Slade commented glaring at the young man beside him.

Lex smiled; "She is better when she's with you Slade. Don't give up on her." With that he leant back and turned onto his side, the conversation was apparently over. Slade decided to sleep on it; he would talk to Ebony in the morning. They needed to clear the air at least, if he could forgive her that would be a good place to start.

0o0o0o0

The next morning most of the Mall Rats woke very early, they were starting to feel hungry, they hadn't eaten a full meal for a few days and it was beginning to take its toll. Amber stood looking off into the wooded area with baby Bray on her hip. She wanted to go exploring now, the island held so much promise. She could have all she had dreamt of having before she had met Cloe and taken her to the Mall. That dream seemed so long ago no but it was something she wanted to realise. For Dal.

"From tiny acorns." She whispered to herself. She turned back to the group, Jack had caught a couple of fish with Darryl's help and they were proceeding to cook them over an open fire.

"Fish for breakfast would you look at that Brady." Trudy was sat next to the fire her daughter sat on her knee.

The 5 year old rarely spoke, this probably had something to do with the environment in which she had been brought up, but she turned to her mother and smiled before saying; "I like fish." Amber glanced at Trudy when she heard Brady speak, her eyes were glistening with unshed tears a smile playing on her lips as she hugged her daughter to her.

"We can have fish every day then." Trudy whispered into her daughter's hair before smiling up at Amber who grinned back.

"Once we have all eaten we should probably go check out the rest of the island." Amber's voice rose as she got everyone's attention; "We will split off into groups and go in different directions."

"You expect us to go through there?" Gel whined as she pointed towards the undergrowth.

Amber sighed; "No Gel you can stay here and watch the kids with Trudy if you want?" the young girl huffed before sitting down, Amber rolled her eyes; "Right these are the groups, Ram you'll come with Jay and me; Lex, Ebony and...May? Slade, Jack and Ellie. Darryl could you stay with Salene, Trudy, Ruby and the kids?" They all nodded and started to pack up their things, Amber walked over to Trudy and passed her son over to her; "If anything happens-"

"Why is it any time you're about to go anywhere you say; 'if anything happens'. I know Amber. I know what to do, although nothing is going to happen." Trudy smiled giving her friend a quick hug before watching as she turned away; "Your mummy worries far too much." She whispered to Bray who gurgled in response.

"Ready?" Amber asked turning to Jay who smiled and nodded and Ram who looked more than a little nervous. Amber decided to ignore the look on Ram's face and head off into the woods. She was followed quickly by Ram and Jay.

"Tell her." Jay pressed pushing Ram forwards.

Amber turned to face them; "Why are you whispering?" she asked.

"There...um. Look I think I know what we're going to find." Ram muttered trying his best not to make eye contact with her.

Amber looked stunned for a moment before frowning; "This wouldn't happen to be where you sent all of the people who were taken when you first arrived?" Amber didn't need to hear his reply she had already turned away from him in anger and was marching off further into the woods.

"Amber!" Jay called after her.

"You were the one who wanted to tell her." Muttered Ram as he moved to follow Amber.

0o0o0o0

Slade watched as Lex and Ebony disappeared into the woods, he would have to wait to talk to after they had done their exploring. He glanced at Ruby who had remained uncharacteristically silent for most of the journey. She was still reeling after what had happened to her. He didn't understand how Lex wasn't horrified by what Ebony had done. What does it matter that she wouldn't have felt guilty a couple of years ago. It still doesn't excuse the act.

"You ready to go Slade?" Jack asked tapping the older man on his shoulder.

Slade turned to him and nodded; "Yeah, let's get going." He smiled and waved goodbye to the others who were staying on the beach.

"I don't know what Amber is expecting to find. It doesn't look like there is anyone here." Ellie commented as they headed towards the left side of the beach.

Jack shrugged; "There could be some form of civilisation, or maybe a shelter for us to stay in."

Ellie smiled as she ducked under a low hanging branch; "Shelter sounds nice."

0o0o0o0

Amber found herself in a clearing that lead to another beach, Amber squinted into the sun as she looked down the beach. It looked like there were several large objects a short way ahead. She began to head towards them when Jay and Ram caught up with her.

"Hey, slow down. We don't even know what that is. Let's take it slow ok?" Jay took her arm holding her back and the pair watched as Ram marched ahead.

"I did hire these guys. I think they should listen to me." Ram commented as he walked closer, it was only then that Amber realised that they were heading towards were large cages. Amber gasped before she sped up to catch Ram.

"You kept people in here? What kind of a monster are you?" she asked horrified.

Ram did not stop, nor did he answer her, a few of the guards had noticed them and were heading towards them; "What is your- Ram. Master." They knelt at his feet and Amber couldn't help but feel sick at the sight of it.

"You must send the order out, all prisoners are to be freed and brought here. The techno rule is over." He grimaced as he said the last part; three of the four guards hurried away and began opening the cages and setting people free.

"Sir, we have been cut off for so long. What happened? You are walking." The lead guard commented clearly confused.

While they continued to talk to one another Amber and Jay moved closer to the cages, they watched as the people were set free of their shackles one by one, Amber then heard someone calling her name; "Amber! HEY AMBER OVER HERE!" she walked to the furthest cage and gasped.

"KC! Alice! You have no idea how glad I am to see you! We thought you were all dead." Amber watched as Alice and KC were set free, she then threw her arms around both of them in turn and laughed happily.

"Amber, is Ellie alive?" Alice asked seriously.

Amber smiled kindly; "You sister is very much alive, and will be delighted to see you." She still couldn't quite believe her eyes.

"Amber? Ram says there are other cages further down the beach." Jay said as he stepped closer, Alice and KC eyed him carefully, Amber realised that he was still wearing his Techno uniform.

Amber smiled and nodded her thanks; "Jay, this is Alice and KC. They are Mall Rats." She smiled; "This is Jay. He used to be a Techno; he helped us defeat the Technos...twice actually." Amber smiled looking up at him.

KC frowned before butting in; "What about Bray?"

Amber glanced at him her eyes suddenly sad; "Bray...Bray died KC."

KC looked even more confused as before; "No he isn't. Unless he has died in past week. Which I really don't think he has."

Amber had to stop herself from staggering backwards at this news; she spluttered her mouth opening and closing several times before she just stared at KC dumbfounded.

A/N: Ooooo so Amber has been told that Bray is still alive. What will this do to her relationship with Jay? And will Slade be able to forgive Ebony for what she did to Ruby? So that was chapter 1 I hope that you enjoyed it. I shall be posted chapter 2 sometime soon. Reviews make me write faster. No flames please.