The quickest, safest way through the city was underground. Through the old subway system. And the sewers. You never know when you'd run into a hotspot on the surface. Or unfriendlies. Or worse. We headed north to go see Smitty and resupply on ammo. Smitty lived at a place called Times Square. Not the old surface Times Square. Not even near is really. Our Times Square is underground, in a cavern where a bunch of the subway tracks meets. Some people had what passed for permanent dwellings there. But there were alot of transients. Wanderers. People who'd knife you for a slab of bread. Or just for fun.

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We heard a loud rumbling behind us, to our south....Dead-eye hit the ground ready for action as the tunnel rocked.

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Doc jumped back to the wall. He can be a little shakey in times of duress. But then, he's seen worse sights than any of us have.

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Two-lou and I got down and ready for action. I know what you're thinking. No...not THAT kind of action. Potential fire-fight action...like this...

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When the rocking and rumbling stopped a dust cloud swept through the tunnel. We decided to backtrack a bit and see exactly what happened.

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Everyone was on high alert.

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Doc: I don't like the feel of this Zargon. This isn't safe. Let's just getting heading back to Smitty's.
Zargon: Just a little further Doc. Remember the rumors about cave-ins? We need to check this out...

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Two-Lou: I'm with Zargon on this, Doc. We need to know how bad that shaker was.

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Dead-eye: I third that motion.

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It didn't take long before we ran into track rabbit migration. Moving north. We had plenty of food. We'd let 'em live for hunting some other day.

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A few hundred yards later we found out why. Cave-in. Damnit! The entire tunnel width was blocked.

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Dead-eye: Hahaha...we can't go back...

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Zargon: Oh great...he got into the morphine again! Doc, when are you gonna learn to lock that stuff up?

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Two-Lou: It's not Doc's fault, Zargon. I slipped some into his food earlier. Gotta mellow him out some. Otherwise he starts with the nuggies...next thing you know he's trying to grope me! I'm sorry. I didn't realize we'd need him to be coherant.

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Doc (thinking): Why did I save these people? 
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Doc: There, there, little one. It'll be OK. It's not entirely your fault. I slipped him some too. Amazing how high his tolerance is to the stuff, is it not?

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Realizing there was no way back home, we turned back and headed to Smitty's. The next couple hours went without incident.
We were all happy to see Smitty, and he was certainly happy to see us.

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Smitty: Welcome Zargon!!! Greetings friends!!! It has been weeks since your last visit!

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Smitty: Come to see Miss Annie's girls, eh, Zargon? She's got a few new ones since you were last here...

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Smitty: But no.....Zargon has no need for rented women! Have you come for supplies? Just tell me what you need....

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Zargon: Our usual fix on ammo, my friend. Hey...have you heard anything about cave-ins to the south? We had one slide in behind us on our way here. I don't even know if we can dig our way back...

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Zargon: And have you heard any other news about mutant attacks from down there?

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Two-Lou: Is there someplace to requisition clothes around here Smitty? These things gotta go!

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Zargon: Shoot me now Smitty...I'm travelling with morons. I jest. Seriously, I'm kidding. We're going to need your help....

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Dead-eye: He was only kidding about the brothel, Two-Lou. I know how you feel about Zargon. If only....

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....to be continued