Chicago looked like shit. Mind you, so did the rest of the Mafia world. Days of gunfire, bodies piling up, families disappearing overnight, and enough bullshit to make even the most seasoned mobster consider an honest living.

TheDude was still standing, well, mostly he preferred to be sitting but he'd spent the better part of the war away from the familiar comfort of his bowling alley, keeping his people together and occasionally wondering how the hell he'd gotten himself mixed up in all this again.

A lot of good people hadn't made it home. That part was gonna sting for a while, but the shooting had finally stopped, and with the war behind him, TheDude figured it was about time to pack up and head back to where this whole thing started.

"Well, shit, man. That was a bit much, wasn't it?"

He stood out on the pavement, squinting up at the neon sign in a battered cardigan that had seen one too many range sessions. Somebody had boarded up a window, and there was a rather unpleasant smell coming from somewhere near the bins.

"Ah, home sweet home."

He fumbled around for his keys, pushed open the door and stepped inside the dusty old alley. A couple of empty bottles lay scattered around the counter, and some bastard had apparently helped himself to the good vodka.

"Well, that's just fucking rude."

TheDude wandered behind the bar and found a bottle of Kahlúa that had somehow survived the war. He made himself a White Russian, took a sip and glanced towards the empty lanes.

The world outside could tear itself to pieces, people could fight over cities, power and whatever else they fancied, but here? Here things were a little simpler.

You rolled a ball, knocked down some pins and tried not to spill your drink. He reached for the light switch and the old neon sign flickered back to life.

GUTTER SAINTS

"Alright, fellas. We're back in business."

He raised his glass towards those who hadn't made it home, then turned back to the familiar faces gathering at the door.

"Look, I know we've all been through some pretty heavy shit lately and lost some good friends along the way too. But we're still here, man…. And I reckon that's worth something."

He paused, taking another sip.

"Anyway, enough of that. Somebody get me a new rug would ya? And for Christ's sake, find out who's been drinking my vodka."

With that, TheDude settled back into his favourite chair, kicked his feet up and smiled.

The Dude abides