Nicds can still be had, however high end options are no longer available. To get anywhere near where nicads were in the day is custom built, zapped cells.

Tenergy makes very good nicd cells. Most places carry nimh still.

Sanyo N-3000CR - 1.2 Volt 3000mAh. Be ware that the Panasonic version may not be fast charge rated but the Sanyo is. SCRC cells are getting very rare and can go for up to 20 dollars a cell new if you can find them, some custom packs are out there.