Fight For The Rainbow Diamond: Shani Uzuri
#2 of Stories
This is my half of a story trade with TheHotrodHero, where we each write the same story but from different perspectives and story endings. My half stars my nudist adventurer Shani Uzuri as she attempts to recover a valuable artifact called the Rainbow Diamond.
I liked doing this story since it helped me flesh out Shani's character and also introduce her boss, Hoggish McGreed... er, McGheed.
Shani, Hoggish McGreed (c) Me
Benjamin Washer (c) TheHotrodHero
Fight For The Rainbow Diamond: Shani Uzuri Jointly by: StrikerSA & TheHotrodHero
*****
Shani Uzuri was shifting around on the couch, feeling very uncomfortable in the business suit she was wearing while waiting. The lioness wasn't used to wearing fabrics on her, and she could feel the itchiness all over her body. She struggled hard not to scratch while waiting outside the pair of big wooden office doors.
After what felt like an eternity, the raccoon secretary sitting behind her desk opposite Shani, looked up at her. "Mister McGreed will see you now, Miss Uzuri."
"Thank you." Shani said as she immediately stood up and walked towards the doors. She pushed them open and stepped inside, where the secretary closed them behind her. The room she found herself had polished and laminated wood panels for walls, fine lights hanging from the ceiling and a big, expensive carpet spread over the floor. A few paintings hung on the wall, mostly modern art pieces. At the opposite end of the room was an expensive mahogany desk, the matching leather chair with its back to the window overlooking the city.
Seated in the chair was a male pig with a paunch that pressed against the desk. He wore a fine blue business tuxedo with a deep black tie. He was setting the tablet he was working with down.
"Shani, welcome. Have a seat." The pig gestured to the chair on the other side of the desk facing towards him.
"Thank you, Mister McGheed." Most people mistakenly called Hoggish McGheed "McGreed", but Shani was the only one who got it right. That was one of several reasons the lioness and the pig got along well.
"Lovely suit. Glad you decided to wear it."
"It is very itchy." Shani grimaced as she sat down in the chair. The tip of her tail swished back and forth in irritation despite herself.
"Look, I know you like your nudism, Shani, but I prefer to conduct business without any distractions."
"You're the only who can get away with it, McGheed." Shani replied with a slight smile. Despite their differences, she had a lot of respect for the billionaire pig and was more than willing to put up with his demands.
"I always try to get away with things, Shani." McGheed smiled back. "That's how I got here. Speaking of getting away with things, have you ever heard about the Rainbow Diamond?"
"I read the email you sent me and looked it up online. It is quite a big diamond, and an important cultural find if there ever was one."
"And a very valuable one. Worth a lot of money to a lot of people, including people I would prefer not to get their paws on it." McGheed's tone of voice had become more serious. "Hence why I called you."
Shani nodded. McGheed had several businesses, but the one she worked for was Relic Reclamations International. What started as a side project for Hoggish had turned into one of his most important enterprises. RRI was founded to not only combat the worldwide trafficking in ancient artifacts and cultural treasures, but also to ensure they are either given to their rightful owners or kept in secure locations from smugglers and thieves. So when Shani, who has strong feelings about keeping such treasures in the paws of their original owners, was offered to join RRI by McGheed, the lioness wasted no time in signing the contract.
"You want me to recover the diamond." She stated it as fact, not a question.
"That's right. That diamond can't go on the black market. Sadly, my ears in the right places have picked up rumors that some groups are already aware of the diamond and are rushing to get it before anyone else. With such short notice, I'm turning to you. You're the best I've got, so you are most likely to get the diamond first."
"You can count on it." She flashed a toothy smile at him.
"I know I can." McGheed picked up his tablet and tapped the touch screen a few times. "There, the first half of the payment is in your account."
Shani felt her phone vibrate softly in one of her suit pockets.
"Already?"
"I did say most likely to get the diamond, but even that at best is 50/50. So I'm making the first payment for the effort. The other half I'll transfer if you manage to recover the diamond."
Shani always found it ironic that people called him "McGreed" despite all the evidence to the contrary. He was rich, but he was never tight-fisted with his money and is ranked as one of the world's top philanthropists. So it was not too big a surprise that he was already paying her. Nonetheless, she now really wanted to recover this diamond as a matter of pride rather than the monetary compensation.
** **"I will get that diamond, McGheed." Shani said with characteristic determination.
"Good." Hoggish tapped his tablet a few more times and again Shani's phone vibrated. "I've sent you all the information you will need for your journey. I wish you good luck, Shani."
Both of them got up and shot each other's paw/hoof over the table.
"I won't let you down, McGheed."
"Safe journey, Shani."
Shani turned for the door. Halfway down, McGheed spoke again.
"That suit is fitting. You should wear clothes more often, you'll come to like it." Hoggish spoke with a sly smile.
"Ha ha." Shani mocked with a dismissive wave of her paw, but she knew he was just poking fun at her.
The lioness opened the doors and stepped out of the office. She needed to get to her apartment and book her flight right away. She also needed to get out of these stifling clothes before the itchiness drove her crazy.
*****
The sound of the dirtbike could be heard for a long distance as it drove along the old dirt trail that headed into the jungle. Shani was at the handles, skillfully guiding the motorcycle around obstacles and rough parts in the route. She was now back in her regular adventurer outfit, which wasn't much to outside observers: besides her hiking boots, backpack, utility belt, fingerless gloves, a knife strapped to her left leg, a pair of dogtags hanging from her neck and her motorcycle helmet, the lioness was completely nude.
Shani enjoyed the feel of the rushing air over her body and the rumble of the motorbike between her legs. She always had a love of motorcycles since she was young and had over the years built herself up a nice collection of various bikes, ranging from a Harley to one of the latest Japanese superbikes. But for today she had rented the dirtbike to help her get deep into the jungle as quickly as possible.
Shani followed the trail for as long as she could, but the further she went the more rugged, narrow and overgrown it became. Finally it simply vanished into a cul de sac of dense foliage. She stopped the bike and shut the engine off.
"As good a place as any."
She got off, removed the helmet and put it on the handlebars. She then hid the motorbike inside a thick bush. She then took out a GPS device, checked her position and current direction, put it away again and went into the jungle proper. The lioness knew how to travel through the jungles and so made very good time. Occasionally her path was blocked by some thick foliage, but she easily cut her way past with her knife. Now and then Shani checked her GPS to make sure she stayed on track.
After a couple of hours, Shani's ears flicked when she heard something, or someone, moving through the jungle. The lioness stopped, tail twitching and pulling out her knife. She looked towards the source of the sounds, ready to take action. A pair of anaconda natives appeared, wearing loincloths and warpaint all over their bodies. Each of them held a spear.
"Shit." Shani growled to herself. She didn't expect to find any locals along the way. The warrior anacondas hissed at her, lowering their spear tips at the feline.
"I'm not here to cause trouble." Shani tried talking to them using a dialect common to the region. "I'm just seeking passage through the area. Nothing more."
The anacondas kept hissing at her. The lioness tried a different tack.
"Maybe we can try and... negotiate..." Shani smiled in a sultry manner at them, striking a sexy pose. The lioness sometimes used her nudity and sexy looks to "negotiate" her way past trouble. She took a small step forward, swishing her hips and letting her breasts sway in an exaggerated manner. And it was having the desired effect: the two warriors lowered their spears and their eyes were focused on her furry chest. One of them even started to grin around the corners of his mouth.
The sound of gunfire immediately broke their attention. Shani was also startled by the sound. It was far off, but it alerted the lioness to the fact that there were other potential intruders in the jungle. Most likely the competition for the Rainbow Diamond.
So much for that plan.
Taking advantage of the anacondas' distraction, Shani immediately took off in the direction of where she needed to go. The anacondas were temporarily surprised by the sight of the lioness taking off before snapping out of it and running after her, hissing loudly and brandishing their spears. Shani jumped over obstacles and charged through bushes. Behind her she could the warriors following her. Though she fast, the lioness knew they would catch up to her unless she...
Shani stomped on her boots as she broke through some undergrowth and slid to a halt. Just inches in front of her was a gorge she had seen just in time.
"Damn, that was close!"
Shani didn't have time to ponder her luck. The anacondas were still behind her and she was now cut off. She quickly looked left and right and spotted a fallen tree trunk forming a makeshift bridge over the gorge. She ran for it, hopped on and began to carefully but quickly walking over it, arms stretched out to keep her balance. The anacondas appeared out of the jungle behind her. At first they thought she had fallen into the gorge, but they quickly spot her on the trunk and run for her.
By the time they got to the tree trunk, Shani had gotten to the other side. The anacondas climbed on and began to cross the gorge. But Shani immediately took action. Bracing herself against the stump of the fallen tree, she pushed on the trunk with both boots as hard as she could.
"Come on! Come on!" Shani snarled through her fangs.
The tree trunk refused to move at first, then suddenly something gave way and it began to slide into the gorge. The anaconda warriors, immediately sensing what is happening and realizing they won't make it across in time, turned around. With a great growl from Shani, the trunk was pushed to the point where the earth gave way under it. The tree trunk feel into the gorge and the anacondas just managed to jump off in time.
Shani stood up, brushed the dirt from her buttocks and grinned at the anacondas warriors on the other side.
"Sorry, boys. Not today." The lioness gave them a quick wave, checked her GPS again and went into the jungle again towards her destination.
*****
Shani grasped the top edge of the cliff she had been scaling and lifted herself up. It took a good while to climb this rock wall that rose sharply out of the jungle, as if the earth had been broken in two large pieces, one going up and the other down. When the lioness got to the top she leaned on her knees to catch her breath for a minute before looking before her.
An old temple, probably carved out from the rock this cliff consisted of, sat in the middle of the plateau. It was almost completely overgrown, making it hard to stop from overhead flights. The temple itself was an archeological treasure Shani would like to preserve, but right now her goal was inside the building itself.
As Shani approached the entrance, a loud "BOOM" noise blasted her ears and the temple shuddered. The lioness stopped in her tracks briefly.
"That sounded like explosives. Shit!" Shani swore. Throwing caution to the wind, the feline rushed into the temple.
Thankfully the temple's layout wasn't a maze like so many other ancient tombs Shani had come across in the past, but it also clearly had its fair share of booty traps. Shani had plenty of experience with these traps and skillfully managed to get past most of them. However, she also came across blasted pieces of traps and holes in the temple corridors. Clearly, whoever else was here was taking a more direct approach to getting past these traps and damaging the temple in the process too. The thought made Shani's tail tip swish back and forth in anger.
Shani followed the trail of destruction until she reached the centre of the temple. It was a massive chamber with pillars around an altar. On the altar, raised upon a pedestal, was the Rainbow Diamond. The diamond was as big as a watermelon with each of its sides a different colour of the rainbow.
"Wow! Gibbon wasn't kidding when he said it was beautiful."
Shani's attention immediately went from the diamond to the figure approaching it. It was a male deer wearing a white sleeveless shirt, cargo pants and hiking boots. He carried his backpack in his paw while digging around inside it. From his posture and his muscular frame, Shani guessed that he was either military or formerly was. The lioness hid behind one of the pillars and watched the soldier work.
Shani heard him say something, but she wasn't listening. Her attention was instead focused on the fake diamond he took out of his backpack and swapped with the real one. Then she heard him say: " Now to get you home and into a nice safe federal vault."
Time to act.
"HANDS OFF THAT DIAMOND!" Shani snarled as she stepped out from behind the pillar.
"Geez Louise!" said the startled soldier, clearly American. "What do you want?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Shani asked as she approached him, baring her sharp claws. "I want that diamond you've got."
"I probably should have guessed," said the canine. "Well you're too late; this Rainbow Diamond now belongs to the United States of America!"
"Oh no you don't!" Shani growled. "I know what you Yanks are like; you're going to pawn that thing off to add to your treasury!" The soldier angered. She clearly touched a nerve.
"You're even stupider than you look!" he said, "A jewel of this beauty and value could be the downfall of the free world. Any country that has this will gain the financial ability to destroy any country in the world that they feel is a threat to their power. I'm going to make sure it stays in the hands of a democratic nation with no desire of conquest!"
"Is that it?" asked Shani.
"Yes!" replied the American. "And It also needs to be a country who can keep it a secret; defend it from the greed of the world."
"You know..." Shani began. "I'd like to say you've made some decent points, but a jewel like that deserves better than being locked away in a vault. I've sworn my reputation on bringing that jewel back and I'm not letting some government paid agent get the better of me! Now give me the Rainbow Diamond or face my claws!"
At this point, the soldier pulled out what looked to Shani like a tommy gun. Things were going to get ugly.
"I gave you a chance to walk away..." he said. "Now you're going to learn what happens when you challenge the U.S. Navy's finest!"
Shani realized she needed to act fast before he got off a shot, so she charged and lunged at him, fangs and claws bared.
The American was startled by Shani's aggressiveness and dive-rolled out of the way. Shani turned and saw him trying to get his gun ready while rapidly backing away towards the exit. The lioness stood up while pulling out her hunting knife from its leg holster. She can't let him get his rifle on her or she's dead. She rushed him again.
Seeing the lioness bearing down on him, the soldier quickly jumped up and ran off. Shani was in hot pursuit. Both of them ran out of the chamber. She ran hard, her breasts bouncing as she tried to keep her prey in sight. At one point he disappeared around a corner for two seconds. As Shani made the turn, she immediately saw him running backwards with his rifle ready and pointed at her. She ducked back just he opened fire. Bullets whizzed past, just missing her. Shani hid around the corner, cringing as pieces of stone shattered from the bullet impacts.
When the firing stopped she peered around the corner in time to see the American disappear further down the corridor. Again Shani ran off after him, making sure to be ready to duck back in case he tried to open fire on her. At the same time, they also had to get past some of the traps that hadn't been sprung, which would slow the American down just long enough for Shani to catch up, but he would open the distance again with gunfire.
Soon they came back to the entrance of the temple. Shani ran out, but she immediately halted in her tracks. Rising up before her from the jungle was a massive airship, like something from an issue of Popular Mechanics. On the side of the big blimp she read the name: USS Savannah. Shani stood and stared in awe at the big vessel, which on the airship's bridge the crew were staring back at her in awe of her nudity.
Shani then remembered her quarry and looked around for him. She found him, climbing up the sides of the temple using the vines that hung from it.
"He's going to board that airship! Not while I'm here!"
Shani grabbed a vine and started climbing as well. The American was well ahead, but he was slowed down by the weight of his backpack and gun. This allowed Shani to quickly gain on him, but at the same time a shadow moved over her.
The airship was moving into position directly above the very top of the temple. A hatch opened on the bottom of the cabin and a ladder was dropped down. Shani doubled her effort to get to the top before the soldier did. She was gaining on him. At one point she tried swiping her claws at his boot, but she just managed to scrape the bottom of his soles.
"Missed! You're not getting Captain Benjamin Washer that easily!" The American shouted down at her.
"Nice to meet you too!" Shani shouted back sarcastically and kept climbing.
Captain Washer reached the top of the temple, but Shani was right behind him. Washer ran for the rope ladder, but Shani rushed and pounced at him. She managed to tackle him before he could grab the ladder and they both tumbled to the ground. Shani rolled back onto her feet with her knife ready. Washer got up again, but this time with a bowie knife of his own.
"Didn't your mother tell you not to play with sharp objects, captain?" Shani growled, circling the American slowly.
"Didn't your mother tell to dress properly when going outside?" Washer hit back. Shani noted with satisfaction that he was desperately maintaining eye contact with her and trying not to look further down.
Suddenly Washer charged at Shani with his bowie knife. Shani jumped back and slashed at his face with her knife. Washer ducked, the knife narrowly missing his antlers. He did a roundhouse kick, sweeping her off her feet and making her fall on her back. Washer grinned slightly as he got a good view of the world between her legs, but that grin vanished the instant Shani kicked her boots in his stomach. The buck staggered back, coughing and gasping. The lioness got back up and pounced at him. She tackled him onto his back and tried to pin him, but Washer started fighting back. They rolled around back and forth, each one trying to overpower the other.
"Give me that diamond!" Shani snarled as she forced him under her.
"Not a chance, you naked fiend!" Washer snapped back. Suddenly he kneed her in the gut. Shani's eyes bulged and she fell to one side, gasping and clutching her stomach. Washer took this chance and rushed for the ladder.
"Let's go!" The American shouted as he grabbed the ladder and started climbing.
When Shani recovered she saw the airship was already picking up speed. She sprung to her feet and ran after the ladder. It was already being retracted and clearing the temple. The lioness ran to the edge of the temple roof and jumped through the air. She just managed to grab the last rung of the ladder.
"Holy shit!" Washer exclaimed with surprise. "There's no stopping you, is there?"
"I get that alot!" Shani shouted back.
Shani tried to pull herself up, but then she saw Washer using his bowie knife to begin cutting the rope. The lioness struggled to pull herself up to the next rung, then the next. Washer was quickly cutting the ladder. Just as Shani was getting her foot on the first rung, he managed to get the one rope. Shani gasped and grabbed the other rope with both paws. The buck began cutting the other rope. The lioness struggled to pull herself up, but she was now at a real disadvantage. By now the airship was well above the jungle. Shani looked down and looked back up. The American was almost through the other rope.
Shit.
Realizing her situation was hopeless, Shani looked down at the jungle below. She saw a big river coming up towards them.
"Now or never!" She said, letting go of the rope.
Shani looked up as she fell. The American buck was startled by her decision to let go of the rope. Anger welled up in her at the thought that he would get away with the diamond, but she suppressed that thought. She had more immediately worries. The lioness turned and saw the river coming up towards her fast. She quickly turned her body so her feet pointed down. She hoped that the river was deep enough.
Shani plunged into the water, the impact quite a shock. She felt pain shoot through her naked body, but luckily for her not only was the river deep enough that she didn't slam into the bottom, but she wasn't going fast enough to break her legs either. Still, she clenched her teeth as she swam to the surface: it was still a painful landing.
Shani gasped as she broke the surface. Then she swam for the shore and crawled out onto the bank, her breasts rising and falling as she panted. Her joints ached, especially around her legs. She would have to rest them before she could walk again. The lioness rolled onto her back and lay there on the shore, limbs splayed.
A shadow fell over her. Shani opened her eyes and saw the airship floating just above her. She could see Captain Washer leaning out of a window. She also noted the other crewmembers staring at her naked with wide eyes, but she didn't care about that.
"Are you okay?" Washer shouted at.
"Never better." Shani shouted back.
"Sorry about that, but you've proven to be a tougher fighter than I first thought. I thought you were some bimbo, but you showed me how wrong first impressions can be."
"You were a tough customer too, Captain. I'm still a bit annoyed you got the diamond, though."
"You win some you lose some. Say, what is your name?"
"Shani Uzuri."
A big bulldog stuck his head out one of the windows and whistled at her. "Nice tits, babe!"
Shani smiled and gave the canine the middle finger.
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Uzuri" Washer laughed. "You're quite the adventuress. I haven't had such a tough opponent in a long time. Sorry for beating you to the punch, but don't take it too hard. You were a worthy opponent. Good luck with your future endeavors, Miss Uzuri!" Washer gave her a salute as the airship began to lift up again.
"You too, Captain Washer." Shani saluted him back. Despite the loss, Shani found it tough to hold a grudge against him. The lioness did always have eyes for males in uniform, and Washer was a fine specimen. Guess that's why.
Shani removed her backpack and then lay flat on her back while watching the airship fly off into the sky. She was very disappointed in not being able in getting the Rainbow Diamond. She'll have to call Hoggish and inform him of what had happened. Hopefully at least the discovery of the temple will help mollify him. And that the Americans will at least keep their promise to safeguard the diamond as Captain Washer said.
Feeling exhausted, Shani folded her arms behind her head and closed her eyes to rest up, her breasts gently rising and falling with each breath.
FIN