I took the time to look over this entire story, chapter by chapter, and decided to rewrite it. I'll keep the original concept of the VictoriousxNeed For Speed franchise but this time I will be integrating a different method into this version of the story. I will be looking for OC's throughout the fic but haven't figured exactly how many I will accept. I really would like to have a small handful of OC's to add so this fiction can have some distinct flavor. While the plot will follow the timelines of Most Wanted and Carbon, the main story is mainly AU and will feature hints and similarities to said storylines. If you would like to donate a character, message me and I'll send the application.

Title: NFS: Torque

Arc 1: Enter Palmont City

Chapter 1: Feed My Addiction

"Thomas, wake your ass up and pack your stuff!"

"..."

"Thomas, if you don't get your lazy ass up, I'll have you thrown into the hole!"

A low growl bounced off of the walls of a jail cell as Travis struggled to pull himself from the 'comfort' of his bunk. Rubbing his eyes, he noticed two officers were standing inside the cell with impatient scowls on their faces.

"Good, you're finally awake." the first officer spoke up. "Now pack up your shit, and follow us."

Travis Thomas packed up what belonged to him and without another word, walked out of the cramped room, he called home for the past year and a half. Walking past the cells of the other men, he went along with the standard procedure upon stepping out of the larger room. Being handcuffed and escorted was nothing new to him at this point, but a measure of curiosity gnawed at him. He didnt understand where he was being taken to. The last time he was escorted by the police, it was after he was sentenced to a minimum of 3 years for crimes committed as a blacklist member.

"What's going on?" his voice had deepened a little since being incarcerated and his facial hair grew into a full beard. His hair had grown considerably long but he still managed to keep his trademark high up ponytail. He also wound up gaining about 40 pounds of muscle bringing his weight to 220 pounds. On his right arm was a tattoo sleeve that resembled yakuza but one thing that stood out was the wolf in the middle of it. During his time is Rockport State Prison, Travis had managed to survive on the crappy food and horrible conditions. It was nothing to get through physical pain, as evident of the scars from being shot over three years ago. As he walked down the lone hallway that led to the processing area, he thought back to that day. The day led to his life going down the drain...

Flashback- 3 Years ago

Travis parked his car under the bridge that covered a small portion of the pier and just stared out at the pouring rain. It was perfect considering he was truly heartbroken and a few tears fell as a result. He decided that some fresh air was necessary, and pulling up his hood, Travis stepped outside and just started walking to no where in particular. Not caring about getting soaked, he trudged along the sidewalk path until he wound up on the far end of the boardwalk where the booths and food stands that were normally active, stood quiet and dim. With every passing second he could feel the wait of his past weighing heavier on his mind and heart.

"I can't believe this..." he muttered while leaning against the railing. "...how did this happen?"

"How, indeed..."

Turning around quickly, Travis stood face to face to two unknown gunmen. While he was unable to discern their identities, he could clearly tell that one of them was a woman by the size of her figure. The dark atmosphere grew even darker when the clicking sound of both guns triggered him to put his hands up. The wind howled with a vengeance as the crash of thunder echoed.

"Who are you-?"

Both figures smirked as they fired a shot each that hit him square in the chest sending him over the rail into the raging ocean. After checking and confirming that Travis was indeed swept away by the aggressive waves, the male pulled out a cell phone.

"Hello?" the voice answered.

"It's done... #14 is officially taken out..."

"Good work, Baron.. You and Kaze now you can claim your prize."

With a wicked grin, Baron gave his partner the good news in which she allowed a similar smirk to rest on her lips. They both took one last look at the crashing waves before leaving the area. Meanwhile, unknown to them, Travis had barely managed to hold on to one of the posts with his left arm. He was able to catch the names of the two who had tried to end his life just then. Gritting his teeth, he vowed vengeance against them as another strong wave hit him square in the face causing to sputter a bit.

"Dammit.." he coughed out as he felt his grip slipping. "...I can't die here. I won't die here."

Travis knew that with only one arm usable, he couldn't swim very well but it was either attempt it, or stay where he was and wait to die from the blood loss if he didn't drown first. Timing the chaotic waves, he took a deep breath and dove under the water just before tide rushed in again and used the current to carry himself back to shore. Once he pushed far enough out to the shore, Travis began to pull himself with his good arm until the exhaustion and intense pain caused him to pass out. He awoke to find himself in a hospital bed with and IV in one arm and handcuffs on the other. Needless to say, he was immediately processed, tried, and convicted within the span of a couple of months and was transferred to Rockport state prison.

Now here he was sitting on a bench in the changing room dressed in the clothes he wore before his incarceration awaiting the officer to come back. Despite all that had happened, there was something or rather someone on his mind that had the most impact on him.

"Trina..." he whispered to himself; allowing a sad grin to appear on his face. As his mind began to fill with thoughts of the young woman he had fallen in love with. There wasn't a day that went by that Katrina Vega didn't cross his mind. He would lay in his bunk and wondering if she was alright. He knew that things were still left unresolved between the two before the series of events that transpired and his first mission was to fix that. By the time he managed to get a handle on his feelings, he found himself sitting on a bus and leaving the "rehabilitation" facility and heading back to the city.

The city that held nothing but guilt and regret for Travis...

After what felt like ages, Rashad finally arrived back in the city. Stepping down from the bus, he surveyed his surroundings and took note of the graffiti covered walls as he made his way down the street to Rosewood. He clutched his bag as multiple thoughts filled his head.

Would Trina forgive him?

What about Ryanna?

How was he going to explain all that had happened to him?

Rashad gritted his teeth as a stray tear ran down his face. His brown eyes welled up and he choked back the sob that fought to break free. Still, he pressed on down a busy street just as the sun began to disappear over the horizon. As the sun lowered; increasing his shadow, Rashad could feel the weight of his choices getting heavier with each step. His mind was swarming with thoughts, his body was wrecked from the inside out and his soul was empty.

"Hey!" Hearing the voice, Rashad managed to come out of his pity party and noticed a grey Ford Mustang Shelby slowly pulling up next to him. He watched as the tinted window on the passenger's side went down revealing a familiar smirk he hadn't seen in a while. "Get in.." Before he knew it, the two were riding past Camden Beach heading into the quiet town of Rosewood. For the most part, the drive was uneventful to say the least as neither of the two uttered a word. "I can't believe it's you... Where have you been?"

Silence was all he received from his once vibrant friend; in his place was a nearly mute and docile stranger.

"Listen, I know you're upset, but you can't go around beating yourself up about this. I know you hold yourself responsible for what happened to..."

"Please, Liam. Not right now..." Rashad responded as he finally looked into his friend's eyes for the first time since seeing him again. "I can't handle hearing her name again. It was my fault for not telling her about my past; my fault for not making things right when I had the chance... I have nobody to blame but myself for whatever happened to her..."

Without warning, Liam slammed on the brakes causing Rashad's body to jerk forward. Thankfully, his seat belt secured him in place but due to his height, he still hit his head against the dash board. "Ow... son of a-!"

"Get out." Liam said coldly before doing so himself.

Once outside, Travis surveyed his surroundings seeing just a few orange tinted clouds hovering over the setting sun. His brown eyes took in his environment and immediately he knew where he was. "Why did you stop here?!" he yelled out of desperation as they both stood in front of the very garage that he and his estranged ex-girlfriend once shared.

But, instead of responding vocally, Liam answered him with a solid right hook to the jaw knocking him square on his butt.

"I've had it! I understand you're feeling angry with yourself about what happened between you and Trina but that is beside the point. Judging by those bullet wounds in your chest, you were lucky you weren't killed! Nevermind Trina, right now. What about your own sister? Did you even consider how she feels thinking that you're still missing all of this time?! Do you know how destroyed she was to hear that you were possibly dead?! But I guess since you've decided to be a deadbeat and forget all about those who care about you, maybe it's best that you leave since you've just given up on everything.."

Rashad could only stare at the ground in shame as Liam's words pierced him deeper than any bullet ever could. Of course he'd thought about Ryanna many times while incarcerated. He couldn't get her out of his mind and desperately wanted to see her but once again shame and guilt washed over him as he shook those thoughts out of his head.

"You don't understand, Liam. Trina doesn't want to see me... she is better off without me..."

Rage began to build in the young man's body but he patiently listened to the words of the broken man before him.

"Ever since what happened back then, I've replayed that scenario thousands of times in my head. Ryanna never knew the real reason we were always moving. She was just barely 15 when we left. I had never... I'd never been more scared in my life but she was worth it, Liam."

"What are you talking about?"

Taking a deep breath, Rashad looked his friend in the eyes. "The man I killed was our father. Well technically, my dad..." Seeing how Liam's expression hadn't changed, he proceeded. "After I was born, our mother left my dad due to the excessive amount of abuse she endured. It was around that time when she met another man who actually treated her like she was worth something..." Looking up, Rashad noticed that Liam was leaning against the hood of his car listening. "Well that's where Ryanna came in. Despite us not being related by blood, I loved her and protected her as if we were. For the next few years, we were happy until my 'father' decided to make an appearance... Somehow word got out that mom and Ryanna's dad were married and he..."

"What happened, Travis? Come on..."

Travis, who had picked himself off of the ground, continued to just stare at the ground before finally resuming.

"One night, after my high school graduation, that man broke into the house and attacked our parents. When she and I got back home, he was standing over their bodies. The sight of our dead parents froze us where we stood as he stalked us... Finally I managed to bum rush him and told my sister to run to her room and lock the door. I tried to fight that monster, but he over powered me and nearly knocked me unconscious. It's not much that I really remember from that night except pulling him off of her and yelling for her to leave the house. After that, I only remember running out of the house, and driving off. From that day, we were living city to city, until we came here."

There was a long silence that only served to increase the awkwardness between the two. Liam sighed figuring that he was going to be the one finally speak.

"So, does she know? I mean, does she know what happened exactly?"

"No, she only knows that I attacked my father and later on I hopped in the car and drove off with her."

"Alright then. Well we'll keep that between us until you're ready to tell her what happened. But for now, we got to get you cleaned up." Liam extended his hand in order to help Travis to his feet. "No offense, but you're long overdue for a shave.. ugh.. and a shower too."

To his surprise and relief, Travis actually chuckled at the truth behind Liams' words.

"Yeah, you've got a point there. It's been long overdue..."

Liam held his nose and laughed while heading to his side of the car. "So let's get going and then I'll fill you in on what's been going on since you disappeared."

Once inside the car, Travis couldn't help but look out at the setting sun wondering just what would await him once he arrived back in Rosewood. Seeing the various colors of the horizon, while normally calming to many, only brought a wave of uncertainty to his mind. He knew that in life, things changed, and that was the very thing that troubled him as he watched the familiar surroundings pass by.

Releasing a soft sigh, he finally turned his attention to Liam whose eyes were firmly on the road. "Is there anything you can tell me before we get there?"

To his surprise, Liam chuckled in a way that brought a look of concern. "You have no idea..." it was a dark, humorless laugh that Travis took as a bad omen. "The gang got separated over the past year of so... Majority of the Blacklist is taken over by their original members again and-"

"What about my sister and Trina?"

Liam could only shake his head with a soft sigh. "She's [your sister] fine.. She's actually staying with Andre just a few miles away from Rockport. After you disappeared last year, she couldn't bear the idea of you being dead. She didn't even try to fight for her ranking and started having a nervous breakdown. When the gang split up, Andre took her to Palmont city and that's where they are now."

Travis nodded. "I'll find her someday..." His entire being was disturbed at the outcome but at least his sister was safe. He knew of all people, Andre was probably the most trustworthy. He scoffed and grinned bitterly when the realization hit him. "So what about Trina?" despite his 'calm' demeanor, Liam could pick up the subtle tone of desperation. It was no secret that the two were in love. From the moment he first met the two they were always protective of one another. Trina actually stood up the Ice Queen, Jade due to him and Liam knew very well how far Travis would go to keep her safe. "Liam..."

His call broke the collected male's concentration as they entered the Rosewood Borough. "Travis... before I tell you anything, you have to swear that you won't fly off the handle." As he finished that statement, Liam and Travis found themselves at the old garage. Travis couldn't make heads or tails of the feelings deep inside of him. He was a bundle of nerves and emotions. Liam could see this on his friend's face. "You have to swear you're not going to do something stupid..."

"Liam, just tell me-."

"Not until you swear to me, Travis!"

Brushing his dreadlocks out of his face, the former #14 Blacklist driver exhaled sharply. He refused to meet the driver's gaze, yet he could feel the intense look burrowing a hole in the side of his head. He knew he would do whatever it took to protect Trina. All of that time spent in prison allowed him enough clarity to figure that out. He would cross that forbidden line again... he did it once when he and his sister were younger... He could and would do it again. He would kill to protect the woman he loves.

"Get out of the car..." It was Liam's turn to pull him out of his thoughts. "There's something you need to see."

Unable to do anything else, Travis complied as the two exited the vehicle letting the doors to the Ford Shelby Mustang slam shut.

Rashad Nichols and Liam Moreau stood in front of the former's old home; the place he shared with Trina Vega. With a hard gaze at the building, he steeled his emotions as he forced himself to push back the moments of his past. When he was truly happy...

"What are we doing here?" he asked with a not so subtle growl in his tone.

Liam, instead of responding to his question, simply began walking towards the garage. "I told you.. come with me."

"I'm not playing with you!" Rashad roared with rage only to find himself being ignored as his friend simply opened the door and entered the building. "Dammit..." he gritted his teeth as he did as he was told and followed behind the young man. He entered the building to see it was, to no surprise, wrecked. Sure, the foundation of the building was more than stable, but the furniture was broken or just beyond dirty and in need of replacing. "What the hell happened here?" he asked out loud.

"They happened..." Rashad turned to find Liam leaning against the wall near the back rooms. "Will you listen to everything I have to say?"

Despite his emotions raging, he took a deep breath and nodded.

"Alright. First off, Razor happened.." with the light hanging above him, you could clearly see the normally calm Liam show emotion. His face was twisted in a mix of anger and regret. "It happened a few months after you disappeared. We all met hear to try and comfort Trina when we were raided. Cops busted in with guns drawn. They were shooting and yelling but fortunately, we all managed to get out with little injuries." Liam then walked over to the small grate at the base of the concrete wall. Setting it to the side, he pulled out a small cardboard box. "After we escaped, I took the risk of returning and found these letters. They were written for you..."

Travis looked on at Liam set the box down on a worn down table. "Trina... She-?"

"Trina wrote you everyday after the incident..." he sighed heavily. "For a year, her feelings and most personal feelings were put in each of these letters."

It took only a moment for the dread-locked young man to tear up. "Where is she?"

Silence.

Liam just stared at the ground.

"Liam, where is Trina?" his tone let out more desperation than he'd like, but he couldn't care less. "Please, I need to see her!"

"You can't..."

An instant... that's all it took for Travis to grab his friend by the collar of his jacket. "Tell me now!" he roared.

However, Liam was not intimidated by the actions of his roughed up best friend as he steeled his resolve. The two friends glared for what seemed like an eternity; each man's eyes burning with a fire. In Liam's eyes, a contained fire that signified no fear while in Travis' eyes, a wild flame was burning maliciously along with a hint of...

'desperation.'

Liam sighed and calmly took Travis' hand from his jacket and flashed a smile at his seemingly broken friend. "Trina isn't here in Rockport anymore. In fact nobody is..."

With a look of confusion that shifted to one of anger, Travis could only stare at the ground as he gritted his teeth. "What happened?"

"They all left after a big raid on the blacklist last year."

Rubbing the back of his neck, Travis let out a sharp breath at the news he was hearing. "So, where are they now?"

After what seemed like a long pause, Travis found his question answered in the form of keys being tossed to him. Raising an eyebrow, he watched as Liam took him behind the garage. "We're going to Palmont City." Liam announced with a sly smirk. He then revealed a custom blue Mitsubishi Lancer. "I'll be heading there tomorrow morning while you get everything set for your drive tonight. I called in a favor for you to get past the roadblocked road that leads out of town. Whatever you do, don't stop for too long." Travis simply nodded at the plan. "I'll upload the path on your GPS when you set off. For now though, just pack up and rest up for the drive."

Liam and Travis finished their discussion and it was then that the latter realized that he needed to fix himself up before his night run. He packed his things up and then set out for a bite to eat, his thoughts completely on one thing. "Trina... I'll find you."

So this is chapter one, and I hope this was enjoyable for you to read as it was to write. Like I said, this is a revised version of my old fic, Most Wanted. The reason I couldn't finish it was because it got very complicated and difficult to keep writing. So, I decided to start a new version of the story with the main plot of the original version being inserted later on. For now, I will start the story with the Carbon Arc and pick up with either the Most Wanted Arc later or Underground (1 and 2). Either way, this series will continue in one form or another. The victorious cast will be brought in the next few chapters.