The Outer World Investigation Agency or Outerworld Investigation Agency (abbreviated OIA or, less commonly, OWIA), is a fictional police force in the Mortal Kombat series.
The OIA partly supplanted the role of the United States Special Forces in the Mortal Kombat universe after Shao Kahn's failed invasion of Earth and the subsequent destruction of the Black Dragon crime cartel. Though this organization is focused on exploration of other realms, in truth, it is more military in nature.
In the events leading up to Mortal Kombat 3, Sonya and Jax attempted to warn their government about the impending Outworld threat, but their words fell on deaf ears. Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm began uncontested, and he claimed almost every soul on Earth for his own. Jax and Sonya were among a few survivors whose souls were protected, selected by the Elder Gods to fight for their world's freedom. The Earth warriors, led by Liu Kang, were successful. The OIA also keeps track of known portals that lead from and to Earthrealm. To open them, it uses "science, rather than magic", as Jax's ending states in Mortal Kombat 3.
After Kahn's defeat, Sonya and Jax's superiors were convinced of the potential threat other worlds could bring and gave them clearance to form the Outerworld Investigation Agency (OIA), a subsidiary of the Special Forces, whose job it would be to protect Earthrealm from interdimensional threats. With time, two particular members of interest were added to their ranks: the cyber ninja Cyrax, and the blind swordsman Kenshi, who joined in order to make his hunt for Shang Tsung easier.
The storyline of Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance suggests that the OIA has special agents on most known realms to identify possible threats to Earthrealm. During the events of Deadly Alliance, the OIA met with catastrophe. Hsu Hao, a Red Dragon spy who had infiltrated the Special Forces, entered the agency's underground bunker and activated miniature nuclear weapons as he escaped, utterly destroying the OIA headquarters, and preventing any further travel to other realms; the Red Dragon felt the OIA to be a threat after its prime purpose had been served: the destruction of the Black Dragon. However, the organization itself was still intact.
In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Sonya goes after the Tekunin in their warship. While Taven is taken in as a hostage, her forces attack the ship. Sektor leaves his post to try and combat them but then pursues Taven. Taven manages to beat him and leaves the ship to Arctika. Sonya attempts to get info out of Taven, but he defeats her proceeds on his journey.
Ikran's theme song: In the Woods (Jungle Strike, Genersis)
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Part II[]
The agency first began to be established as Sonya and Jax's CEO was convinced there were threats from other realms upon the massive casualties by Kahn's invasion on Earth. At first Sonya was reluctant on being reinstated, though Jax had other plans...
Shinnok's Uprising[]
Two years later, Jax became the leader of his own organization, and the Special Forces functioned as its subsidiary stationed in Earthrealm. He was on the pursuit for the surviving Black Dragon members, and the most recent identification was Jarek; Sonya failed to chase after him in China, though Jax radioed a helicopter to pick her up and take her near the Bayan Har Mountains, courtesy of another officer, and a resurrected Johnny Cage!!
Jax soon generated a portal to Edenia, and it seemed that Jarek followed him in. Unfortunately, he was able to spot Sonya first near a cliff, and during a conflict, Jax followed the cries. He witnessed his partner's fall, and he confronted the fugitive, then dropped him off the edge and sunk into the lake! Thankfully, Sonya was saved by Kung Lao via Teleport!! Sonya urged Jax to take a wounded Cyrax back to headquarters in Earthrealm, and he wished the team luck on winning over Shinnok.
The team was successful, and Sonya and Jax were able to resuscitate Cyrax who was actually willing to go thru the humanization experiment. The agents activated the procedure and to their surprise, it was successful! His human self popped off his helmet and declared he shall work the Lin Kuei no longer.
Vengeance[]
Currently, Sonya and Johnny work for the Special Forces, while Jax and Cyrax are still active members of the OIA with their new recruit, Kenshi. They remained as scouts in Outworld; however, they became separated and lost all contact!
Sonya and Johnny were awaiting contact from their homebase on the whereabouts of the OIA. Jax, Cyrax and Kenshi hadn't responded to them over the last several days. Jax, Cyrax and Kenshi all had been separated and stranded:
- Jax was found in the Living Forest as Kung Lao spotted the metallic glimmer. And the man was relieved to find Sonya and Johnny while still desperate to find his comrades.
- Kenshi was found in the Sarna Ruins after Lao decimated a lone cyclone, saying how foolish he was. He explained he was looking for the rumored airship, the Dragonfly, a faster method of transport in Outworld.
- Cyrax was wandering into the subterranean tunnel within an active volcano and assisted Nitara on finding an orb; she smashed it separating her realm from Outworld. Luckily, despite his malfunctioning state, he returned home.
About a week passed, and the heroes were successful on decimating the Red Dragons and the Unholy Alliance! Sadly, the Red Dragons obliterated the OIA base, thus losing contact, by using a rocket as the same one which destroyed the Dragonfly! Jax hoped the Edenians shall take inspiration from the Special Forces and OIA to create more advanced transportation with the groups funding them! Cyrax malfunctioned as he returned to Earthrealm by helping Nitara split her realm, Kenshi was healed from a fatal wound by Kuai and Frost, and the agents had their mission accomplished!
Tiil news broke out that Onaga had been reincarnated!
Return of the Dragon King[]
The OIA was at first corrupted upon Onaga's resurrection over Sonya, Jax and Johnny, although only Kenshi wasn't affected. By the time the Dragon King was destroyed, their faction was restored.
Final Kombat[]
Just like the Special Forces, they received word from Raiden of the upcoming Battle of Armageddon; unlike the Special Forces, Kenshi along with Hanzo were summoned to the Dragon Grotto way before Fujin arrived late and soon passed the news to Jax. Its members then united with the other heroes and made last-minute preps. They were successful as Fire God Liu Kang protected the allies in a fiery cocoon against Blaze's eruption, then revived by Cetrion's tears. The OIA remained strong as ever, even taking some medical leave while Jacqui was brought into the world! The OIA united with other factions several years later as they fought Kotal and his new minions.
Gallery[]
