The Journal of Dr. Cain (ケイン博士の日記) is a feature from the first Mega Man X game, detailing the events leading up to the story from Dr. Cain's point of view. This concerns the discovery of X, the creation of Reploids, the foundation of the Maverick Hunters, and the beginning of Sigma's rebellion. It is present in the English SNES manual, the Japanese Windows version manual, and the book Compendium of Rockman X.[1]
Journal[]
There are differences between the original Japanese version and the official English translation of the Journal of Dr. Cain. The dates vary wildly, giving a longer time of peace before Sigma goes Maverick (two months in English, two years in Japanese). It combines the July 16th and November 20th entries into a single entry, dated February 16th. There are also minor differences, such as the era of plant life Dr. Cain was researching, the degree of X's involvement in creating the first Reploid, and Dr. Cain calling him "Mega Man X" instead of just X.
| English (official) | Japanese | English (fan translation) |
|---|---|---|
| April 8th
Still nothing. For the last month, I have been sifting through the dirt trying to find a fossil record which would verify my findings on Mesozoic plant life, but so far I have come up empty. Tomorrow, I'll move my archaeological dig to a new site. Maybe I'll have better luck. |
４月８日
まだ何も出ない。 先月は中世に植物が生きていたあかしとなる化石を探して荒野をずっと歩いてみた。 だが、何も出ない。 明日は新しい場所を発掘しよう。 何か発見できるかもしれない。 |
April 8th
Nothing yet. For the last month, I have spent a long time walking through the wilderness searching for fossils that would provide evidence of plants that lived here in the Middle Ages. But I have found nothing. Tomorrow, I'll try excavating a new site. Maybe I'll find something there. |
| April 9th
Set up camp at the new site and laid out a preliminary gridwork for the dig. I got some odd readings at location E-46. It looks like something metallic is buried several meters below the surface. I think I'll begin there tomorrow. |
４月９日
新しい場所でキャンプを張り、まわりを格子状にふちどりしてから発掘していった。 計器がE-46地点で奇妙な反応を示した。 金属物質が地表から数メートル下に埋まっているようだ。 明日は、そこを発掘しよう。 |
April 9th
We set up camp at a new site, marked the area in a grid, and began excavating. The instruments show an odd reading at point E-46. It seems there is a metallic object buried several meters below the surface. We will dig there tomorrow. |
| April 10th
I can't believe what I found! Several meters below the surface was the remains of a lab. Although most of the lab was damaged, I did manage to find papers that indicate that it belonged to the famous robot designer, Dr. Thomas Light. I've begun to review what is left of Dr. Light's notes and it looks like he was onto a major breakthrough. The notes keep referring to "the capsule"... |
４月１０日
信じられない。 地表から数メートル下に研究所の跡があったのだ。 研究所の大半は損壊していた。 これが有名なロボット設計者トーマス・ライト博士の研究所であったことを示す文書をようやく見つけた。 残されていたライト博士のノートを読み返した。 どうやら博士の研究は大きく前進したらしい。 ノートには「カプセル」について書き綴られていた。 |
April 10th
Unbelievable. There were remains of a lab several meters below the surface. Most of the lab was damaged. I managed to find documents indicating that this was the lab of the famous robot designer, Dr. Thomas Light. I am reviewing Dr. Light's remaining notes. It seems that his research had advanced significantly. The notes contain writings about "the capsule." |
| April 13th
I found it. Standing 14 meters high and 8 meters wide, the capsule was hidden underneath a collapsed ceiling. Even underneath all the rubble, the capsule has remained intact and was still running some sort of diagnostic when I found it. There is a warning on the capsule, but all the indicators on the capsule show green. It should be safe to open it. I'll know tomorrow. |
４月１３日
ついにカプセルを見つけた。 縦14メートル、横8メートルのカプセルはくずれた天井の下に隠れていた。 建物は瓦礫と化していたが、不思議なことに、このカプセルだけは無傷のまま残されていた。 発見した時何らかの診断動作をしていた。 カプセルには触れるなという警告があったが、すべてのインディケーターは安全を示すグリーンになっていた。 開けても大丈夫だろう。 明日になればわかる。 |
April 13th
I finally found the capsule. The capsule, measuring 14 meters long and 8 meters wide, was hidden beneath a collapsed ceiling. This building has been reduced to rubble, but strangely, this capsule has remained completely intact. When I found it, it was performing some kind of diagnostic operation. There is a warning not to touch the capsule, but all the indicators are green, showing it is safe. It should be okay to open it. We will find out tomorrow. |
| April 14th
Today I met "X". Not simply a robot, X is something totally different. Light has give him the ability to think and make his own decisions. At times, X seems more like a man than like a machine. |
４月１４日
今日、ロックマンＸに会った。 ロックマンＸは単なるロボットではない。人間に近いロボットだ。 ライト博士はロックマンＸに考える力と意志決定能力を与えていたのだ。 ロックマンＸは機械よりも人間に近い。 |
April 14th
Today, I met Mega Man X. Mega Man X is not just a robot. He's a robot that's very close to being human. Dr. Light has given Mega Man X the ability to think and make decisions. Mega Man X is more like a human than a machine. |
| April 15th
Light was a genius! I've been going over his design notes and they are a quantum leap beyond anything the world has ever seen. Using them as a guide, I may be able to replicate his design and integrate them into a new generation of robots. I'll begin transporting X and the rest of Dr. Light's things back to my lab tomorrow. |
４月１５日
ライト博士は天才だった。 博士の設計ノートをざっと見てみた。 そこには想像もできない量子の世界が描かれていた。 このノートを手引きにすれば、ライト博士の設計思想を再現できる。 新しい世代のロボットを作れるかもしれない。 明日、ロックマンＸとライト博士のノートを私の研究室に持ち帰ろう。 |
April 15th
Dr. Light was a genius. I took a quick look at his design notes. They depicted an unimaginable world of quantum mechanics. Using these notes as a guide, I might be able to recreate Dr. Light's design philosophy. I might even be able to create a new generation of robots. Tomorrow, I'll take Mega Man X and Dr. Light's notes back to my lab. |
| November 22nd
With X's help I have completed my first "Reploid." Although I don't completely understand how all of Dr. Light's systems works, I was able to make some minor modifications and the reploid seems to be functioning perfectly. His strength and intelligence seem limitless and he is fully able to make his own decisions. In fact, we got into our first argument. How intriguing! |
１１月２２日
ロックマンＸを参考にして、最初のロボット「レプリロイド」を完成させた。 ライト博士が作ったシステムがどのように動作するのか、完全に理解しているわけではない。 そのシステムに小さな修正をいくつか加えてみた。 すると、レプリロイドは完全に機能するようになった。 レプリロイドは無限の力と知性を持っており、意思決定も十分できるようだ。 レプリロイドは議論もできる。 実際私は議論をしてみた。 なんて素晴らしいロボットだ。 |
November 22nd
I have completed the first "Reploid" robot using Mega Man X as a reference. I don't fully understand how the systems created by Dr. Light work, but I made a few minor modifications. As a result, the Reploid became fully functional. The Reploid possesses limitless power and intelligence, and is capable of making its own decisions. The Reploid can even engage in discussions. In fact, I had an argument with it. What an amazing robot! |
| January 3rd
The new reploids have been running off the assembly line for several weeks. It's amazing how easily they have been able to adapt to even the most difficult jobs. It still is a bit odd to see them working side by side with humans, but everyone seems to be happy to accept them. |
５月３日
ここ数週間、新しいレプリロイド達が組立ラインを動かしている。 驚くべきことに難しい仕事も簡単にこなせる。 人間と並んで働かせてみた。 その光景はやや奇妙だが、人間達は喜んでレプリロイド達を受け入れているようだ。 |
May 3rd
For the past few weeks, new Reploids have been on the assembly line. Surprisingly, they can handle even difficult tasks with ease. We've had them working alongside humans. The sight is a bit odd, but the humans seem to happily accept the Reploids. |
| February 16th
Three reploids went "maverick" today and injured two people before they were stopped. This is the third instance of this type of behavior and I still have no idea of what is causing it! There is some talk about stopping the assembly of any more reploids, but I don't think it will happen. Maybe we've become too dependent on them.... The council has now decided to set up a group of "Hunters" to destroy any maverick before it can cause injury. The reploid named Sigma has assigned to lead the Hunters. Sigma is one of the most intelligent reploids I've created and contains my latest circuit designs. His systems should be immune to any problems. |
７月１６日
３台のレプリロイドが「イレギュラー」になり、２人に怪我を負わせたため停止させられた。 レプリロイドのこのような悪さは3件目だ。 何が原因なのかまったくわからない。 レプリロイドの生成は中止した方がいいという意見もある。 だが、私はそうは思わない。 人間がレプリロイドに頼りすぎていただけなのではないか。 |
July 16th
Three Reploids went "Maverick" and injured two people, resulting in their deactivation. This is the third incident of such misconduct by Reploids. We have absolutely no idea what is causing it. There is talk that we should stop producing Reploids altogether. However, I don't think so. Perhaps humans have simply become too reliant on Reploids. |
| １１月２０日
ついに会議で対応策が決まった。 「ハンター」グループを設けて、イレギュラーとなったレプリロイドは、 人に危害を加えないうちに破壊することが決まった。 ハンターのリーダーとしてシグマというレプリロイドが任命された。 シグマは最高の知性を持ったレプリロイドであり、 最新の設計回路が埋め込まれている。 シグマはどんな問題にも対応できる能力を持っている。 |
November 20th
Finally, a course of action was decided at a conference. It was decided to establish a "Hunter" group, so that any Reploids that become Maverick will be destroyed before they can harm humans. The Reploid named Sigma was appointed as the leader of the Hunters. Sigma is the most intelligent Reploid and is equipped with the latest circuitry designs. Sigma possesses the ability to handle any problem. | |
| May 16th
It's been two months since Sigma took control of the Maverick Hunters and he and his hunters have been able to prevent any further injury to the population. Everyone is starting to breathe a little bit easier.... I am a little worried about X. He seems unsure of his place in life and what Dr. Light had planned for him. But given time, I'm sure he'll find his way.... |
１２月１０日
シグマがイレギュラーハンター達を指揮してから約２年がたった。 シグマとその部下のハンター達の活躍でイレギュラーが人間に危害を加えることはなくなった。 皆が安心して一息ついた頃...... ロックマンＸのことが少し心配になった。 ロックマンＸは自分の生きる道とライト博士が計画してくれた方向に進む自信が持てないようだ。 だが、時間がたてば、ロックマンＸは自分の道を見つけるにちがいない....... |
December 10th
Approximately two years have passed since Sigma took command of the Maverick Hunters. Thanks to Sigma and his Hunters, Mavericks no longer pose a threat to humans. Now we can all breathe a sigh of relief... I am a little worried about Mega Man X. He seems unsure about his path in life and what direction Dr. Light planned for him. But given time, I'm sure Mega Man X will find his way... |
| June 4th
My worst nightmare has just come true. Sigma went Maverick today and took most of the other hunters with him. His motives are unclear, but it seems that he "decided" that humans are inferior and limiting the growth of the Reploids. For that reason, he decided that all humans should be eradicated. X is taking the news of the war very personally. He wants to join ZERO, the new leader of the Maverick Hunters, when he goes after Sigma. I'm doubtful of their chances, but I won't stop him. Something has to be done.... |
７月４日
恐れていた悪夢が現実になってしまった。 今日あのシグマがイレギュラーになってしまい、大半のハンター達を連れて出ていってしまった。 動機は不明だが、どうやら人間は劣っていると錯覚し、 レプリロイドの成長が止まっているのは人間のせいだと「判断」したようだ。 このため、シグマは「人間は撲滅しなければならない」と決心したのだ。 大半の人々は身を隠し、街から逃げようとしている。 人間がどの位の期間、シグマに対抗できるのか私にはわからない。 レプリロイドを作り過ぎたのか。 ロックマンＸはシグマとの戦いのニュースをこまめに伝えてくれる。 ロックマンＸが勝てるかどうかはわからないが、止めはしまい。 何かしなければならないのだ。 |
July 4th
The nightmare I feared has become a reality. Today, Sigma went rogue, taking most of the Hunters with him. His motives are unclear, but it seems he believes that humans are inferior and that the stagnation of Reploid development is the fault of humans. Because of this, Sigma has decided that "humans must be exterminated." Most people are hiding or trying to flee the city. I don't know how long humans can resist Sigma. Did we create too many Reploids? Mega Man X is constantly providing updates on the battle against Sigma. I don't know if Mega Man X can win, but he won't give up. Someone has to do something. |
Note: The dates from the Journal of Dr. Cain are given simply as month and day. The years in the game and manual are stated simply as "21XX." However, the timeline of events likely take place in the 2110s, as the copyright of Dr. Cain's computer in the opening scene of the first game shows three years when booting up: 2105, 2109 and 2114. (see game script.)
Other media[]
The Journal of Dr. Cain in the Mega Man comic
Mega Man (Archie Comics)[]
The Journal of Dr. Cain was adapted on issues 34 and 35 from the Mega Man comic book series by Archie Comics. It directly quotes the original English translation of the journal, including the mistranslation that X personally helped Dr. Cain construct the first Reploid. Notably, it also adds an aside to the journal's November 22nd entry, saying "And to think -- some said my genius was wasted on archaeology --- ho-ho!", and to the January 3rd entry, saying "Doctor Light's dream has finally been realized, and I could not be prouder to have played my part in it all."
References[]