"We have a problem," Doctor Morrison said.

"Indeed we do," Doctor Morrison replied.

It was a curious scene - two identical individuals, sitting facing towards each other amidst a laboratory full of electrical equipment. Not only were they identical in their appearance and build, they were wearing identical clothes and holding identical clipboards with identical writing on them. In short, there was no way to tell them apart.

"Is there any way we can explain this?"

The other Doctor Morrison shrugged. "If the two most scientifically brilliant minds on the planet can't work it out ... ."

"... Then nobody can. I suggest that we try and sort something out."

"Where do we begin?"

One of the Doctor Morrisons gestured at a pair of strange pods on the far side of the laboratory. Each pod was a silver ovoid, about three metres high and a metre across; connected to each other by a number of thick, insulated cables. "I suggest we start with those. The teleportation chambers."

"That makes perfect sense."

The two scientists began their investigation, carefully examining the pods and their control systems to try and determine what had happened to bring the two of them into being. As they checked the equipment, they tried to establish the chain of events.

"So, the purpose of the experiment was to test the teleportation protocol with a live subject?"

"Of course."

"And the chambers were designed to be identical and to function as both receivers and transmitters."

"Of course. There was no point in not making them identical. Besides, it meant that we could implement the emergency recovery sequence in the event that one of chambers failed."

"Let me check the logs."

One of the Doctor Morrisons approached a computer terminal and tapped some commands into it. "Look." He pointed at the screen. "There was a glitch in the transmission, and the recovery sequence was started."

"Ah ha! Progress. Now, if we know which pod was set for the recovery, then we know which one of us is the original and which one is a copy."

The Doctor Morrison at the terminal sighed. "But it doesn't solve the problem of what to do about there being two of us."

"It's a start. Let's solve the technical problems before we start worrying about the ethical problems," came the peevish reply.

"Oh."

"What?" Doctor Morrison hurried over and peered over his double's shoulder.

"Both pods initiated the recovery sequence at the same time."

The two Doctor Morrisons stared at each other for a minute.

"That really doesn't help."

"No."

The scientists redoubled their efforts.