You could say it was actively looking for intelligence, but failing because it couldn't do anything besides steal. *nods* The thing is, the Silents were scavengers, and I think they were used as tools. Whoever designed River (and the Claras) is a genius of Time Lord proportions. (This is why I like the Omega theory.) So I'd say that the puppet master behind the scenes took that proto TARDIS and used it more intelligently.
As for why they might want a TARDIS, I can think of several reasons. The one that's most on my brain right now: TARDISes are some of the few things that can go outside the universe, even with great difficulty. Maybe the Silence works for some extradimensional evil (Omega) and they need a TARDIS to bring the entity (Omega) into this universe (seriously, if it's this, it's gotta be Omega). *nods* Plus, if the universe is blowing up, a TARDIS would be the only safe place to be...
(Of course, part of the reason I'm currently thinking Omega is that in my sleep-deprived state, my brain is insisting on parsing that wifi password—rycbar123—as, "Run, you clever boy, and remember One, Two, Three." And the enemy in "The Three Doctors" . . . was their respective fashion senses, but I'm pretty sure Omega was in there somehow or other. :) ) Niiiiiiiiice. (My one wish for the Anniversary special? For Nine to look at Ten and Eleven and say: "So these are my replacements. A dandy and a clown. Puhleeeeeeeze Santa Moff? Although Omega would be awesome too.)
ETA: I'm turning all of this into a post. You don't mind, do you? Or do you want to make your own? It is your theory after all (although I make sure to announce this!)
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*nods* The thing is, the Silents were scavengers, and I think they were used as tools. Whoever designed River (and the Claras) is a genius of Time Lord proportions. (This is why I like the Omega theory.) So I'd say that the puppet master behind the scenes took that proto TARDIS and used it more intelligently.
As for why they might want a TARDIS, I can think of several reasons. The one that's most on my brain right now: TARDISes are some of the few things that can go outside the universe, even with great difficulty. Maybe the Silence works for some extradimensional evil (Omega) and they need a TARDIS to bring the entity (Omega) into this universe (seriously, if it's this, it's gotta be Omega).
*nods* Plus, if the universe is blowing up, a TARDIS would be the only safe place to be...
(Of course, part of the reason I'm currently thinking Omega is that in my sleep-deprived state, my brain is insisting on parsing that wifi password—rycbar123—as, "Run, you clever boy, and remember One, Two, Three." And the enemy in "The Three Doctors" . . . was their respective fashion senses, but I'm pretty sure Omega was in there somehow or other. :) )
Niiiiiiiiice. (My one wish for the Anniversary special? For Nine to look at Ten and Eleven and say: "So these are my replacements. A dandy and a clown. Puhleeeeeeeze Santa Moff? Although Omega would be awesome too.)
ETA: I'm turning all of this into a post. You don't mind, do you? Or do you want to make your own? It is your theory after all (although I make sure to announce this!)