Bardock, the father of Goku, was a low-class Saiyan who worked for Freeza, roaming the galaxy, conquering planets. While destroying a planet he is cursed with the ability to see the future by an alien. While Bardock is recovering from a wound, his team sets out to conquer a planet, beleiving they will be fine without Bardock's help. They are defeated, however, by a group of Freeza's elite warriors.

Freeza saw that Bardock and his squad was growing in power greatly from the battles they fought, and sought to end their progression. Bardock arrives at the scene of his squad's death, and confronts Freeza's elite team. At first, it appears as if the squad has the upper hand, but Bardock soon displays his true power, demolishing his enemies.

He is struck down after, however, by Dadoria, Freeza's henchman. Bardock returns to planet Vegeta, barely alive, and attemps to recruit the other Saiyans to stand against Freeza. Gaining no support, Bardock sets out to confront Freeza by himself. As he is about to leave the planet, he has a vision of his son, Kakarot, being killed by Freeza. This only fuels his rage, and he flies into space, hoping to stop the death of his son in the future.

Bardock barrels through Freeza's men surrounding his space craft, and stops with the planet Vegeta behind him. As Freeza emerges from his ship, Bardock launches his final spirit cannon, hoping to destroy Freeza. Freeza retaliates with his own ball of energy, an attack large enough to destroy not only Bardock, but all of planet Vegeta. Before Bardock is obliterated, he has a vision that his son will be the one to avenge the Saiyan race by defeating Freeza.