  We present high-resolution optical spectra of 15 objects near or below the
sub-stellar limit in the Upper Scorpius and $\rho$ Ophiuchus star-forming
regions. These spectra, obtained with the HIRES instrument on the Keck I
telescope, are used to investigate disk accretion, rotation and activity in
young very low mass objects. We report the detection of a broad, asymmetric
H$\alpha$ emission line in the $\rho$ Oph source GY 5 which is also known to
harbor mid-infrared excess, consistent with the presence of an accreting disk.
The H$\alpha$ profiles of the Upper Sco objects suggest little or no on-going
accretion. Our results imply that if most brown dwarfs are born with disks,
their accretion rates decrease rapidly, at timescales comparable to or smaller
than those for T Tauri disks. The Upper Sco brown dwarfs appear to be rotating
faster than their somewhat younger counterparts in Taurus, consistent with
spin-up due to contraction following disk unlocking. The H$\alpha$ activity is
comparable to saturated activity levels in field M dwarfs with similar spectral
type and rotation rates. Comparison of our data with published (albeit
lower-resolution) spectra of a few of the same objects from other epochs
suggests possible variability in accretion/activity indicators.
